The Ministry of Culture commemorated 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' through a special program organized by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) at its New Delhi campus on June 25, 2026. Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat served as chief guest for the event marking 50 years since the imposition of the Emergency in 1975. The program aimed to reinforce public awareness about democracy, constitutional values, and citizens' rights.
Minister Shekhawat stated that democracy is in India's DNA and emphasized that democracy encompasses more than electoral politics, including freedom of expression, free media, citizen dignity, and constitutional supremacy. He noted the Emergency provided an opportunity to reflect on the strength and price of democracy and freedom.
The event featured the exhibition 'Long Live Democracy' which highlighted the impact of the Emergency and underscored the importance of safeguarding democratic institutions. The exhibition was inaugurated on June 24, 2026, by CCRT Chairman Dr. Vinod Narayan Indurkar and attracted participation from more than one thousand students from various schools and NGOs. A short film on Samvidhan Hatya Diwas was screened, and a cultural presentation titled 'Musical Tribute to the Spirit of Democracy – From Silence to Voice, From Darkness to Dawn' was performed by CCRT scholars under flautist Pandit Chetan Joshi.
Eminent journalist and author Ram Bahadur Rai, who was imprisoned during the Emergency, delivered a special address reflecting on the challenges faced during that period. The program included a Digital District Repository Felicitation Ceremony honoring veteran freedom fighters Sheshrao Laxmanrao Khot and Yeddula Suryanarayana Reddy along with their family members, as well as teachers, researchers, and institutions that contributed to documenting district-level freedom struggle stories. The event also featured an exhibition showcasing artworks from the nationwide Seva Parv initiative organized under the theme 'Viksit Bharat ke Rang, Kala ke Sang'.