The Date Was Chosen to Mark a WWII Anniversary
The decision to grant India independence by June 1948 was advanced by the last Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten. He single-handedly chose August 15, 1947, as the date for the transfer of power. This date was personally significant to him because it marked the second
anniversary of Japan's surrender to the Allied Forces in World War II, an event he had overseen.
Our National Anthem Was Not Official in 1947
When India became independent, it did not have an official national anthem. Rabindranath Tagore's 'Jana Gana Mana' was composed in 1911 and was well-known, but it was only formally adopted by the Constituent Assembly as the national anthem on January 24, 1950. 'Vande Mataram' was also considered and was later adopted as the national song.
Mahatma Gandhi Was Not in Delhi for the Celebrations
The key architect of the freedom movement, Mahatma Gandhi, was conspicuously absent from the official Independence Day celebrations in Delhi. Deeply pained by the Partition and the ensuing communal violence, he spent August 15, 1947, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), fasting and praying for peace between Hindus and Muslims.
The National Flag Was Adopted Just Before Independence
The Indian Tricolour in its present form was adopted during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly on July 22, 1947, just weeks before independence. The design is based on the Swaraj flag, which featured a charkha (spinning wheel) at its centre. This was replaced by the Ashoka Chakra, representing the eternal wheel of law (Dharma).
The Partition Boundary Was Announced Late
While India and Pakistan gained independence on August 15 and 14 respectively, the final border, known as the Radcliffe Line, was not officially revealed until August 17, 1947. This deliberate delay by Lord Mountbatten meant that on Independence Day, millions of people were unsure which country they belonged to, contributing to the chaos and violence of Partition.
India Was Not a Republic at First
On August 15, 1947, India became an independent Dominion within the British Commonwealth, not a republic. King George VI remained the formal head of state. It was only on January 26, 1950, when the Constitution of India came into effect, that the country became a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic, with a president as its head.
Hundreds of Princely States Had to Be Integrated
Independence did not automatically unite all of India. At the time, there were over 565 princely states that were not part of British India. These states were given the choice to join India, Pakistan, or remain independent. The monumental task of integrating them, led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, was a complex process of diplomacy and negotiation that shaped the country's modern borders.
Goa Remained Under Foreign Rule for 14 More Years
While India celebrated freedom from British rule in 1947, Goa remained a Portuguese colony. It was not until December 19, 1961, after a military operation by Indian armed forces, that Goa was liberated and integrated into the Indian Union, finally ending European colonial rule on the subcontinent.
Other Countries Share Our Independence Day
India is not the only country that marks August 15 as a day of freedom. Five other countries share this date for their own historical reasons. North and South Korea celebrate their liberation from Japanese rule, Bahrain from British rule, and the Republic of the Congo from French rule. Liechtenstein also observes its National Day on this date.
The First Prime Minister Hoisted the Flag at the Red Fort
On August 15, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, delivered his famous 'Tryst with Destiny' speech to the Constituent Assembly at midnight. He then hoisted the Indian national flag above the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort in Delhi, initiating a tradition that is followed by the incumbent Prime Minister to this day.
