On Martyrs’ Day, January 30, the Centre has requested that states and UTs observe a two-minute silence in honor of all those who have given their lives in the fight for independence.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) wrote in a letter dated January 18 to all states and UTs that on January 30 every year at 11 a.m., a two-minute silence is observed across the country in honor of those who gave their lives for India’s independence.
“Silence shall be observed and work and movement should be suspended for two minutes throughout the country at 11 a.m. on January 30,” the MHA wrote in the letter. —
At 11 a.m., all work and movement should come to a halt for two minutes throughout the country.
When possible, the start and end of the two-minute silent period should be signaled by the sound of sirens or Army guns. To signal the start of the two-minute silence, sirens should be sounded from 10:59 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and then from 11:02 a.m. to 11:03 a.m., all clear sirens should be sounded again. Where sirens are present, this approach may be used.
When the signal was received (wherever it was available), everyone stood up and observe the stillness.
Where signal systems are not available, appropriate instructions for observing the silence for two minutes at 11 a.m. might be sent to all involved.
