The spirit of patriotism, gratitude and reflection filled the campus of Father Muller Charitable Institutions (FMCI) as the institution celebrated the 80th Independence Day of India on 15 August 2026. The celebration brought together the management, faculty, staff, students, patients and bystanders in a shared expression of love for the nation and pride in its remarkable journey.
The programme commenced on a prayerful note, with the students of Father Muller College of Allied Health Sciences leading the gathering in prayer through a hymn. Their melodious rendition set a reverent tone for a celebration that was not merely ceremonial, but also an occasion for reflection on the responsibilities that accompany freedom.
Ashwin Bromeo, Professor and Head of the Department of Medical and Surgical Nursing, Father Muller College of Nursing, formally welcomed the gathering and introduced the Chief Guest, Dr. Anil Shetty, Professor and Head of the Department of Paediatrics, Father Muller Medical College.
Dr. Shetty is a distinguished member of the Father Muller family and has been associated with the institution since 2000. He has served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Muller Journal of Medical Sciences and Research since September 2015 and has published more than 40 articles in peer-reviewed medical journals. An avid quizzer, he is the Co-founder and Vice-President of the Mangalore Quizzing Foundation. He is also a passionate chronicler of Mangalore’s past, having written extensively on the city’s history for mainstream media.
His association with Father Muller’s is particularly special. He grew up in the Father Muller’s quarters, where his father, Dr. A. Vishwanath Shetty, served as the institution’s first paediatrician and established the Department of Paediatrics. Thus, Dr. Anil Shetty’s presence as Chief Guest added a deeply personal dimension to the celebration.
The Tricolour Rises in Pride
The most solemn and significant moment of the celebration followed—the hoisting of the National Flag by Chief Guest Dr. Anil Shetty. As the Tricolour unfurled majestically in the morning breeze, the gathering stood in respectful salute, united in pride and gratitude. The solemn rendition of the National Anthem that followed echoed across the campus, transforming the occasion into a powerful expression of national unity.
The ceremonial grandeur was enhanced by the disciplined presence of the security personnel, who marched with precision and stood in impeccable formation. Their bearing, coordination and ceremonial calls added dignity to the flag-hoisting and evoked the spirit of a national day parade.
A Tryst with Destiny—Eighty Years Later
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Anil Shetty began by recalling the immortal words of India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, from his historic Independence Day speech—”Tryst with Destiny.”
He posed a thought-provoking question: After eighty years of independence, have we truly travelled the path towards that destiny?
The answer, he suggested, is mixed.
Dr. Shetty highlighted the extraordinary strides India has made over the past eight decades. The nation has established a global footprint in its economy, industry and foreign policy; created centres of excellence; reached the moon; embraced digital payments on an unprecedented scale; and emerged as a global information technology powerhouse.
Yet, alongside these achievements remain realities that demand introspection—malnutrition, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, corruption and the erosion of human compassion.
He reflected that the freedom fighters who sacrificed their blood to secure India’s independence would perhaps shed tears to see the shortcomings that continue to confront the nation. Freedom, he reminded the gathering, is not merely the absence of foreign rule; it carries with it the responsibility to build a nation founded on dignity, justice, compassion and humanity.
FMCI—A Microcosm of India
In a particularly poignant observation, Dr. Shetty described Father Muller Charitable Institutions as an “Indian cosmos”—a vibrant community where faculty, students and patients from the length and breadth of the country come together in search of education, opportunity and healing.
He appreciated the progressive approach of the management, which listens, responds and makes bold strides towards the growth and development of the institutions while ensuring that every individual feels valued, heard and cared for.
His words beautifully captured the ethos of Father Muller’s: an institution where education meets service, medicine meets compassion, and diversity finds unity in a shared mission of healing and comfort.
Dr. Shetty concluded with a message of renewed hope. The 80th Independence Day, he said, should become an opportunity for each one to strive towards becoming a better citizen, a better member of the Father Muller family, and a better version of oneself.
Patriotism in Melody
Patriotism found its most beautiful expression through music as the talented students of Father Muller College of Physiotherapy presented a stirring patriotic song. Their performance filled the gathering with emotion and national pride, reminding everyone that love for the motherland can be expressed not only through words and action but also through the unifying language of music.
As the melody filled the air, the Tricolour fluttered above—a fitting symbol of a nation whose story continues to be written by every generation.
A Token of Gratitude
As a gesture of appreciation, Rev. Fr George Jeevan Sequeira, Administrator, Father Muller Medical College Hospital, felicitated and gifted Dr. Anil Shetty in gratitude for his presence as the Chief Guest and for his inspiring Independence Day address.
The programme was gracefully compered by Melissa Saldanha, faculty member of Father Muller College of Speech and Hearing, who guided the proceedings with warmth and poise and proposed the vote of thanks on behalf of the organising committee.
A United Father Muller Family
The celebration was graced by the presence of Rev. Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo, Director, FMCI; Rev. Fr George Jeevan Sequeira, Administrator, FMMCH; priests of the management; the Dean; Principals; Heads of Departments; faculty; staff; students from the various institutions; patients and their bystanders.
The programme was planned and meticulously organised under the guidance of Rev. Dr Michael Santhumayor, Administrator, Father Muller Medical College. Chandrashekhar, Physical Director, FMMC, and Sushma assisted with the arrangements and ensured the decorum and ceremonial requirements of the flag-hoisting.
The presence and precision of the security personnel further enhanced the dignity of the occasion, demonstrating that every member of the Father Muller family contributed to making the national celebration meaningful.
The Nursing Services Department with its Head Sr Nancy Mathias distributed sweet treats to all gathered. Adults and children alike bore smiles in gratitude and eat the sweet with celebration for the nation.
A Renewed Commitment
The 80th Independence Day celebration at FMCI was more than a commemoration of a historic event. It was a moment to look back with gratitude, look around with awareness, and look ahead with hope.
The Tricolour that rose above the Father Muller campus carried with it the dreams of those who fought for India’s freedom, the achievements of eight decades, and the aspirations of generations yet to come.
For the Father Muller family, the celebration served as a gentle reminder that true patriotism is lived through service, compassion, integrity and responsibility.
As India completes eighty years of freedom, FMCI renews its commitment to contribute to a nation that is not merely stronger and more prosperous, but also kinder, healthier, more just and more humane.
And so, beneath the proud colours of the Tricolour, the spirit of Tryst with Destiny lives on—not merely as a memory of India’s past, but as a promise to its future.