‘Vande Mataram' song heralded Indian freedom movement, kept united post-independence: Amit Shah
Patna (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that the national song ‘Vande Mataram' heralded the Indian freedom movement and kept the country united post-independence.
Addressing a programme to celebrate the 150-year anniversary of the song at the BJP office here, Shah asserted that the dreams envisioned by the freedom fighters were fulfilled in the last 11 years through collective efforts.
The song was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterji on the occasion of Akshaya Navami, which fell on November 7 in 1875.
“On this date, Bankim babu had made public this song which came to herald the Indian freedom movement and kept India united post-independence,” Shah said.
Noting that the BJP has always stressed cultural nationalism, he said, “I am sure 'Vande Mataram' must have been the driving force behind that nationalism”.
Shah said that social media campaigns will be run, under which people can write the song in their language to promote unity.
The song first appeared in the literary journal, "Bangadarshan", as part of Chatterji's novel, “Anandamath".
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Oracle lays off around 12,000 employees in India, another round likely within a month
New Delhi (PTI): US-based IT firm Oracle is believed to have laid off approximately 12,000 staff in India, with another round of layoffs expected within a month, impacted employees said on Tuesday.
Globally, the company has fired around 30,000 employees.
"In India, around 12,000 employees have been laid off. The company is planning another mass layoff within a month," said two people impacted by the retrenchment, including one from the company's human resource department.
The company has approximately 30,000 employees in India, including those affected by the layoffs.
Oracle declined to comment on the development.
Oracle, in an email sent to staff, said the employees were informed about certain organisational changes and "because of these changes, a decision has been taken to streamline the operations, and as a result, unfortunately, the position you currently hold will become redundant".
The company has offered 15 days' salary to each employee who has completed a year of service in India, in addition to one month of unpaid wages till termination date, leave encashment, gratuity based on eligibility and pay for a one-month notice period.
Oracle has also offered a two-month salary as a top-up.
However, the severance package is available for those who voluntarily and amicably resign from the company.
An ex-employee of Oracle, Merugu Sridhar, said that he was laid off in September for protesting against the 16-hour work shift that the company has in India.
"I contacted my friends and those who are in human resources. They shared that most of the Indians working in the US with the company have been impacted because the local laws there are very strict when it comes to the retrenchment of their citizens," Sridhar said.
