Some Lesser Known Aspects of India’s Independence

My memory of Independence Day celebrations goes back to school days when the mornings started with loudspeakers blaring patriotic songs all around and streets decorated with small tricolours. I used to get goosebumps when the National Anthem was played, something that continues to this day. After our school's program, Dad would take us to the larger celebration held in a central playground. Standing on the footrest of our Priya scooter, I would often get a balloon or pinwheel made of tricolours on the way back home.

As I grew up and read more, I learnt many interesting aspects of our freedom struggle and could appreciate our hard-won freedom even more. History has always been a fascinating subject for me, and today, as we celebrate our 78th Independence Day, let me share some lesser-known facts about this day:

1. Difference Between Flag Hoisting and Unfurling: On Independence Day, the National Flag is hoisted, symbolizing the nation's rise from colonial rule to independence. The flag is tied at the bottom of the flagpole and is raised to the top, representing the struggle for freedom and the birth of an independent nation. On Republic Day, the flag is already at the top of the flagpole, folded up, and unfurled. This act represents the country as a stable, functioning republic under its Constitution.
2. Significance of Red Fort: Nehru chose the Red Fort to hoist the flag in 1947, a tradition that has continued since then. The choice of the Red Fort for Independence Day celebrations is deeply symbolic, as the fort was a seat of power for various rulers, including the Mughals and the British. Dejure, British East India Company ruled over India based on the royal edict issued by the Mughal rulers and hoisting tricolour on the red fort symbolised its end. The fort's significance is further highlighted by the fact that the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was exiled from here after the 1857 revolt, marking the end of Mughal rule and the full establishment of British control.
3. Mountbatten Plan and the Partition: The Mountbatten Plan, officially known as the 3 June Plan, was announced on June 3, 1947. It outlined the partition of British India into two independent dominions, India and Pakistan. The plan allowed only 72 days to complete the process and the tragedy that followed is known to all.
4. Radcliffe Line and Confusion in Territories: While India gained independence on August 15, 1947, the final borders were not immediately clear on that date. The Radcliffe Line, which defined the boundary between India and Pakistan, was announced on August 17, 1947. Some districts, like Murshidabad and Maldah, which had celebrated Pakistan’s Independence Day on August 14, found themselves on the Indian side, while Khulna became part of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
5. Princely States and the Integration of Territories: At independence, about 40% of Indian territory was under Princely States, where roughly one-fourth of the Indian subcontinent’s population lived. It took considerable effort to assimilate all of them and regions like Hyderabad and Kashmir into the Indian State took some time. The merger of territories like Daman Diu, and Goa continued well beyond Independence Day, with Goa joining India in 1961.
6. Adoption of the Indian Constitution: Although India became independent on August 15, 1947, it was initially governed under the Indian Independence Act of 1947 and the Government of India Act of 1935, both passed by the British Parliament. It was only on January 26, 1950, that the Indian Constitution came into force, marking India’s transition to a sovereign republic. January 26 was chosen as Republic Day because it was on this day in 1930 that the Indian National Congress declared complete independence (Purna Swaraj) as its goal.
7. Roles of the Prime Minister and President: On Independence Day, the Prime Minister hoists the flag at the Red Fort, symbolizing the executive leadership that emerged from the struggle for independence. On Republic Day, the President unfurls the flag at Rajpath, representing the constitutional authority and their role as the ceremonial head of state, marking the adoption of India’s Constitution and the transition to a republic.

Great nations are built on the foundations laid by those who came before us, and while we may not have achieved everything we aspired to in these 77 years, there is a promise in the future. May our children see that promise fulfilled, and may we continue to honour the legacy of those who fought for the freedom we cherish today. These lines from the song Saare Jahan se Accha by Iqbal come to my mind:

ग़ुर्बत में हों अगर हम रहता है दिल वतन में

समझो वहीं हमें भी दिल हो जहाँ हमारा

यूनान ओ मिस्र ओ रूमा सब मिट गए जहाँ से

अब तक मगर है बाक़ी नाम-ओ-निशाँ हमारा

कुछ बात है कि हस्ती मिटती नहीं हमारी

सदियों रहा है दुश्मन दौर-ए-ज़माँ हमारा

Happy Independence Day!

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