On August 15, India will have been independent for 75 years. However, the British did not agree on that day for the handover of power. Here’s “The unknown History of Independence Day” that led to the adoption of August 15 as Independence Day in India.
India will commemorate 75th Independence Day on August 15, 2022. The theme of the festivities being held by the Indian government under the banner of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” is “Nation First, Always First.” To commemorate the event, the government also plans to raise 200 million Tricolor flags.
For all Indians, the day is remarkable. The Prime Minister addresses the whole country. This custom, which is still being practised today, was established by Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister after independence. On the occasion of the 75th Independence Day, i.e., on August 15,2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the address.
What led to the adoption of August 15 as Independence Day in India?
The History of Indian Independence Day
At its meeting in Lahore in 1929, the Indian National Congress approved the “Purna Swaraj” resolution. The INC then proposed an amendment, departing from the previous dominion status and calling for total independence.
As Lord Irwin’s negotiations with the Indian delegates ended in failure, the resolution was passed. The British aspired to make India a dominion. Indians sought total independence, and they were represented by Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, and Tej Bahadur Sapru.
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As the delegates were unable to come to an agreement, the INC made the decision to solely demand total independence and designated January 26, 1930, as the first “Independence Day.”
Nehru raised the national flag on the banks of the Ravi in Lahore on December 29, 1929, following the INC’s adoption of the resolution. He declared that Congress would make a significant advancement in the struggle for the nation’s freedom during this crucial session.
Ever since, India has been celebrating January 26 as Independence Day ever since, up to 1947. It was the same day that India ratified its Constitution and became a republic in 1950. Today we observe the day as Republic Day.
What led to adoption of August 15 as India’s Independence Day?
After years of conflict, the Indians forced the British to relinquish control of the nation. After that, Lord Mountbatten received a directive from the British parliament to hand over control to India by June 30, 1948. The final British administrator of India was Mountbatten.
The delay in giving India independence was criticised by Indian freedom warriors. Mountbatten made the decision to move the deadline up to August 15, 1947. He described his justification as not wanting rioting or bloodshed.
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In addition to commemorating the second anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender, Mountbatten chose August 15 as the date of Indian independence.
According to Mountbatten’s own comments, which were cited in Freedom at Midnight “The day I selected surprised me. I was adamant about proving that I was in complete control of the situation. When they asked about our anticipated date, I realised it had to happen soon. I didn’t know the exact date at the time, but I guessed it would be in August or September, so I left on August 15. Since it was the date of Japan’s surrender.
On August 15, 1945, Hirohito, the emperor of Japan, announced the capitulation in a speech to his people. After enduring tremendous destruction as a result of the nuclear bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, respectively, Japan was the last of the axis states to succumb.
Following Mountbatten’s decision, the Indian Independence Bill was approved by the British House of Commons on July 4, 1947. It was decided to divide Pakistan and India into two independent nations.
