Independence Day (India)

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"15 August 1947" redirects here. For other uses, see August 1947 § August 15, 1947 (Friday).

Independence Day
15 August
FrequencyAnnual
First time15 August 1947 (76 years ago) (1947-08-15)
Related toRepublic Day
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Independence Day is celebrated annually on 15 August as a

Indian Republic Day) and replaced the dominion prefix, Dominion of India, with the enactment of the sovereign law Constitution of India. India attained independence following the independence movement noted for largely non-violent resistance and civil disobedience led by Indian National Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi who adopted these values from one of the early movements[1] in India led by Ram Singh Kuka (quoted in one of the letters by Shaheed Bhagat Singh
referring Guru Ram Singh as his Dada Guru).

Independence coincided with the

Ustad Bismillah Khan. Independence Day is observed throughout India with flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades and cultural events. It is a national holiday.[4][5][6]

History

Main article: Indian independence movement

Indian National Congress Party, formed in 1885.[7][8]: 123  The period after World War I was marked by colonial reforms such as the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms, but it also witnessed the enactment of the unpopular Rowlatt Act and calls for self-rule by Indian activists. The discontent of this period crystallised into nationwide non-violent movements of non-cooperation and civil disobedience, led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.[8]
: 167 

During the 1930s, the reform was gradually legislated by the British; Congress won victories in the resulting elections.

Muslim nationalism led by the All-India Muslim League. The escalating political tension was capped by Independence in 1947. The jubilation was tempered by the bloody partition of colonial India into India and Pakistan.[8]
: 203 

Independence Day before Independence

Hasrat Mohani was the first person in Indian History who demanded 'Complete Independence' (Azadi-e-Kaamil), at the 1929 session of the Indian National Congress, the Purna Swaraj declaration, or "Declaration of the Independence of India" was promulgated,[9] and 26 January was declared as Independence Day in 1930.[9] The Congress called on people to pledge themselves to civil disobedience and "to carry out the Congress instructions issued from time to time" until India attained complete independence.[10] Celebration of such an Independence Day was envisioned to stoke nationalistic fervour among Indian citizens, and to force the British government to consider granting independence.[11]: 19  The Congress observed 26 January as the Independence Day between 1930 and 1946.[12][13] The celebration was marked by meetings where the attendants took the "pledge of independence".[11]: 19–20  Jawaharlal Nehru described in his autobiography that such meetings were peaceful, solemn, and "without any speeches or exhortation".[14] Gandhi envisaged that besides the meetings, the day would be spent " ... in doing some constructive work, whether it is spinning, or service of 'untouchables,' or reunion of Hindus and Mussalmans, or prohibition work, or even all these together".[15] Following actual independence in 1947, the Constitution of India came into effect on and from 26 January 1950; since then 26 January is celebrated as Republic Day.

Immediate background

In 1946, the Labour government in Britain, its exchequer exhausted by the recently concluded World War II, realised that it had neither the mandate at home, the international support nor the reliability of native forces for continuing to maintain control in an increasingly restless India.[8]: 203 [16][17][18] On 20 February 1947, Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced that the British government would grant full self-governance to British India by June 1948 at the latest.[19]

The new

constituent assemblies of the new countries.[21] The Act received royal assent
on 18 July 1947.

Partition and independence

Jawaharlal Nehru delivering his speech, Tryst with Destiny, on the eve of India's first independence day.

Millions of Muslim, Sikh and Hindu refugees trekked the

Calcutta in an attempt to stem the carnage.[24] On 14 August 1947, the Independence Day of Pakistan, the new Dominion of Pakistan came into being; Muhammad Ali Jinnah was sworn in as its first Governor General in Karachi.

Tiranga
75 years of independence

The Constituent Assembly of India met for its fifth session at 11 pm on 14 August in the Constitution Hall in New Delhi.[25] The session was chaired by the president Rajendra Prasad. In this session, Jawaharlal Nehru delivered the Tryst with Destiny speech proclaiming India's independence.

Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history when we step out from the old to the new when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment, we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.

— Tryst with Destiny speech, Jawaharlal Nehru, 15 August 1947[26]

The members of the Assembly formally took the pledge of being in the service of the country. A group of women, representing the women of India, formally presented the national flag to the assembly.

