The Indian subcontinent was
an outpost for the European traders during the 17th century. The British
East India Company ruled the Indian subcontinent by having a big military presence.
During the 18th century, the British
East India Company established their local kingdoms and effective forces all
throughout India. In 1857 the people of India started a great independence
revolution against the British rule.
British
historians called it the Sepoy Mutiny,
Indian historians named it The Revolt of
1857 or the First War of Indian Independence. It was started against British East India Company’s
army at Bengal Presidency on the 10th of May in 1857. The Revolt of 1857 begun in Meerut by Indian
troops (sepoys) in the service of the British East India Company and it quickly
spread to Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, and Lucknow. In India it is often called the
First War of Independence.
The Revolt of 1857 was an effective
rebellion after which various civic societies were emerged all across the
India. One of them was the Indian
National Congress Party which formed in the year 1885.
After
World War II, Indian freedom fighters continued fighting for Independence and
then Britain decided to free India from their rule. Hindu Muslim violence took
place after the independence of India which separated India and Pakistan.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah became the first Governor General in Karachi Pakistan. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the first prime
minister of independent India. An official ceremony was held in the capital of the
country, Delhi where all the great leaders and freedom fighters (Master Tara
Singh, B. R. Ambedkar, Abul Kalam Azad, etc.) took part to celebrate freedom.
Pundit Jwaharlal Nehru was the
first Prime Minister of India, a leading figure in the Indian independence
struggle and the process of political development in the country post-independence.
Pundit Nehru was home tutored and later went to England to finished his
education in law. Pundit Nehru on returning to India had enrolled himself as an
advocate at the Allahabad High Court. However, his career in law was short-lived
and he soon became extensively involved in the independence movement. As President
of the Indian National Congress, Nehru had called for complete independence
from the British Raj in 1929. As prime minister of independent India, Nehru had
initiated socio-economic policies of the idealistic socialist kind. During his
prime ministerial tenure, Pundit Nehru mentored his daughter Indira Gandhi in
political affairs. In 1957, Indira Gandhi was elected as the Prime Minister.
The Constituent Assembly of
India met for its fifth session at 11 pm on 14 August in the Constitution Hall
in New Delhi. The session was chaired by the President Rajendra Prasad. In this
session, Jawaharlal Nehru delivered the Tryst with Destiny speech proclaiming
India's independence.
"Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and
now the time comes when we shall 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. It is
fitting that at this solemn moment, we take the pledge of dedication to the
service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity."
On 15 August 2017, India will mark
its 71st Independence and pay tribute to and remember all the freedom
fighters who fought for its independence. The national lag will be
hoisted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a ceremony held in the nation's
capital, New Delhi.
The tricolours of the flag represents courage
and sacrifice (saffron/orange), peace and truth (white) and faith and
chivalry (green). The Ashoka Chakra
in the centre of the flag is a depiction of the Buddhist Dharmachakra,
represented with 24 spokes
distributed evenly.
Following the flag hoisting, a 21-gun
military salute shall be given, accompanied by helicopters flying overhead.
Foreign ambassadors and dignitaries will also participate in the
celebrations, and will be welcomed by a military band playing the national
anthem. The Prime Minister will greet the ambassadors seated at the
parapet and deliver a speech that will be telecast to the general public.
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.References:
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1947nehru1.html "Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964): Speech On the Granting of Indian
Independence, August 14, 1947" Retrieved 8 August 2017
http://www.historytoday.com/benjamin-zachariah/gandhi-non-violence-and-indian-independence Retrieved 9 August 2017
http://www.historydiscussion.net/history-of-india/the-revolt-of-1857-the-first-war-of-independence/1581 Retrieved 9 August 2017
India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru addressing the nation from
the ramparts of Red Fort (Photo: Express Archives) Retrieved 9 August 2017 http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/why-was-august-15-chosen-as-independence-day/
This rare 1947 photograph provided by the Ministry of Defence shows Lord
Mountbatten, Edwina Mountbatten and Jawaharlal Nehru at the first Independence
Day celebrations in New Delhi (Photo: Express Archives) Retrieved 9 August 2017 http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/why-was-august-15-chosen-as-independence-day/
Birth of India’s Freedom (
Photo: Times of India Archives) Retrieved 9 August 2017 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshowpics/9552701.cms
