PM recalls 1857, says let’s celebrate events together

With the winds of change blowing in the region, Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee today suggested that India, Pakistan and Bangladesh could together celebrate the 150th anniversary of the First War of Indian Independence of 1857 against British rule in the sub-continent.

Vajpayee said: ‘‘Not not very long ago, I had visited the Andaman Islands, where during our colonial days, political prisoners were kept in confinement. On the inscription in the Cellular Jail there, I found many names of brave martyrs and freedom fighters from what are today three South Asian countries.’’

The Prime Minister told the SAARC summit here: ‘‘Our forefathers had fought side by side, transcending religious, regional and linguistic differences against a common colonial oppressor in our First War of Independence in 1857. It reminds us that many of us have a shared history, which pre-dates our more recent divisions.’’

Observing that it would be the 150th anniversary of the uprising in two year’s time, Vajpayee said: ‘‘Perhaps India, Pakistan and Bangladesh can together celebrate that anniversary, in remembrance of our joint struggle against a common adversary.’’