The Dominion of India became an independent country as official ceremonies took place in New Delhi. Nehru assumed office as the

first prime minister, and the viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, continued as its first governor general.[27]: 6  Gandhi's name was invoked by crowds celebrating the occasion; Gandhi himself however took no part in the official events. Instead, he marked the day with a 24-hour fast, during which he spoke to a crowd in Calcutta, encouraging peace between Hindus and Muslims.[27]
: 10 

Celebration

08.30 am. Swearing in of governor general and ministers at
Government House
09.40 am. Procession of ministers to Constituent Assembly
09.50 am. State drive to Constituent Assembly
09.55 am. Royal salute to governor general
10.30 am. Hoisting of national flag at Constituent Assembly
10.35 am. State drive to Government House
06.00 pm. Flag ceremony at India Gate
07.00 pm. Illuminations
07.45 pm. Fireworks display
08.45 pm. Official dinner at Government House
10.15 pm. Reception at Government office.

The day's programme for 15 August 1947[27]: 7 

Armed forces saluting the national flag
independence day
Independence day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the Nation on the occasion of 74th Independence Day from the ramparts of Red Fort, in Delhi on August 15, 2020.

Independence Day, one of the three

Chief Ministers of individual states unfurl the national flag, followed by parades and pageants.[28][29] Until 1973, the Governor of the State hoisted the National Flag at the State capital. In February 1974, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi took up the issue with then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi that the Chief Ministers, like the Prime Minister, should be allowed to hoist the national flag on Independence Day. Since 1974, Chief Ministers of the respective states have been allowed to hoist the national flag on Independence Day.[30][31]

Flag-hoisting ceremonies and cultural programmes take place in governmental and non-governmental institutions throughout the country.[32] Schools and colleges conduct flag hoisting ceremonies and various cultural events. Governmental and non-governmental institutions decorate their premises with paper, balloon decorations with hangings of freedom fighter portraits on their walls and major government buildings are often adorned with strings of lights.[33] In Delhi and some other cities, kite flying adds to the occasion.[34][35] National flags of different sizes are used abundantly to symbolise allegiance to the country.[36] Citizens adorn their clothing, wristbands, cars, household accessories with replicas of the tri-colour.[36] Over a period of time, the celebration has changed emphasis from nationalism to a broader celebration of all things India.[37][38]

The

Indian diaspora celebrates Independence Day around the world with parades and pageants, particularly in regions with higher concentrations of Indian immigrants.[39] In some locations, such as New York and other US cities, 15 August has become "India Day" among the diaspora and the local populace. Pageants celebrate "India Day" either on 15 August or an adjoining weekend day.[40]

Black day

right to self-determination through the use of force.[45][46]

Security threats

As early as three years after independence, the

flag burning.[50][42][51] Terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Jaish-e-Mohammed have issued threats, and have carried out attacks around Independence Day.[52] Boycotting of the celebration has also been advocated by insurgent Maoist rebel organisations.[53][54]

In the anticipation of terrorist attacks, particularly from militants, security measures are intensified, especially in major cities such as Delhi and Mumbai and in troubled states such as Jammu and Kashmir.[55][56] The airspace around the Red Fort is declared a no-fly zone to prevent aerial attacks[57] and additional police forces are deployed in other cities.[58]

Since the assassination of Indira Gandhi, prime ministers would give their speeches from behind a bullet-proof glass panel.[59] Since 2014, when Narendra Modi was elected as prime minister, he did away with this tradition.[60] Nevertheless, additional intense measures were taken to ensure security of Modi.[61]

In popular culture

On Independence Day and Republic Day, patriotic songs in

Indian Postal Service publishes commemorative stamps depicting independence movement leaders, nationalistic themes and defence-related themes on 15 August.[69]

Independence and partition inspired

literary and other artistic creations.[70] Such creations mostly describe the human cost of partition, limiting the holiday to a small part of their narrative.[71][72] Salman Rushdie's novel Midnight's Children (1980), which won the Booker Prize and the Booker of Bookers, wove its narrative around children born at midnight of 14–15 August 1947 with magical abilities.[72] Freedom at Midnight (1975) is a non-fiction work by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre that chronicled the events surrounding the first Independence Day celebrations in 1947. Few films centre on the moment of independence,[73][74][75] instead highlighting the circumstances of partition and its aftermath.[73][76][77] On the Internet, Google has been commemorating Independence Day of India since 2003 with a special doodle on its Indian homepage.[78]

See also

References

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