15 August Special
15 August Special: Know About Independence Day In India
Independence Day, a national holiday in India, is observed annually on 15 August. Independence Day marks the end of British rule in 1947 and the establishment of a free and independent Indian nation. It also marks the anniversary of the partition of the subcontinent into two countries, India and Pakistan, which took place on the midnight of August 14–15, 1947.
British rule in India began in 1757, when, following the British victory at the Battle of Plassey, the English East India Company began to take control of the country. In the wake of the Indian Rebellion in 1857–58, the East India Company ruled India for 100 years, until it was replaced by direct British rule (often referred to as the British Raj).
The Indian independence movement began during the First World War and was led by Mohandas K. Gandhi, who advocated a peaceful and non-violent end to British rule.
Independence Day is marked with flag hoisting ceremonies, rehearsals, and singing of the Indian national anthem across India. In addition, various cultural programs are made available in the state capitals. After the Prime Minister takes part in the flag hoisting ceremony at the historical monument of the Red Fort in Old Delhi, a parade begins with members of the armed forces and police.
The Prime Minister then delivers a televised address to the country, describing India’s major achievements over the past year and outlining future challenges and goals. Kite flying has also become an Independence Day tradition, with kites of various shapes, sizes, and colors filling the skies.
Also, to celebrate this day, government offices in New Delhi are lit with lights throughout the holiday, even though they are closed.
History
European traders had established outposts in the Indian subcontinent by the 17th century. Through enormous military power, the East India Company fought and annexed local kingdoms and established itself as the dominant power by the 18th century.
Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Government of India Act of 1858 prompted the British Crown to assume direct control of India. In the following decades, civil society gradually emerged across India, most notably the Indian National Congress Party, which was formed in 1885. , but it also saw the enactment of the unpopular Rowlatt Act and the demand for self-rule by Indian activists.
The discontent of this period turned into nationwide non-violent movements of non-cooperation and civil disobedience led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
During the 1930s, the reforms were gradually legislated by the British; Congress won the resulting elections. The next decade was marked by political upheaval: Indian participation in World War II, the Congress’s final push for non-cooperation, and the rise of Muslim nationalism led by the All India Muslim League.
The growing political tensions were tempered with independence in 1947. The glee was quelled by the bloody partition of the subcontinent into India and Pakistan.
Background
The struggle for India’s independence began with the Sepoy Mutiny in Meerut in 1857. Later, in the 20th century, the Indian National Congress and other political organizations, led by Mahatma Gandhi, launched a national independence movement. Colonial powers were transferred to India on 15 August 1947.
The Constituent Assembly, to which power was to be transferred, met on August 14, 1947, at 11 pm to celebrate India’s independence. India gained its independence and became an independent country at midnight between August 14 and August 15, 1947.
It was then that the first Prime Minister of independent India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, delivered his famous “Tryst with Destiny” speech. People across India are reminded of the meaning of this event – that it marked the beginning of a new era of liberation from British colonialism that had been in India for more than 200 years.
Celebration
Independence Day, one of three national holidays in India (the other two being Republic Day on 26 January and Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday on 2 October), is celebrated in all Indian states and union territories. On the eve of Independence Day, the President of India delivers the “Address to the Nation”.
On 15 August, the Prime Minister hoists the Indian flag on the ramparts of the historic Red Fort in Delhi. In his speech, the Prime Minister highlighted the achievements of the past year, raised important issues, and called for further development. He pays tribute to the leaders of the Indian independence movement.
The Indian national anthem, “Jana Gana Mana” is sung. The speech is followed by a march past divisions of the Indian armed forces and paramilitary forces. Parades and competitions display scenes from the freedom struggle and the diverse cultural traditions of India. Similar events take place in state capitals where chief ministers of different states unfurl the national flag, followed by parades and competitions.
Until 1973, the state governor hoisted the national flag in the state capital. In February 1974, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi took up the issue with the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi that Chief Ministers like the Prime Minister should be allowed to hoist the national flag on Independence Day.
Since 1974, the Chief Ministers of the respective states have been allowed to hoist the national flag on Independence Day.
