Independence day of India
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| Independence Day |
August 15, 1947 is the most important, supreme, favorite, loved and respected day and date of every Indian. On this day and date India attained its Independence from British rule. For two hundred years the Britishers ruled and exploited the people and land of India.
The Independence of India was not a struggle of a month, it was a struggle of decades. For the independence that we are enjoying today, we have millions of brave hearts to thank to, these brave souls happily sacrificed themselves for the freedom of their motherland.
The Timeline of the events:-
● The British first came to India in 1600, and in 1608 they established a factory at Surat. After winning the Battle of Plassey in 1757 over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies, the British East India Company established its reign over the entire Sub-Continent.
● Then happened ‘The Indian Rebellion of 1857’ against British rule. Although the uprising was unsuccessful, it is still marked as one of the most important historic events.
Governor General Lord Canning was in charge during the rebellion, he was also the first Viceroy of India after the transfer of power from the East India Company to the Crown of Queen Victoria in 1858 after the rebellion was crushed.
● On 20 July 1905, Lord Curzon announced the partition of Bengal. The partition separated eastern Muslims from western Hindus. The Anti-Partition Movement was initiated on 7 August 1905.
● On 20 July 1905, Lord Curzon announced the partition of Bengal. The partition separated eastern Muslims from western Hindus. The Anti-Partition Movement was initiated on 7 August 1905.
On that day, a massive demonstration against the partition was organized in the Town Hall in Calcutta. During this movement Indians were asked to boycott all the foreign products and use home-grown and homemade clothes, toys and other things. Unfortunately, even after this the partition of Bengal came into effect on October 16, 1905.
● On 31 December 1906, All- India Muslim League was founded at Dacca, and in 1907 The INC at the Surat session was split into two groups- the Extremists and the Moderates.
● In 1909, came the Indian Council Act 1909 or more commonly known as the Minto- Morley Reforms. They were a series of reform measures enacted in 1909 by the British Parliament, the main component of which directly introduced the elective principle to membership in the imperial and local legislative councils in India.
● From 28 July 1914 - 11 November 1918 the World witnessed a global war - The Great War, also known as World War one. It is referred to as one of the deadliest conflicts in history.
● On 31 December 1906, All- India Muslim League was founded at Dacca, and in 1907 The INC at the Surat session was split into two groups- the Extremists and the Moderates.
● In 1909, came the Indian Council Act 1909 or more commonly known as the Minto- Morley Reforms. They were a series of reform measures enacted in 1909 by the British Parliament, the main component of which directly introduced the elective principle to membership in the imperial and local legislative councils in India.
● From 28 July 1914 - 11 November 1918 the World witnessed a global war - The Great War, also known as World War one. It is referred to as one of the deadliest conflicts in history.
The war years were tough one for Indians on the home front whose lives were negatively affected by high taxes, sharp rise in prices and massive recruitment efforts.
The war had drained the Indian troops, and at one point only 15000 soldiers were physically present to guard the Sub-Continent.
● During this time Mahatma Gandhi arrived in India and organized three satyagraha movements; Champaran Movement (1916) in Bihar: To inspire the peasants to struggle against the oppressive plantation system, Kheda Movement (1917): To support the peasants of Kheda district of Gujarat, who could not pay the revenue due to crop failure and plague epidemic, and the Movement in Ahmedabad (1918): To organise a satyagraha movement amongst cotton mill workers against British atrocities.
● Then came ‘The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, popularly known as the Rowlatt Act or Black Act, was a legislative council act passed by the Imperial Legislative Council in Delhi on 21 March 1919, indefinitely extending the emergency measures of preventive indefinite detention, incarceration without trial and judicial review. This act brought Gandhi to the mainstream of India’s struggle for Freedom.
● In the same year happened one of the most tragic and gut-wrenching events: The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. It took place on 13 April 1919, when General Reginald Dyer ordered the troops of British Indian Army to open fire at a gathering of unarmed Indian civilians, killing at least 379 people and injuring over 1000 people which included men, women, children and senior citizens. This incident started a fire in the hearts and souls of every Indian, and now everyone wanted freedom.
● On 5th September 1920, the Non-Cooperation Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi with the aim of self-governance and obtaining full independence.
● During this time Mahatma Gandhi arrived in India and organized three satyagraha movements; Champaran Movement (1916) in Bihar: To inspire the peasants to struggle against the oppressive plantation system, Kheda Movement (1917): To support the peasants of Kheda district of Gujarat, who could not pay the revenue due to crop failure and plague epidemic, and the Movement in Ahmedabad (1918): To organise a satyagraha movement amongst cotton mill workers against British atrocities.
