India’s freedom from British rule is widely celebrated every year on 15th of August, as Indian independence day. Various events are organized in schools and colleges to commemorate the 76th anniversary of India’s independence. People hoist the Indian flag and sing patriotic songs, speeches are given by social activists and leaders who remind us about the struggle for freedom, sacrifices made by our ancestors, etc. There is no denying that this period was a very crucial phase in our history.
The subversion of the East India Company and the resultant rebellion led to an uprising which shook colonial foundations; however strangely enough, we hardly know anything more about it . In fact we don’t even have a comprehensive list of all those revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for India’s Independence. This essay intends to delve deeper into this topic and present you with insightful information on why exactly is August 15th celebrated as ‘India’s Freedom Day’:
What is the story behind declaring August 15 as Indian Independence Day?
Indian independence day marks the end of the British Raj in India. The British Raj was the imperial rule by the British Crown in the Indian subcontinent from 1858 to 1947. The rule is also called British India. The end of British rule in India is also called Indian Independence Day or Gandhi Jayanti, as it was on this date in 1947 that India gained independence from British rule. The Indian National Congress, founded in 1885, was the main Indian political party that campaigned for greater Indian autonomy and self-government. Mohandas K. Gandhi led the Indian Independence Movement to end the British Raj in India with the non-violent Satyagraha movement.
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Why August 15th to commemorate India’s Independence?
August 15, 1947 was the day when India, which had been under British rule for more than two centuries, finally became independent. The Indian National Congress, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, had demanded independence since the early 1930s, when Japan and Germany had conquered most of Asia and Europe. Britain, weakened by World War II, finally agreed to grant independence to India. This date was chosen because V. Patel and others wanted a memorable date to be remembered for all time. It was decided that the day of the conclusion of the Non-Violent Movement, i.e., the day on which Mahatma Gandhi declared, in 1930, that he would use only non-violent methods to achieve India’s freedom, would be the day on which India would become free. August 15, 1947 is the date on which the India Independence Act 1947 received the royal assent from the King.
Why Indians Celebrate Independence Day on August 15th?
August 15th is the day when India became an Independent Nation. It was a day when the British Raj ended and the British left India. It is on this day that we mark our independence by hoisting the flag, singing the national anthem, and celebrating the freedom of our country. Therefore, August 15th is the Indian Independence Day, which was followed by the coming of a new government led by Jawaharlal Nehru. Indians celebrate the Independence Day on August 15th every year to commemorate the end of British rule in India. Indians celebrate the day with great enthusiasm and joy. They gather in open areas and fly the Indian flag. They sing patriotic songs and participate in various other activities to express their love for the country.
Most Important Events that took place on Indian Independence Day
The period preceding Indian Independence saw a lot of bloodshed and bloodshed. It was a time when the British rulers of India used extreme force to quell the voices of dissent. It was a time when Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Patel, etc. fought for the freedom of their motherland. Some of the most important events that took place on Indian Independence Day were as follows: – The first meeting of the Indian National Congress was held on December 28, 1885, in New Delhi. The meeting was presided over by W.C. Banerjee, who was elected as the first President of the Indian National Congress.
The First War of Independence (Indian Rebellion of 1857): On 10th August, 1857, Mangal Pandey, a sepoy of the 34th Regiment of the Bengal Native Army, who was fasting and praying in his garrison at Barrackpore, near Kolkata, suddenly started shouting “Death to British”. He was immediately arrested and imprisoned. But his action provoked the other Indian soldiers to revolt against the British Raj.
Swadeshi Movement: The Swadeshi Movement was launched by the Indian National Congress in order to boycott the British-made goods in response to the British decision to abolish the Indian Civil Service examination.
Salt Satyagraha: The Salt Satyagraha was a non-violent Satyagraha (civil disobedience) movement against the British rule in India. Mahatma Gandhi led this movement and the people of India picked up the cudgels on behalf of the freedom fighters.
Quit India Movement: Quit India Movement was the most popular and widespread movement of Indian independence movement. The movement was launched by the Indian National Congress with the objective of ending British rule in India. The movement was launched on August 9, 1942 and the British had to finally leave India on August 15, 1947.
Transfer of Power: The British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act 1947 on July 18, 1947, after two years of negotiations between the British Government, the Indian National Congress, and the All-India Muslim League. On August 15, 1947, the British Parliament enacted the Indian Independence Act that ended British rule in India and provided for the final transfer of power to an independent Indian government on August 15, 1947.
Conclusion
The period preceding Indian Independence saw a lot of bloodshed and bloodshed. It was a time when the British rulers of India used extreme force to quell the voices of dissent. It was a time when Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Patel, etc. fought for the freedom of their motherland. The First War of Independence (Indian Rebellion of 1857) was provoked when a sepoy (army man) by the name of Mangal Pandey started shouting “Death to British”. The Swadeshi Movement was launched in order to boycott British-made goods in response to the British decision to abolish the Indian Civil Service examination. The Salt Satyagraha was a non-violent Satyagraha movement against the British rule in India. The Quit India Movement was the most popular and widespread movement of Indian independence movement. The Transfer of Power was the British Parliament’s enactment of the Indian Independence Act that ended British rule in India and provided for the final transfer of power to an independent Indian government.