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Flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programs take place in government and non-government institutions across the country. Schools and colleges organize flag hoisting ceremonies and various cultural events. Government and non-government institutions decorate their premises with paper, balloons adorn their walls with pictures of freedom fighters on their legs, and major government buildings are often decorated with strings of lights.
In Delhi and some other cities, kite flying adds to the occasion. National flags of various sizes are used extensively to symbolize allegiance to the country.
Citizens decorate their clothes, wristbands, cars, and household items with replicas of the tricolor. Over time, the celebration has shifted from an emphasis on nationalism to a comprehensive celebration of all things India.
The Indian diaspora celebrates Independence Day with parades and competitions around the world, especially in areas where the Indian diaspora is high. In some places, such as New York and other US cities, August 15 has become “India Day” among the expatriate and local population.
The pageants celebrate “India Day” either on the weekend day of or around 15 August.
popular culture
On Independence Day and Republic Day, patriotic songs in regional languages are broadcast on television and radio channels. They are also played along with flag hoisting ceremonies. Patriotic films are broadcast. According to The Times of India, over the decades, the number of such films aired has come down as channels report that audiences are over-saturated with patriotic films.
Populations belonging to Generation Y often associate nationalism with popular culture during celebrations. This blend is exemplified by the tricolor and cloth-dyed outfits and sevens representing the various cultural traditions of India.
Shops often offer Independence Day sale promotions. Some news reports have condemned the commercialization. The Indian Postal Service publishes commemorative postage stamps on 15 August depicting the leaders of the independence movement, nationalist themes, and subjects related to defense.
Independence and Partition inspired literary and other artistic creations. Such works mostly illustrate the human cost of division, limiting the holiday to a small part of his narrative. Salman Rushdie’s novel Midnight’s Children (1980), which won the Booker Prize and the Booker of Books, revolved around children born at midnight on 14–15 August 1947 with magical abilities.
Freedom at Midnight (1975) is a non-fiction work by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, which describes the events surrounding the first Independence Day celebrations in 1947. Some films focus on the moment of independence, instead highlighting the circumstances of Partition and its aftermath.
On the Internet, Google has been celebrating India’s Independence Day since 2003 with a special doodle on its Indian homepage.
Symbols
The sport of kite flying is a symbol of Independence Day. The sky is dotted with countless kites from terraces and fields to symbolize India’s independent spirit of India. Kites of different styles, sizes, and colors are available in the markets including tricolor.
The Red Fort in Dehli also marks an important Independence Day in India as it is the place where Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru unveiled the flag of India on August 15, 1947.
The national flag of India is a horizontal tricolor with dark saffron (saffron) at the top, white in the middle, and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion. The ratio of the width and length of the flag is two to three. A dark blue wheel in the center of the white stripe represents the circle.
Its design is of the wheel that appears on the abacus of Ashoka’s Sarnath Singh Rajdhani. Its diameter is about the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes.
Independence Day (15 August) Observances
| 15 Aug | Sat | 2020 | Independence Day |
| 15 Aug | Sun | 2021 | Independence Day |
| 15 Aug | Mon | 2022 | Independence Day |
| 15 Aug | Tue | 2023 | Independence Day |
| 15 Aug | Thu | 2024 | Independence Day |
| 15 Aug | Fri | 2025 | Independence Day |
| 15 Aug | Sat | 2026 | Independence Day |
| 15 Aug | Sun | 2027 | Independence Day |
15 August: Republic Day
15 August Republic Day FAQ
Is it 75 or 76 Independence Day?
summary. The Government of India decided to celebrate 75 years of India’s independence with great enthusiasm and tribute to the freedom fighters. So, they decided to do various programs and the government named the festival ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. Amrit Mahotsav means 75 years of independence.
What do we celebrate on Independence Day?
Independence Day in the United States, also known as the Fourth of July or 4th of July, is an annual celebration of nationality. It commemorates the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
Who is the Day of 15 August 1947?
Independence Day in India is on 15th August every year. It celebrates the date in 1947 when the Indian Independence Act came into force, which established India and Pakistan as separate countries, no longer under British imperial rule.
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