Independence day india : four things you should know about partition and this historically important

Why we are celebrate independence day

Independence Day, in India, national holiday celebrated annually on August 15. Independence Day marks the end of British rule in 1947, brought about by the Indian Independence Act of July 18 that year, and the establishment of a free and independent Indian nation. It also marks the anniversary of the partition of the subcontinent into two countries, India and Pakistan, which occurred at midnight on August 14–15, 1947.(In Pakistan, Independence Day is celebrated on August 14.)

British rule in India began in 1757 when, following the British victory at the Battle of Plassey, the English East India Company began exercising control over the country. The East India Company ruled India for 100 years, until it was replaced by direct British rule (often referred to as the British raj) in the wake of the Indian Mutiny in 1857–58. The Indian independence movement began during World War I and was led by Mohandas K. Gandhi, who advocated for a peaceful and nonviolent end to British rule.

Partition of India and Pakistan

The partition of India refers to the division of British India into two separate nations: India and Pakistan. This division was based largely on religious lines, with Pakistan intended to be a homeland for Muslims and India for Hindus and other religious groups. Pakistan was initially created as two separate regions – West Pakistan (present-day Pakistan) and East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh).

The 'Princely States of India', not directly ruled by the British, were given a choice of which country to join. Those states whose princes failed to join either country or chose a country at odds with their majority religion, such as Kashmir and Hyderabad, became the focus of bitter dispute.

Violence and Mass Migration

The partition led to one of the largest and most tragic migrations in history. Millions of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs were forced to leave their homes and migrate to their respective newly created countries. This migration resulted in widespread violence, communal riots, and large-scale loss of life. The exact death toll is disputed, but estimates range from hundreds of thousands to over a million people.The partition of India in August 1947 is one such example. Despite being one of the largest and most rapid migrations in human history with an estimated 14.5 million people migrating within four years, there is little analytic work that examines the nature or conse- quences of this rapid movement.

Leaders and Agreements

The process of partition was complex and involved negotiations between various political leaders and parties. The Indian National Congress, led by Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi, aimed for a united India, while the All-India Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, demanded a separate Muslim state. The British government, represented by Lord Mountbatten, played a pivotal role in overseeing the partition. The final decision to partition was made through the Mountbatten Plan, and the Indian Independence Act of 1947. Many revolutionary Indian freedom fighters, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, and others, took the initiative in organising the campaign that resulted in India's independence, which was attained thanks to their efforts

.Legacy and Aftermath

Pakistan observes independence day on the 14th of August and Indians the day after. Yet many families on both sides of the border still lament the journey and recognise it as a day of mourning. I inherited the partition from my grandparents through stories and material memories. As the last generation to hear first-hand testimonies the responsibility to carry their legacy feels heavy, especially around this holiday. The entire country tends to forget their trauma amidst the hypnotising jargon of nationalism and political slogans.The history of the events that occurred around 1947 centres on violence and clashes with the ‘spectacle’ of celebrations around the country. Places like the Wagah Border commemorate the day with song and music played on the very soil where the blood of partition survivors remains imprinted.