78th Independence Day

India is preparing to celebrate its 78th Independence Day on August 15, 2024. This milestone commemorates the end of British colonial rule in 1947 and the beginning of India's journey as an independent nation. This year's theme, "Viksit Bharat" or "Developed India," reflects the government's goal of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, aligning with the centenary (100 years) of independence.

Important Facts about India’s Independence Day

• Date: It was Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy and the first Governor-General of the country, who chose August 15 to declare India's independence. He was given the powers by the British Parliament to transfer the power to Indians by June 1948. However, he preponed it to August 15, 1947, to avoid bloodshed and riots, Business Insider India reported.
  • The date also commemorates the second anniversary of Japan surrendering to the Allied Forces.

Important Factors Leading to India’s Freedom

• Early Resistance and Reforms (Revolt of 1857): The Revolt of 1857, also known as Sepoy Mutiny, was India’s first major attempt to challenge British rule. It led to the dissolution of the East India Company's rule in India and shifted the powers of the Company to the British Crown, in 1858.
• Indian National Congress: The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885. It became the leading party alongside the Muslim League and led the nation in the Freedom
• Mahatma Gandhi’s Return in 1915 marked a new phase in the struggle with non-violent protests like the Champaran Satyagraha and Non-Cooperation Movement that galvanized nationwide support against British rule.
  • Lucknow Pact of 1916 The Lucknow pact was an agreement between Congress and the Muslim League. Muhammed Ali Jinnah made both the parties agree that they would put more pressure on the British so that they adopt a more liberal approach to letting Indians run their country.
  • Champaran Satyagraha (1917): Gandhi led an uprising of the farmers of Champaran, who were being forced to grow Indigo and were not even being compensated enough for it.
• Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919 and the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920 highlighted the brutal repression and united Indians against colonial rule.
  • Non-Cooperation Movement came to an end in 1922, when a protest at Chauri Chaura police station turned violent.
• Return of Subhash Chandra Bose: In 1921, Subhash Chandra Bose quit his high-paying ICS job in England to join India's struggle for Independence. Shortly after his return, he joined the Congress. He started a newspaper titled 'Swaraj'.
• The Purna Swaraj Declaration on January 26, 1930, and the Dandi March in 1930 represented a clear demand for full independence and resistance against British policies.
• Government of India Act of 1935: The Government of India Act and the creation of a new constitution laid the foundations for the events that would follow in the next decade and thereafter.
• Creation of the Indian National Army: The Indian National Army was formed from among the Indian prisoners of war with the aim of liberating India from British rule. In 1943, Subhash Chandra Bose visited Japan, where he rebuilt the INA. In October 1943, Bose formed a provisional government that had been recognised by the Axis Powers during the Second World War
• Quit India Movement of 1942: The All-India Congress Committee started this movement in their Bombay session on August 8, 1942. There was only one mission - to end British Rule in India. In addition, Gandhiji made a call to Do or Die in his Quit India speech that he delivered in Bombay.
• Partition of India and the Independence: In 1947, the Parliament of the UK passed the Indian Independence Act. As per the Act, British India would be divided into India and Pakistan. The Monarch gave its assent on July 18, 1947, and it came into effect on August 14-15 in Pakistan and India respectively.
  • On August 15, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, hoisted the national flag at the Red Fort in Delhi.
  • The present Indian National Flagwas designed by Pingali Venkayya, an educationist and freedom fighter from Andhra Pradesh. The flag was adopted on July 22, 1947, during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly.