askbasket
The First Independence Day of India: A Historic Dawn of Freedom:
There are many reasons why you shouldn’t read this article. Perhaps you think you already know the story of India’s Independence Day. Perhaps you feel that revisiting the past is unnecessary on a day of celebration. Or maybe you wonder why a company’s pre-launch should be tied to a historical event. Yet, as we celebrate this historic day as the pre-launch day of our company, we find inspiration and meaning in remembering the first Independence Day of India – a day that marked not only the birth of a nation, but the triumph of a long struggle for freedom. What follows is a detailed look at August 15, 1947 – a day of hope, sacrifice, joy, and sorrow – and why it remains so important for every Indian today.
Background: The Road to Freedom
India’s first Independence Day did not arrive overnight – it was the culmination of nearly two centuries of colonial rule and decades of sustained struggle. British domination in India began in the 18th century and formally became the British Raj after the Indian uprising of 1857. By the early 20th century, a vibrant Indian Independence Movement had emerged, led by figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Patel, and many others. Through movements ranging from nonviolent civil disobedience to more radical efforts, Indians from all walks of life united to demand freedom. This long struggle forced the British government to finally concede independence after World War II.
In July 1947, the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act, setting the stage for India to become a free nation on August 15, 1947. Independence Day thus “marks the end of the British raj in 1947,” bringing an end to colonial rule and establishing India as a sovereign nation after a long struggle by the freedom movement. However, this freedom came with a heavy price: the country was partitioned into two dominions – India and Pakistan – as per the Act. At midnight of August 14–15, 1947, power was simultaneously transferred to India and Pakistan, giving birth to two independent countries. (In fact, Pakistan celebrated its independence on August 14, 1947, one day before India, due to the time of the power transfer).
Midnight of Freedom: August 14–15, 1947
As the clock approached midnight on August 14, 1947, the mood across India was electric. In New Delhi, a special late-night session of the Constituent Assembly (India’s first parliament) convened to formally mark the moment of independence. The timing wasn’t just political – it was also a nod to cultural sentiments. Astrologers had deemed August 15 an inauspicious date unless ceremonies began at night, so leaders decided to start the festivities on August 14 at 11 PM. The assembly opened with the soulful strains of “Vande Mataram” and observed a two-minute silence to honor the martyrs of the freedom struggle.
Then, at the stroke of midnight, Jawaharlal Nehru – who was to become independent India’s first Prime Minister – rose to deliver his famous “Tryst with Destiny” speech. His words still resonate in history: “Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge… At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom”. With these immortal lines, Nehru captured the essence of the moment – an ancient civilization stepping from colonial darkness into the light of freedom. Two other leaders spoke that night as well. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a respected philosopher (and later India’s second President), reminded the assembly that the occasion was not only one of joy but also responsibility. And Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman, a leader of the Muslim League, addressed the gathering too – symbolizing a hope for unity even as the subcontinent was being divided. This extraordinary midnight session ended with the symbolic birth of a free nation. India had “awoken” to freedom, fulfilling a dream nurtured by millions.
Dawn of Independence: August 15, 1947
When the sun rose on 15th August 1947, Indians experienced the first dawn of freedom. The day’s formal ceremonies began in the morning at the Government House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan) in New Delhi. At 8:30 AM, Lord Louis Mountbatten – who had been the British Viceroy – was sworn in as the first Governor-General of independent India. Moments later, he in turn administered the oath of office to Jawaharlal Nehru, who became independent India’s first Prime Minister, along with his cabinet ministers. This oath-taking event in the Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan was a solemn affirmation that power had indeed transferred into Indian hands. (Notably, India remained a Dominion within the Commonwealth at that time, recognizing King George VI as a ceremonial head of state until the constitution established a republic in 1950, but effective governance was now in Indian control.)
After the swearing-in, the celebrations moved to the historic Red Fort in Delhi – a site loaded with symbolism as it had been a focal point of India’s colonial history and earlier Mughal glory. Prime Minister Nehru hoisted the new Indian tricolor flag above the ramparts of the Red Fort and greeted the massive crowd gathered to celebrate. It was a poignant moment: the Indian national flag, a tricolor of saffron, white, and green with the Ashoka Chakra, was unfurled to mark India’s first day as a free country. Nehru then delivered his first address to the nation as Prime Minister from the Red Fort’s Lahore Gate, a tradition that every Prime Minister of India has continued on Independence Day since that first celebration. As Nehru spoke, he emphasized that the day belonged not to any one leader or party but to all Indians. “This flag does not symbolize the triumph of individuals or the Congress,” he declared, “but the triumph of the whole country”. It was a day of new beginnings – the climax of a freedom struggle and the starting point for the independent Indian state.
