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10th Anniversary Celebrations

Father of the Nation In India, we remember Mahatma Gandhi as "bhapuji "and in U.S.A. they honor George Washington as "father of the nation ". Tourists here may be wondering why they find crossbows in the antique shops. Well, this is due to 15th century legend of William Tell, a sturdy peasant and crossbow sharp shooter, who was the champion of the Swiss, in the freedom struggle against the Austrian empire. Gessler, the Governor Gessler, governor delegated at that time by the Duke of Austria, Albert 11, noticed that the people were unhappy. In order to test the loyalty of the citizens of Uri, he had a pole planted with a hat in Austrian colors in the square of Altdorf. Everyone passing had to bow to the hat in order to show their respect. The hat was guarded by soldiers who made sure that the governor's orders were carried out. William Tell, the sharp shooter One day, an inhabitant of Bürglen, William Tell, passed the square, accompanied by his son, without saluting the hat. Immediately he was arrested and brought before the governor. "I know", said the governor, "you are an accomplished marksman. As a punishment for your disobedience of my order, you shall shoot an apple put on your son's head". Tell tried to convince Gessler to carry out a different punishment but with no success. Gessler insisted and even threatened to have Tell and his son killed if he did not follow his orders. The Apple and the Arrow Tell was brought back to the square of Altdorf. Gessler followed with his soldiers and servants. An indignant crowd surrounded them. Tell's son was placed against a tree, an apple on his head; 50 steps were counted. Tell put an arrow on his crossbow, aimed slowly and pulled. The arrow pierced the apple without touching the boy. The crowd applauded the skills of the courageous archer. Tell, however, had hidden a second arrow under his quiver. Gessler who had watched Tell do so asked: "Why the second arrow?" Tell waited with his answer. The tyrant urged him to answer: "If you tell me the truth your life will be saved!" "It was to pierce your heart, was Tell's grim answer, if my first arrow killed my son".

Gessler, beside himself, ordered to jail the rebel at once. "I do not come back on my promise but you will be jailed until your death in the prison of Küsnacht castle." A boat was launched immediately at Flüelen. Tell was chained in it while Gessler and his soldiers were embarking. Not far from port a tempest broke out. The Föhn (a southernly wind) caused such high waves that the boat almost got lost or thrown onto the nearby rocks. The boat people became very frightened and shouted: "Only Tell can save us!" Gessler ordered to free Tell who then took the rudder in a firm hand and steered the boat to the foot of the Axenberg Mountain, near a rock called the "Tellsplatte".

The Great Escape

All of a sudden Tell took a spear from a soldier, jumped from the boat onto the shore, pushing back the boat with his foot, then in a great hurry traversed the county of Schwyz. Gessler managed to survive the bad storm and reached Küsnacht castle that very night. Tell hid behind some bushes along an alley which led to the governor's residence. Soon enough Gessler and his people appeared and Tell killed him with an arrow from his crossbow freeing the country from an evil tyrant. An uprising then followed which consolidated the independence and unification of Switzerland.

Drama and Opera

Hard as it is for some patriotic Swiss tocome to terms with the fact the country's greatest hero never existed and is harder still perhaps to discover that he has his exact equivalent in Nordic mythology and that his world fame is mainly due to German poet ,writer, dramatist Friedrich Von Schiller, whose historical play of 1804 "William Tell" made a huge impact on contemporary audiences and was to inspire the Italian composer Gioachino Rossini, to produce his last opera ,first performed in 1829.

Tell's legend lives on ,not only in the opera and Schiller's play , still performed in venues all over the country , with best staging perhaps in the Interlaken, in open air, with the participation of cows, horses, rustic villagers etc.. But most famously in the town square of Altdorf, capital of Uri Canton, where the apple shooting feat was supposed to have taken place.

Monument in Altdorf

Here we can also see the Tell monument sculptured by Richard Kissling in 1895, it depicts the rebellious archer with his crossbow on one shoulder, lays his arm around the shoulder of his son who grasps his hand tightly and looks at this father in admiration. All patriotic Swiss who pass by this statue would pose for a photo as we do in New Delhi before Gandhi Samadhi.

Tells Museum and Chapel

The chapel dedicated to tell on the banks of Lake Uri, called "Tellsplatte "is decorated with four frescoes depicting the legend. This is the rocky ledge into which Tell leapt to escape Gessler's boat, pushing it back into the stormy waves. In Bürglen, in addition to a museum, at the spot were Tell is said to have lived, Tell's chapel (1582) is dedicated to St. Sebastian, the patron saint of archers.

Today 1st August is celebrated as national holiday declared only in 1994. On this day they commorate the "Rueutlischur "(oath) when 3 original cantons, Uri, Schwyz,and Unterwalden made a defense agreement against the Austrians and other enemies. Later more cantons joined them by peaceful and forced methods till Switzerland was formed as it exists today. On this day hundreds of speeches in local and cantonal level would be held, thousands of sausages grilled and eaten, fire works for several million franks will be lit and shot in the sky both by private individuals and the state authorities. When the fireworks lighten the Swiss valleys and mountains, then you know it is a sign of unity in diversity of its people who speak four languages.