In this article, we provide comprehensive information about the India Independence day. India’s Independence Day is celebrated annually on August 15th to commemorate the country’s freedom from British colonial rule in 1947. It is one of the most significant national holidays in India, marked by patriotic fervor, celebrations, and reflections on the nation’s journey to independence.
About:
Independence Day is celebrated annually on 15 August as a public holiday in India commemorating the nation’s independence from the United Kingdom on 15 August 1947, the day when the provisions of the Indian Independence Act, which transferred legislative sovereignty to the Indian Constituent Assembly, came into effect. 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. Independence coincided with the partition of India, in which British India was divided into the Dominions of India and Pakistan; the partition was accompanied by violent riots and mass casualties. On August 15, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, raised the flag over the Lahori Gate at Red Fort in Delhi. Flag hoisting, along with an address to the nation by the incumbent Prime Minister, has continued since that day. The event is covered live by Doordarshan, the Indian national broadcaster, and it usually opens with a shehnai piece played by Ustad Bismillah Khan. Independence Day is ardently celebrated across India with numerous colorful events, parades, and hoisting of flags. It’s a national holiday throughout India.
History:
European traders had established outposts in the Indian subcontinent by the late 17th century. Through overwhelming military strength, the East India Company fought and annexed local kingdoms and established themselves as the dominant force by the 18th century. Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Government of India Act 1858 led the British Crown to assume direct control of India. In the decades following, civic society gradually emerged across India, most notably the Indian National Congress Party, formed in 1885. 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 Mahatma Gandhi. During the 1930s, the reform was gradually legislated by the British; Congress won victories in the resulting elections. The next decade was beset with political turmoil: Indian participation in World War II, the Congress’ final push for non-cooperation, and an upsurge of 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.
Aspect
Details
Date
August 15
Year of Independence
1947
Colonial Power
British Empire
Historical Background
Marks the end of nearly 200 years of British rule.