The Nation Celebrates – and Mourns Indians celebrating the first Independence Day in New Delhi, 15 August 1947, with the tricolor flag held high. The joy of freedom was palpable on the streets even as the nation grappled with the heavy costs of Partition.
Across the length and breadth of the country, news of independence sparked spontaneous celebrations. After centuries of subjugation, Indians were free to fly their own flag, sing their own national songs, and govern themselves. Eyewitness accounts from that day describe scenes of jubilation. In Delhi, there were at least 300 flag-hoisting ceremonies organized in neighborhoods around the city, as people proudly raised the tricolor in schools, parks, and public squares. An American journalist reporting from New Delhi described the moment the new flag went up over the government buildings: “…bedlam had broken loose. Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs were happily celebrating together… It was Times Square on New Year’s Eve.” Crowds thronged the streets around Parliament and the Red Fort, cheering and chanting. So eagerly did people want a glimpse of Nehru that thousands broke through police lines and surged toward the assembly building – to the point that Nehru had to exit by a side door for his safety, as the joyous crowd would not be denied their excitement.
Even Calcutta, a city that had recently been wracked by communal violence, saw an unprecedented outpouring of unity and joy. As independence approached, “Hindus and Moslems, freely mixing with each other, [were] in Calcutta tonight wildly celebrating the approach of independence”. The very streets that had seen terrible riots just a year earlier (during the Partition-related turmoil) now witnessed Hindus and Muslims dancing together, shouting slogans of freedom and embracing one another. It was a glimpse of the unity in diversity that India hoped to foster. In a remarkable initiative of peace, Mahatma Gandhi – who had chosen to stay in Calcutta at this crucial time – observed a 24-hour fast on August 15, together with Hindu and Muslim leaders like Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, as a prayer for communal harmony. Their presence had a calming effect: not a single violent incident was reported in Calcutta on Independence Day. Many later called it the “miracle of Calcutta,” as the city’s warring communities laid down arms to welcome freedom in peace.
Yet, even as the tricolour flags soared and celebrations filled the streets, the first Independence Day was also tinged with sorrow and suffering. The freedom that came on August 15, 1947 was inseparable from the Partition of India – the division of British India into India and Pakistan – which had been announced just weeks before. Partition triggered one of the largest humanitarian crises in history. Millions of people – Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs – were uprooted almost overnight, as families fled across the new borders to save their lives. An estimated 14 million people were displaced from their homes, making it “the single largest migration in human history.” Along with displacement came horrific sectarian violence: by most estimates, hundreds of thousands lost their lives in communal riots and massacres during this period. In the Punjab province especially, entire villages were decimated in the frenzy of mutual violence, and trains carrying refugees between the two new nations arrived filled with corpses. As one Cambridge historian aptly described, “Partition was a painful, traumatic experience for tens of millions… Hundreds of thousands lost their lives and up to 14 million people were displaced”.
This stark reality meant that Independence Day 1947 was a mix of jubilation and tragedy. While one part of the population celebrated with elation, another part was grieving lost loved ones or trudging uncertainly toward new horizons as refugees. “Euphoria mingled with the agony of refugees, and relief [mingled] with horror at the brutality of partition,” as historian Joya Chatterji has observed, capturing the dichotomy of that time. Perhaps nothing illustrates this duality better than the image of Mahatma Gandhi on that day. While the nation rejoiced, Gandhi spent August 15, 1947 in quiet reflection and prayer, not participating in any official celebration. He walked through Calcutta’s volatile neighborhoods, urging Hindus and Muslims to stay calm and refrain from violence. Gandhi understood that true freedom meant little if sectarian hatred prevailed. His absence from the Delhi festivities was deeply felt – Lord Mountbatten, in his remarks, explicitly acknowledged “all that India owes to Mahatma Gandhi — the architect of her freedom… We miss his presence here today”. The first Independence Day was thus both triumphant and tragic: a moment of “life and freedom” for India, but shadowed by the immense human cost of Partition.
