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Independence Day is an annual observance celebrated every year on 15th of August. India’s Independence Day is a day of great significance for the people of India. At this day India got freedom from the British rule after long years of slavery. It has been declared as the National and Gazetted Holiday all across the India in order to independently commemorate the independence of country from British Empire on 15th of August in 1947.

At this day, all the national, states and local government’s offices, banks, post offices, markets, stores, businesses, organizations, etc become closed. However, public transport is totally unaffected. It is celebrated in the capital of India with big enthusiasm however it is also celebrated in all the schools, colleges and other educational institutions by the students and teachers including public community and society.It was not so easy for the India to get freedom from the Britishers however; various great people and freedom fighters of India made it a truth. They had sacrificed their lives in attaining the freedom for their future generations without worrying about their comfort, rest and freedom. They planned and acted upon various Independence Movements including violent and nonviolent resistance to get complete freedom. However, later independence Pakistan was partitioned from India which was accompanied by violent riots. That horrible riot was the reason of mass casualties and dislocation of people (more than 15 million) from their homes.

15 August 2016

Independence Day of India would be celebrated by the people all over the India on 15th of August 2016, at Monday. This year in 2016, India will celebrate its 70th Independence Day to pay tribute and remember all the freedom fighters who had contributed a lot and fought for the Independence of India.

The first Independence Day was celebrated in India on 15th of August in 1947.

What’s Special on 70th India’s Independence Day 2016

As per the media report, there is a plan by the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, to launch a programme named as “70 Saal Azadi-Zara Yaad Karo Kurbani”, also called “AZADI70” (means, 70 years of independence-Do recall the sacrifices). The aim of this campaign is to make Indian people aware that country is first and individual is secondary as well as remember those supreme sacrifices made by the great freedom fighters of India during the freedom struggle.

There is also a plan to perform a week-long “Tiranga Yatra” in order to motivate people regarding nationalism and patriotism. It will begin on August 15 on the occasion of India’s Independence Day by the members of parliament, state legislatures, celebrities, all BJP ministers and lawmakers carrying the Indian Tricolour Flag. It will take place from Arunachal border (with China) to the border with Pakistan (in Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir).

History of Independence Day of India

Indian subcontinent was outpost by some European traders during 17th century. It was again slaved by British East India Company because of his big military strength. They established their local kingdoms and effective forces all through the India during 18th century. A great independence revolution was started by the people of India against the British rule in 1857. That Indian Rebellion is called as Great Rebellion, the Revolt of 1857, the Indian Mutiny, the Uprising of 1857 and the Sepoy Mutiny. It was started against British East India Company’s army at Bengal Presidency on 10th of May in 1857. Through that Rebellion (Government of India Act 1858), Indian freedom fighters made British Crown realized to free the control over India.

The Revolt of 1857 was effective rebellion after which various civic society were emerged all across the India. One of them was the Indian National Congress Party which formed in the year 1885. The period of dissatisfaction and unhappiness has raised non-violent movements (non-cooperation and civil disobedience) all through the nation which was led by the Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

In the meeting of Indian National Congress in 1929 at Lahore, India was declared as Purna Swaraj. Earlier, 26th of January was declared as the Indian Independence Day between 1930 and 1947. Indian citizens were requested by the Indian National Congress to civil disobedience as well as follow the timely instructions issued until complete independence of India.

After World War II, in 1947 British government get ensured that it no longer could show its power on the India. Indian freedom fighter were continued fighting and then Britain decided to free India from the rule however Hindu Muslim violence took place after the independence of India (on August 15, 1947) which separated India and Pakistan. Muhammad Ali Jinnah became the first Governor General in Karachi Pakistan. However, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the first prime minister of independent India. An official ceremony was held in the capital of country, Delhi where all the great leaders and freedom fighters (Abul Kalam Azad, B. R. Ambedkar, Master Tara Singh, etc) took part to celebrate freedom.

During violence of partition mass of people from both sides were died while people in other regions were celebrating Independence Day. The fifth meeting of the Constituent Assembly was held at 11 pm on 14th of August at Constitution Hall, New Delhi under the leadership of president, Rajendra Prasad where Jawaharlal Nehru proclaimed his speech.

In the midnight of 15 August 1947, India was proclaimed as independent country by the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru where he gave his speech over “Tryst with destiny”. He said during his speech that “Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we will 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. We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again.” Speech on 15 August 1947 by Nehru

After that, all the Assembly members took pledge of being loyal in offering their services to the country. National flag was officially presented to the assembly by a group of Indian women. Finally India became an independent country officially, and Nehru and the viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, became the first prime minister and first governor general respectively. Mahatma Gandhi was not involved in the celebration. He stayed in the Calcutta and marked the Independence Day with his 24 hours fast in order to encourage the peace between Hindu and Muslim.

Independence Day Celebration

India’s Independence Day is celebrated all over the country as a National holiday of India. It is observed every year in every Indian states and union territories with great enthusiasm. President of India gives a speech every year in order to “Address to the Nation” on the evening of a day before the Independence Day. It is celebrated with big passion in the Capital of country on 15th of August where the prime minister of India hoists the Indian flag on the Red Fort, Delhi. After the flag hoisting, National Anthem song is sung and twenty-one gun shots are fired to salute and honour the Indian flag and solemn occasion.

The prime minister of India highlights over all the achievements of past year, important social issues and solutions, further development in the country, educational matters, etc during his speech on the Independence Day after paying tribute to the freedom fighter and leaders of the Indian independence movement who had sacrificed their lives. A grand march past takes place by the Indian Armed Forces and paramilitary forces. The celebration of independence day takes place in different states of diverse cultural traditions where Chief Ministers of individual states hoist the national flag flowed by various cultural activities by the participants.

Flag hoisting, National Anthem song play and parade ceremonies including other cultural programmes takes place in almost all the governmental and non-governmental institutions, educational institutions, some of the private institutions all through the country. In the schools and colleges the national flag is hoisted by the school or college Principal and parade and cultural events are carried out by the students. At this day, government offices, buildings, etc gets adorned with the electric lights, flowers and other decorative things. Different sizes of the national flags are used by the people to symbolize faithfulness and commitment to the country.

There is a big risk of terrorist attacks while celebrating the Independence Day especially in the major cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Jammu and Kashmir. That’s why no-fly zone is declared around the Red Fort to prevent aerial attacks. For more security reasons additional police forces are positioned all over the cities. Live broadcasting and webcasting is carried out by the media and government websites in order to provide live casting of the celebration of the event to the people all over the country.

It is also celebrated by the people with family members, friends and neighbours by going at dinner, picnic, park, garden, mall for shopping or seeing film, etc. Some people do flying or sing patriotic songs. At this day, kids of the home take a small flag in their hand and go outside by saying “jai Hind”, “Jai Jawan or Jai Kisan” and other popular saying.

Symbol and Significance of Independence Day in India

The kite flying sport in India symbolizes the Independence Day. The sky all over India becomes full of countless kites (flown from rooftops) of various sizes, shapes, styles, and shades. Some of them become tricolor symbolize India’s flag. Another symbol of independence day is the Red Fort of New Delhi where the first Indian Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru, unfurled the Indian flag on 15thof August in 1947.

Independence day is celebrated to commemorate the freedom of India from the British rule in 1947. 15th of August is the day of re-birth of the India. It is the day when Britishers left India and handed over the country to its leaders. It is the most significant day in the history of India and celebrated every year with great enthusiasm by the Indian people.