15th August Independence Day of India
The Independence Day in India is celebrated every year on the 15th of August in honor of the birthday of the nation. On 15th August 1947, India achieved her independence from British rule and became a sovereign nation.
On the eve of 15th August 1947, India tricolor (saffron, green and white) flag was first hoisted by Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, at the Red Fort of Delhi.
"Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we will 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.... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again." - Jawaharlal Nehru (Speech on Indian Independence Day, 15th August 1947)
The Independence Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm in all over the India. On this day tributes are paid to the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives to gain the freedom for India. The main event takes place in New Delhi, where the Prime Minister hoists the National Flag at the Red Fort accompanied with the gun shots, parade, amazing live performances and music. On this day many political leaders appear at the public events and talk about the nation's heritage, laws, history, people, about recent events and future projects.
The Independence Day is considered as a Public Day with outings, picnics and lots of outdoor events like parades, air shows, fireworks and musical concerts. Nowadays kite flying has become a tradition on this day and people fly numerous kites of all colors, sizes and shapes symbolizing the freedom. Indians proudly fly their tricolor Flag, sing patriotic songs like "Vande Mataram", "Jan Gan Man" etc. and enjoy the day with their friends and families.
Significance
Independence Day of India is celebrated throughout India on 15th August every year with great splendor, joy and respect for Mother India. Many Indian cultural programmes are organized on the Independence Day. Indians dedicate this day to all those brave leaders and fighters who gave freedom to this golden bird on this day.
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE DAY OF INDIA
Indian subcontinent was outpost by some European traders during 17th century. It was again slaved by British East India Company because of his big military strength. They established their local kingdoms and effective forces all through the India during 18th century.
A great independence revolution was started by the people of India against the British rule in 1857. That Indian Rebellion is called as Great Rebellion, the Revolt of 1857, the Indian Mutiny, the Uprising of 1857 and the Sepoy Mutiny. It was started against British East India Company’s army at Bengal Presidency on 10th of May in 1857. Through that Rebellion (Government of India Act 1858), Indian freedom fighters made British Crown realized to free the control over India.
The Revolt of 1857 was effective rebellion after which various civic society were emerged all across the India. One of them was the Indian National Congress Party which formed in the year 1885. The period of dissatisfaction and unhappiness has raised non-violent movements (non-cooperation and civil disobedience) all through the nation which was led by the Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
In the meeting of Indian National Congress in 1929 at Lahore, India was declared as Purna Swaraj. Earlier, 26th of January was declared as the Indian Independence Day between 1930 and 1947. Indian citizens were requested by the Indian National Congress to civil disobedience as well as follow the timely instructions issued until complete independence of India.
After World War II, in 1947 British government get ensured that it no longer could show its power on the India. Indian freedom fighter were continued fighting and then Britain decided to free India from the rule however Hindu Muslim violence took place after the independence of India (on August 15, 1947) which separated India and Pakistan.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah became the first Governor General in Karachi Pakistan. However, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the first prime minister of independent India. An official ceremony was held in the capital of country, Delhi where all the great leaders and freedom fighters (Abul Kalam Azad, B. R. Ambedkar, Master Tara Singh, etc) took part to celebrate freedom.
During violence of partition mass of people from both sides were died while people in other regions were celebrating Independence Day. The fifth meeting of the Constituent Assembly was held at 11 pm on 14th of August at Constitution Hall, New Delhi under the leadership of president, Rajendra Prasad where Jawaharlal Nehru proclaimed his speech.
In the midnight of 15 August 1947, India was proclaimed as independent country by the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru where he gave his speech over “Tryst with destiny”. He said during his speech that “Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we will 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. We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again.”
Speech on 15 August 1947 by Nehru
Everyone in India knows that India got freedom from the 300 years of British Rule at the stroke of midnight as India moved towards August 15, 1947. Many of us know even the stories of struggle for independence as well. There have been millions of lives that sacrificed for this freedom and many of them are not even known or remembered.
The most important thing is that we remember and pay homage to these legends on this auspicious day. It is important for all Indian to think and pay respect to those who died for the country. There are virtually many reasons and ways of celebrating Independence Day.
Varieties of contests, promotions and cultural programs are organized. It is a national festival and has equal importance for every Indian regardless of religion, class, creed or race. The way of celebration is also the same throughout the country and that is the day when you will find whole India celebrating and rejoicing. Many cultural programs are organized and children love to watch them and participate in them.
