• First Independence day of India was celebrated in 1947, 15th of August by hoisting tri-coloured flag.
  • Later it was declared as the National and Gazetted holiday when schools and colleges open for some hours only to celebrate it with some academic and cultural works.
  • National Anthem is sung after a flag hoisting ceremony.
  • Rani Laxmi Bai (Queen of Jhansi) had fought like a tiger against the British rule and sacrificed her life.
  • Mahatma Gandhi (also called as the father of nation) led the country through his non-violent movement to get freedom.
  • India has never attacked any other country in the last 100000 years of history.
  • Earlier there was a valley named Indus which became the first inhabitant of India and then it became the reason of origin of name “India”.
  • Princely states of India were brought together by the Sardar Vallabhai Patel during the freedom struggle movement of the country.
  • “Swaraj is my birthright, and I will have it!” was proclaimed by the Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
  • Bhagat Singh threw a bomb on the British government during meeting for which he was arrested and hung.
  • Indian freedom struggle was supported by a Britisher also, named as Dr. Annie Besant who had founded the Home Rule league in India.
  • Ashfaqualla Khan was a great freedom fighter who was given a death sentence where he first kissed the noose before getting hanged.
  • The rebellion of 1857 was a most prominent freedom movement against Britishers.
  • Ignorance of British Government orders was completely initiated in the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1929.
  • Dandi March of 1930 was started by Mahatma Gandhi as an Indian independence movement for making own salt against the British rule.
  • Quit India Movement was started in 1942 to widespread non-violent struggle all over the India for getting freedom.
  • 15th of August is also celebrated as Independence Day in countries like South Korea (got freedom from Japan in 1945), Bahrain (from UK in 1971) and Congo (from France in 1960).
  • Indian Independence Day celebration officially takes place at Red Fort, Delhi.
  • When India became independent, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became its first Prime Minister and hoisted the national flag on Red Fort, Delhi.
  • At the time of independence of India, gold price was (in 1947) 88.62 Rs/10 grams however now, it is 30,730 Rs/10 grams.
  • Indian rupee in 1947 was equal to Re 1 = $1 and currently 69.92/dollar.
  • First cabinet (group of 13 ministers) of India had taken an oath on 15th of August 1947.
  • There was no any National Anthem during the time of Independence of India.


SOME INTERESTING FACTS :



  • The British East India Company entered India as a trading company in 1600 to trade items such as tea, cotton, and silk. Gradually it went on to become a political ruler in the country.
  • The date ‘August 15’ was chosen by the Last Viceroy and first Governor General of India Lord Mountbatten as it was the same day in 1945 that Japan surrendered to the Allied Forces at the end of the World War II.
  • August 15 is celebrated as Independence Day in not only India but also in five other countries – Bahrain, North Korea, South Korea, Liechtenstein and Republic of Congo.
  • Mahatma Gandhi had plans of disbanding the Indian National Congress after the Independence of the country. A day before his death in a draft resolution he said that since the aim has been achieved, the INC has outlived its use. He wrote: “Though split into two, India having attained political independence through means devised by the Indian National Congress, the Congress in its present shape and form, i.e., as a propaganda vehicle and parliamentary machine, has outlived its use.”
  • We all know the fact that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India. But he was not always the first choice. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had the majority of votes but Nehru didn’t want to play second in command to anyone. Mahatma Gandhi had a soft spot for Nehru he requested Sardar Patel to step down.
  • India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was considered as a global style icon. His popular ‘Nehru’ jacket earned him a place in Vogue magazine.
  • During Independence, India didn’t have any National Anthem. Jana Gana Mana’ was written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1911 and was officially adopted in 1950.
  • On behalf of all the women of India, Free India’s Parliament was represented by Hansa Mehta.
  • By law, the only material to be used for making flag is ‘khadi’. Khadi Development and Village Industries Commission holds the right to manufacture the flag and allocates it to regional groups. Flying a flag made of any other material is punishable under law with three years imprisonment and a fine.

BY .......
IMRAN HUSSAIN
MCA, MA-SOCIOLOGY