Hello Steemit Friends,
Today India celebrates its 71st Independence Day. It is when our country attained independence and broke free from British colonialism after centuries of struggle and countless sacrifices made by freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Subhas Chandra Bose, Vijayalaxmi Pandit, Chandrasekhar Azad, Sukhdev, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Sarojini Naidu, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and many others. This day is celebrated with with great zeal,patriotism and enthusiasm through out the country.On this day UK Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act in 1947 and transferred legislative sovereignty to the Indian Constituent Assembly. All the schools, colleges and offices hold cultural events and come together to pay homage to the freedom fighters and legends who valiantly fought for the country.
Significance and history behind this day
So India's colonialisation began with the arrival of the East India Company to the country in 1600s. The merchants who came to trade in India,and with the support from Mughal Emperor Jahangir establish a factory at Surat and then started to exercise military and administrative control later. Due to their massive and advanced military strength, they started to overpower and suppress the local kingdoms, and ruled some parts of the country. By 1757, they had established their foothold in many parts of the country.This led to resentment among the country men and the revolt began.
It was actually in the year 1929, when Jawaharlal Nehru, who at that time was Congress President, gave the call for 'Poorna Swaraj' which meant total independence of India from British colonial rule. Earlier January 26 was chosen as the Independence Day and from 1930s onwards, Congress party started to celebrate 26 January as India's Independence Day, till India attained its independence. Later in 1950, January 26 was chosen as the Republic Day of India as India formally became a sovereign country and was no longer under the British Dominion.
Then it was in February 1947 when the British prime minister Clement Attlee announced that his government would grant complete self-governance to British India by June 1948 at the latest. The new viceroy at that time, Lord Mountbatten, advanced the date for the transfer of power, believing the continuous contention between the Congress and the Muslim League might lead to a collapse of the interim government. He chose the second anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, 15 August, as the date of power transfer. But independence came with the partition of India into the dominions of India and Pakistan and in all, between 250,000 and 1,000,000 people on both sides of the new borders died in the violence.It was on 14th August when the new Dominion of Pakistan came into being with Muhammad Ali Jinnah sworn in as its first Governor General in Karachi.It is when Pakistan celebrated their Independence Day.
Then Constituent Assembly of India met for its fifth session at 11 pm on 14 August in the Constitution Hall in New Delhi.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."
How it is celebrated in India
It is the day when People hoist tri-color flags, sing National Anthem (composed by Rabindranath Tagore )to pay homage to the freedom fighters and legends who valiantly fought for the country.It is then celebrated with march past and some cultural events.
The lyrics of the song are as follows:
Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka, jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Punjab-Sindh-Gujarat-Maratha
Dravida-Utkala-Banga
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
Uchchala-Jaladhi-taranga.
Tava shubha name jage,
Tava shubha asisa mage,
Gahe tava jaya gatha,
Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he, Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!
But the main event takes place at Red Fort, New Delhi.
On this day ie 15 August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India. He then hoisted the Indian national flag above the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort in Delhi. This subsequently became a custom and on every Independence Day, Indian Prime Minister hoists the national flag and addresses the nation.So continuing the tradition started by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the national flag and address the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
Here is a video of Independence Day celebration last year at Red Fort :-
So once again Happy Independence Day to all Indians out here
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Youtube video link