After that, all the Assembly members took pledge of being loyal in offering their services to the country. National flag was officially presented to the assembly by a group of Indian women.
Finally India became an independent country officially, and Nehru and the viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, became the first prime minister and first governor general respectively. Mahatma Gandhi was not involved in the celebration. He stayed in the Calcutta and marked the Independence Day with his 24 hours fast in order to encourage the peace between Hindu and Muslim.
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
India’s Independence Day is celebrated all over the country as a National holiday of India. It is observed every year in every Indian states and union territories with great enthusiasm.
President of India gives a speech every year in order to “Address to the Nation” on the evening of a day before the Independence Day. It is celebrated with big passion in the Capital of country on 15th of August where the prime minister of India hoists the Indian flag on the Red Fort, Delhi.
After the flag hoisting, National Anthem song is sung and twenty-one gun shots are fired to salute and honour the Indian flag and solemn occasion.
The prime minister of India highlights over all the achievements of past year, important social issues and solutions, further development in the country, educational matters, etc during his speech on the Independence Day after paying tribute to the freedom fighter and leaders of the Indian independence movement who had sacrificed their lives.
A grand march past takes place by the Indian Armed Forces and paramilitary forces. The celebration of independence day takes place in different states of diverse cultural traditions where Chief Ministers of individual states hoist the national flag flowed by various cultural activities by the participants.
Flag hoisting, National Anthem song play and parade ceremonies including other cultural programmes takes place in almost all the governmental and non-governmental institutions, educational institutions, some of the private institutions all through the country.
In the schools and colleges the national flag is hoisted by the school or college Principal and parade and cultural events are carried out by the students. At this day, government offices, buildings, etc gets adorned with the electric lights, flowers and other decorative things. Different sizes of the national flags are used by the people to symbolize faithfulness and commitment to the country.
There is a big risk of terrorist attacks while celebrating the Independence Day especially in the major cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Jammu and Kashmir. That’s why no-fly zone is declared around the Red Fort to prevent aerial attacks. For more security reasons additional police forces are positioned all over the cities. Live broadcasting and webcasting is carried out by the media and government websites in order to provide live casting of the celebration of the event to the people all over the country.
It is also celebrated by the people with family members, friends and neighbors by going at dinner, picnic, park, garden, mall for shopping or seeing film, etc. Some people do flying or sing patriotic songs. At this day, kids of the home take a small flag in their hand and go outside by saying “jai Hind”, “Jai Jawan or Jai Kisan” and other popular saying.
SYMBOL AND SIGNIFICANCE OF INDEPENDENCE DAY IN INDIA
The kite flying sport in India symbolizes the Independence Day. The sky all over India becomes full of countless kites (flown from rooftops) of various sizes, shapes, styles, and shades. Some of them become tricolor symbolize India’s flag. Another symbol of independence day is the Red Fort of New Delhi where the first Indian Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru, unfurled the Indian flag on 15th of August in 1947.
Independence day is celebrated to commemorate the freedom of India from the British rule in 1947. 15th of August is the day of re-birth of the India. It is the day when Britishers left India and handed over the country to its leaders. It is the most significant day in the history of India and celebrated every year with great enthusiasm by the Indian people.
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How to Celebrate
Children have a different perspective. They like this day because they get sweets and holiday after flag hoisting in their schools. The National Flag is hoisted by the Prime Minister of India on the ramparts of the Red Fort, Delhi after which his speech is followed. Other politicians hoist the flag in their constituencies. Not only this, private organizations celebrate Independence Day where the seniour official hoists the flag and everyone present there sings the National Anthem.
Families and friends meet and have dinner together or go out to have fun and enjoyment that day. Almost all movie channels entertain their viewers with old and new patriotic movies and classics. People celebrate this auspicious and significant day in their own way. There was a time when Indians were not aware of the problems going on in the country and the society. But today, the younger generation of India has come forward and many raise their voice against the drawbacks of the society.
The government organizations have a declared national holiday this day. Also, the educational institutes and many private organizations also declare holiday on Independence Day. Everywhere there is a scene of joy, pride and rejoice. No rituals but only festivities are to be seen.
Some people fly kites to express their feeling for the freedom that we have received from the British Rule. You can see hundreds of colourful kites in the sky that day and some of them in the colour of the National Flag. Some people and celebrities leave balloons of saffron, white and green colours, the colours of the Indian Tricolour, in the air.
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