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India won independence from the British Empire on August 15, 1947, thanks to Mahatma Gandhi‘s nonviolent resistance philosophy and the Independence Movement he led. The final viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten, oversaw the transfer of authority. When Jawaharlal Nehru was elected as India’s first prime minister, he celebrated by hoisting the Indian flag above the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort in Delhi. This marked the beginning of a new era in Indian history. In this blog, we will discuss how India celebrated its first Independence Day in 1947.
Table of Contents
How India Celebrated 1st Independence Day: Independence Day Celebrations 1947
Following are the ways in which India celebrated Independence Day in 1947:
Discussion of Lord Mountbatten’s Plan
At Viceroy’s House in New Delhi on June 2, 1947, Lord Mountbatten discusses with Indian leaders about his proposal for the division of India and the transfer of power.
Jawaharlal Nehru’s Tryst with Destiny Speech
‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech by Jawaharlal Nehru, delivered at the Indian Constitution Assembly on August 14–15, 1947.
“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment, we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.” – ‘A Tryst with Destiny”
Jawaharlal Nehru Sworn as First Prime Minister of India
On August 15, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru took the oath of office as India’s first independent prime minister.
Independence Day Celebrations 1947: South and North Blocks Delhi
Parade of Armed Forces on Rajpath
The Unfurling of the National Flag
On August 16, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru raised the national flag at Red Fort in Delhi.
The Departure of British Troops from India
Related Articles:
- Happy Independence Day 2023
- In Pursuit of Freedom: India’s Journey to Independence from 1857 to 1947
- Indian Independence Act 1947: History, Features, PDF, Repeal of the Act
India has observed Independence Day on August 15 every year since 1947. The Prime Minister raises the flag above the Red Fort as part of the festivities, just as Jawaharlal Nehru did.
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