This year India celebrated 75 years of Independence! It resulted from years of revolt and the sacrifices of several unforgettable heroes! 15th August is a very special day for every Indian as it reminds us of the glorious history of our country and how far we have come!
However, these are some lesser-known facts about Independence Day you would love to know!
1. Lord Mountbatten chose India’s Independence Day on 15th August for a reason.
The Last viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten, specifically had chosen 15th August as India’s Independence Day to mark Japan’s surrender to Allied Forces in World War II on 15th August 1945.
After several days of battle between the Axis and Allied powers, Japan decided to give up and surrender on 15th August 1945 after the atomic bombs destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
15th August was also supposed to be Pakistan’s Independence Day. Although the reason for postponing the Independence was unclear, it is believed that Mountbatten decided to transfer power to Pakistan on 15th August. Still, he arrived on 13th August and completed the formalities on 14th August. The next day, he transferred the power to India on 15th August, making it our Independence Day!
2. India gets its national flags only from one place.
The Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha (KKGSS) is the only authorised entity in the country that can manufacture the Indian tricolour! After the new act to protect national flags and other emblems were passed, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) gave a certificate to this only body in the country.
This organisation has been making Indian flags since 2016. They follow a meticulous process of making flags. Even the minor inconsistency in the quality or specification leads to the cancellation of that particular flag. They even provide a 15-month training for people who want to join their organisation or any khadi industry.
3. India became independent and was also partitioned on the same day.
One of the lesser-known facts about Indian Independence Day is that it is also the day when India was partitioned. Two new free dominions were born, India and Pakistan.
Later, east Pakistan became Bangladesh in 1971. The reason behind India’s partition was the two-nation theory of Syed Ahmed Khan. The religious tension between Hindus and Muslims was also brewing. All of these led to India’s partition on 15th August 1947.
4. Mahatma Gandhi could not participate in India’s first independence day celebration.
While India was preparing to celebrate its first-ever Independence Day, Mahatma Gandhi did not participate in this grand celebration. He never really accepted the legitimacy of the partition. Instead,d he went on a 24-hour hunger strike to oppose the ongoing riots that took palace on both sides of the borders post announcement of partition.
On 15th August 1947, he was in Calcutta and planning to visit Noakhali (now in Bangladesh), which witnessed the most heinous crime of mass killings. However, the leaders in Calcutta stopped him for the day.
Do you know other lesser-known facts about Independence Day? Share with us in the comments below!
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