Independence Day (India)

HolidayInfo

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caption=The Indian national flag and emblem atop the Vidhan Soudha building in Bangalore, Karnataka
holiday_name=Independence Day
nickname=स्वतंत्रता दिवस (Hindi)
observedby=Indians
date=August 15
celebrations=Flag hoisting, distribution of sweets in schools, flying kites, singing patriotic songs, entertainment and cultural programmes, march past, speech, etc.
type=National
India's "Independence Day" is celebrated on August 15 to commemorate its independence from the British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation on that day in 1947. The day is a national holiday in India. It is celebrated all over the country through flag-hoisting ceremony. The main celebration takes place in New Delhi, where the Prime Minister hoists the National Flag at the Red Fort and delivers a nationally televised speech from its ramparts. In his speech, he highlights the achievements of his government during the past year, raises important issues and gives a call for further development. The Prime Minister also pays his tribute to leaders of the freedom struggle.

Road to independence

On 3 June 1947, Viscount Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last British Governor-General of India, announced the partitioning of the British Indian Empire into India and Pakistan, under the provisions of the Indian Independence Act 1947. At the stroke of midnight, on 15 August 1947, India became an independent nation. This was preceded by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's famous speech titled Tryst with destiny.

Administration until 1950

Upon independence, India was given dominion status by the British. At Prime Minister Nehru and his deputy Sardar Vallabhai Patel's request, Lord Mountbatten continued to be the Governor General of India. Governor General was equivalent to the current Indian President status. He continued in office until June 1949. Thereafter Chakravarti Rajagopalachari became the Governor General. He was in office until 1950. In all these years (until 1950), King George VI continued as the King of India.

Vallabhai Patel took on the responsibility of unifying 565 princely states, steering efforts by his “iron fist in a velvet glove” policies, exemplified by the use of military force to integrate Junagadh and Hyderabad state into India. J&K became a part of India when Pakistan laid siege and the then king Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession with India to save J&K from Pakistan. India responded on behalf of J&K by sending in its armed forces to counteract the Pakistani attack. Later PM Nehru went to UN and a cease fire was declared. Pakistan has not withdrawn its military forces from the occupied Kashmir, and the territory termed as POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) has ever since been a cause of contention between India and Pakistan.

The Constituent Assembly completed the work of drafting the constitution on 26 November 1949; on 26 January 1950 the Republic of India was officially proclaimed. The Constituent Assembly elected Dr. Rajendra Prasad as the first President of India, taking over from Governor General Rajgopalachari. Subsequently, a free and sovereign India absorbed two other territories: Goa (liberated from Portuguese control in 1961) and Pondicherry (which the French ceded in 1954 ). In 1952, India held its first general elections, with a voter turnout exceeding 62%; in practice, this made India the world's largest democratic country in the history of the modern and ancient world.

Celebrations

Offices are lit up. Flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programs take place in all the state capitals. 15 August is a national holiday in India. In the cities around the country the Flag Hoisting Ceremony is done by politicians belonging to that constituency. In various private organisations the Flag Hoisting Ceremony is carried out by a Senior officer of that organisation. Schools and colleges around the country organise flag hoisting ceremony and various cultural activities within their respective premises. Families and friends get together for lunch or dinner, or for an outing. Housing colonies, cultural centres, clubs and societies hold entertainment programmes and competitions, usually based on the freedom theme.

ee also

*History of India

External links

* [http://www.peopleforever.org/community.aspx?communityid=64 Indian Freedom Fighters] Tribute on PeopleForever.org
* [http://www.india.gov.in/myindia/national_days.php Government of India - National days]
* [http://www.harappa.com/wall/nehru.html Video of Nehru's "Tryst with Destiny" address]