A Legacy for Every Indian
Despite the trials surrounding its birth, 15 August 1947 stands as a proud milestone in India’s history. The first Independence Day established traditions and a legacy that continue to unite the country decades later. Since that inaugural celebration, every year on August 15th India commemorates its Independence Day as a national holiday. The day begins with the Prime Minister hoisting the national flag at the Red Fort in Delhi and addressing the nation, just as Nehru did back in 1947. This ceremony at Red Fort has immense historic significance – it reminds everyone of that first flag-raising on the ramparts when India became free. In cities, towns, and villages across India, the morning of Independence Day is marked by flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades, and cultural events. Children perform patriotic songs and dances in schools, and proud citizens wear clothes in the saffron, white, and green of the flag. It is also traditional to fly kites on Independence Day, with the skies filling up with colorful kites symbolizing the free spirit of India. At night, government buildings like the Parliament House and Rashtrapati Bhavan are illuminated in the national colors, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Most importantly, Independence Day is a time to remember and honor the sacrifices that made freedom possible. Indians collectively pay tribute to the countless freedom fighters – famous and unsung – who gave their all for independence. The Prime Minister’s address typically recounts the progress of the nation and sets goals for the future, but always with a nod to the historical significance of the day. As the years have passed, August 15th has become more than just a date – it is a renewal of the pledge to uphold the ideals of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity upon which independent India was founded.
Why This Day Matters Today
For the 1.4 billion people of India, Independence Day is not just a historical anniversary – it is a living, breathing celebration of the values that bind the nation. It is a day of patriotism and pride, when Indians of all languages, religions, and regions come together to rejoice in their shared identity as citizens of a free country. It serves as a reminder that our diversity is our strength and that we achieved freedom through unity and collective effort. Each Independence Day also prompts reflection on how far the nation has come and how far it still has to go, inspiring new generations to contribute to the country’s progress.
On a personal level, August 15 inspires millions to think about the meaning of freedom in their own lives. For some, it brings memories of ancestors who participated in the freedom struggle; for others, it’s an occasion to educate children about India’s journey from colonial bondage to sovereignty. For all Indians, it is an emotional day – a mix of gratitude, remembrance, and hope for the future.
And for us as a company, choosing this holy and historic day as our pre-launch occasion adds a profound sense of purpose. The story of India’s first Independence Day teaches us that new beginnings are built on courage, resilience, and the coming together of people with a shared dream. Just as India’s leaders in 1947 stepped into uncharted territory to build a sovereign nation, we humbly step into our new venture inspired by that legacy of determination and unity. There may indeed be “many reasons not to read” an article about the past, but there are far more reasons to remember and learn from it. Our company’s values – innovation, service, and community – draw strength from the freedom that was earned on that day. We are reminded that every achievement stands on the shoulders of those who came before us.
A Day to Celebrate Forever
In conclusion, the first Independence Day of India on 15 August 1947 was a turning point that irreversibly changed the destiny of our country. It was a day when India broke free from colonial chains and took charge of its own destiny – a day of midnight prayers and mid-day celebrations, of lofty speeches and loud street cheers, of tricolor flags and tears of joy. It was also a day tempered by pain, as partition’s wounds ran deep. This realistic understanding of history – recognizing both the glory and the tragedy – is crucial, because it makes the achievement of independence all the more meaningful.
Today, as we celebrate this day across every state and city of India, we do so with a realistic appreciation of its significance. We celebrate not just the fact of freedom, but the spirit of unity and sacrifice that made freedom possible. We celebrate the ideals of justice, pluralism, and democracy that were enshrined on that first day and later in our Constitution. And we celebrate the continued journey of India – a nation that, despite challenges, remains a vibrant democracy 78 years after that first Independence Day.
On behalf of our company and every member of our team, we wish all of India a very Happy Independence Day. This occasion is a reminder of what can be achieved when we come together with shared purpose. Much like the dawn of August 15, 1947 ushered in a new era for India, we hope this Independence Day 2025 will mark a new chapter of growth and service for us as a company in free India. Let us cherish the hard-won freedom that allows us to chase our dreams. Jai Hind !
ASKBASKETTM
www.askbasket.in
Sources
- Britannica – Independence Day (India) History & Factsbritannica.combritannica.com
- India Today – How Nehru took oath as India’s 1st PM (2019)indiatoday.inindiatoday.in
- NDTV – Independence Day Celebrated at Red Fort (Explained)ndtv.com
- Cambridge University (Stuart Roberts) – “A Tryst With Destiny” (Independence and Partition Exhibition)cam.ac.ukcam.ac.uk
- The Guardian Archive – Report from August 15, 1947theguardian.comtheguardian.com
- Wikimedia Commons – Metadata on Nehru’s Oath Ceremony (Aug 15, 1947)commons.wikimedia.org