● Then came ‘The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, popularly known as the Rowlatt Act or Black Act, was a legislative council act passed by the Imperial Legislative Council in Delhi on 21 March 1919, indefinitely extending the emergency measures of preventive indefinite detention, incarceration without trial and judicial review. This act brought Gandhi to the mainstream of India’s struggle for Freedom.
● In the same year happened one of the most tragic and gut-wrenching events: The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. It took place on 13 April 1919, when General Reginald Dyer ordered the troops of British Indian Army to open fire at a gathering of unarmed Indian civilians, killing at least 379 people and injuring over 1000 people which included men, women, children and senior citizens. This incident started a fire in the hearts and souls of every Indian, and now everyone wanted freedom.
● On 5th September 1920, the Non-Cooperation Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi with the aim of self-governance and obtaining full independence.
Gandhi's planning of the non-cooperation movement included persuading all Indians to withdraw their labour from any activity that "sustained the British government and economy in India", but this movement ended abruptly due to the Chauri Chaura incident.
● After the Chauri Chaura incident the following events took place; Swarajya party got established, then there was Kakori conspiracy (1925), Simon Commission was established (1927), Bhagat Singh assassinated the Saunders (1928), Simon Commission arrived in India (1928), there was Declaration of Purna Swaraj in the Lahore Session (1929) and many more such events took place before the Civil Disobedience Movement of 12 March 1930.
● On 12 March 1930, Gandhi started the Civil Disobedience Movement with Dandi March. The 24-day march lasted from 12 March 1930 to 6 April 1930 as a direct-action campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly.
● Many other reforms and acts also came in action after this movement, and then came the Quit India Movement of 1942. It was a movement launched at the Bombay session of the All-India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi on 8 August 1942, during World War II, demanding an end to British Rule of India.
● At last came the Indian Independence Act of 1947 which partitioned British India into the two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan.
● After the Chauri Chaura incident the following events took place; Swarajya party got established, then there was Kakori conspiracy (1925), Simon Commission was established (1927), Bhagat Singh assassinated the Saunders (1928), Simon Commission arrived in India (1928), there was Declaration of Purna Swaraj in the Lahore Session (1929) and many more such events took place before the Civil Disobedience Movement of 12 March 1930.
● On 12 March 1930, Gandhi started the Civil Disobedience Movement with Dandi March. The 24-day march lasted from 12 March 1930 to 6 April 1930 as a direct-action campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly.
● Many other reforms and acts also came in action after this movement, and then came the Quit India Movement of 1942. It was a movement launched at the Bombay session of the All-India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi on 8 August 1942, during World War II, demanding an end to British Rule of India.
● At last came the Indian Independence Act of 1947 which partitioned British India into the two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan.
The Act received the Royal Assent on 18 July 1947 and thus India and Pakistan, comprising West (modern day Pakistan) and East (modern day Bangladesh) regions, came into being on 15 August.
● Finally, in the words of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru ‘India famously woke up to freedom as the world slept on the midnight of August 15, 1947.’ It was a hard-earned freedom, which took decades in the making and countless sacrifices by nationalist leaders and unknown freedom-fighters.
On 15 August 2020 India will celebrate its 73rd Independence Day, as a way to celebrate this proud day a Flag hoisting ceremony takes place, which is followed by a speech by the Honorable Prime minister.
● Finally, in the words of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru ‘India famously woke up to freedom as the world slept on the midnight of August 15, 1947.’ It was a hard-earned freedom, which took decades in the making and countless sacrifices by nationalist leaders and unknown freedom-fighters.
On 15 August 2020 India will celebrate its 73rd Independence Day, as a way to celebrate this proud day a Flag hoisting ceremony takes place, which is followed by a speech by the Honorable Prime minister.
The nation pays respect to our strong and brave hearted martyred soldiers who readily sacrificed their lives in order to protect our Mother India and eventually us.
As much as it is a day of pride, it is also the day to admire the courage that the families of these martyred soldiers possess. This day is a tribute to the people who fought for our Independence, it is a tribute to the soldiers who fought for us and passed away in the line of duty, the soldiers who are still guarding our borders, and a tribute to their families who gave birth to these courageous, valiant and fearless men and women.
This day is a reminder for us to always keep these people in our minds, hearts, souls, and prayers, because if it weren’t for them none of us would have been here. As an Indian I am very proud of my country’s history, culture and heritage, and in the end, I would like to wish all the other Indians out in the world – Happy Independence Day!
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