Independence Day
When is Independence Day in India?
How is Independence Day celebrated in India?
Why did the Indian Independence Movement start?
Did the partition of India and Pakistan happen on Independence Day?
How did India gain independence from British rule?
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Independence Day, in India, national holiday celebrated annually on August 15. Independence Day marks the end of the British raj in 1947, brought about by the Indian Independence Act of July 18 that year, and the establishment of a free and independent Indian nation following the long struggle of the Indian Independence Movement. It also marks the anniversary of the partition of India into two countries, India and Pakistan, which occurred at midnight on August 14–15, 1947. India celebrates Independence Day on August 15, whereas Pakistan observes it on August 14, in recognition of the date on which independence was formally declared there.
History
British rule in India began in 1757 when, following the British victory at the Battle of Plassey, the British East India Company transitioned from a mercantile presence into a dominant military and political power in the country. The East India Company ruled India for 100 years, until it was replaced by direct British rule (often referred to as the British raj) in the wake of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (also called the Sepoy Mutiny). Although the rebellion was suppressed, it was the beginning of widespread discontent with colonial rule.
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The independence movement was largely mobilized by the Indian National Congress (Congress Party), which was founded in 1885. The first organized mass resistance in the independence struggle was the Swadeshi Movement, which was launched in 1905 to protest the partition of Bengal. The movement gained momentum during World War I (1914–18), and public unrest in British-ruled India grew in response to repressive laws, such as the Rowlatt Act (1919), and the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (also 1919). Among the independence movement’s key figures was Mahatma Gandhi, who championed nonviolent resistance through movements such as the noncooperation movement (1920–22), the Salt March (1930), and the Quit India Movement (1942–43).
Years of political struggle culminated in the passage of the Indian Independence Act of 1947, which provided for the partition of British-ruled India into two countries, India and Pakistan, effective at midnight of August 14–15, 1947. The partition of India triggered mass migration and devastating violence, with thousands slaughtered, injured, and left homeless.
Celebrations
As the clock struck midnight on August 14, 1947, the Indian tricolor flag replaced the Union Jack (the national flag of the United Kingdom), marking the birth of a free country. Jawaharlal Nehru, independent India’s first prime minister, addressed the Constituent Assembly with his famous “Tryst with Destiny” speech. Thousands of people gathered in Delhi for the occasion. Across the country, people celebrated with joy, music, and prayer, despite the shadow of partition.
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On the eve of Independence Day, the president of India addresses the country. The next day is marked throughout India with flag-raising ceremonies, drills, and the singing of “Jana Gana Mana”—the Indian national anthem. Additionally, various cultural programs are held in the state capitals. After the prime minister participates in the flag-raising ceremony at the Red Fort, a Mughal fort in Old Delhi, a parade ensues with members of the armed forces and police. The prime minister then delivers a televised address to the country, recounting the major accomplishments of India during the previous year and outlining future challenges and goals. Kite flying has also become an Independence Day tradition, with kites of various sizes, shapes, and colors filling the sky. The government offices in New Delhi remain lit throughout the holiday.