Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
75th Independence Day, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
Every year, the 15th of August is a highly grateful day for Indians, as they celebrate Independence Day and pay tribute to all liberation warriors. India has completed the 75 years of Independence on 15th August 2022. The 75 years of Independence of India is named Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav by the Indian government.
This year, on August 15, when incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the Indian flag at the rampart of the Red Fort, India will complete its 75 years of Independence from British rule. India's Independence is a result of the tireless efforts of unforgettable heroes of the nation who even laid their lives in the way of the country's freedom struggle. For the first time after remaining under British rule for nearly 200 years, the nation witnessed the sun of Independence on August 15, 1947, when the nation's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, unfurled the national flag at the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort. On the morning of August 14, the PM delivered his unforgettable speech and said, "Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny and now that time comes when we shall redeem our pledge. India will awake to life and freedom at the stroke of today's midnight hour when the world sleeps."
On the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of India's Independence, through this article, we will put some light on the interesting facts related to the nation and its independence:
Adoption of the Indian National Anthem
When India gained independence, it did not have an official national anthem. The song Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata, composed by Rabindranath Tagore in 1911, was renamed Jan Gan Man and adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India as the national anthem on January 24, 1950.
The First Flag was Hoisted in Kolkata
According to historians, the first national flag in India was hoisted on August 7, 1906, in Parsee Bagan Square (Green Park) in Calcutta, now Kolkata. The flag was composed of three horizontal red, yellow, and green stripes, while Vande Mataram was scripted on the middle strip.
Tricolour as India's National Flag
In 1931, a resolution was passed adopting a tricolor flag as our national flag. The flag, forebear of the present one, was saffron, white, and green, with Mahatma Gandhi's spinning wheel at the center. Later, on July 22, 1947, the Constituent Assembly adopted the tricolor as the Free India National Flag. However, it replaces the spinning wheel on the flag with the Dharma Charkha of Emperor Asoka as the emblem on the flag. The first variant of our current national flag was designed by Pingali Venkayya in 1921.
Why was August 15 chosen?
Although the Indian Independence Act was approved on July 18, 1947, Lord Mountbatten selected August 15, as the date of Indian independence because it coincided with the date of Japan's surrender to the Allied Forces after World War II. Earlier, the British parliament had given a mandate to Lord Mountbatten to transfer power by June 30, 1948. However, as per C Rajagopalachari's memorable words, if he had waited till June 1948, there would have been no power left to transfer. Therefore, Mountbatten preponed the date to August 1947.
State Emblem of India
A representation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka placed above the motto, Satyameva Jayate, was chosen as the emblem of the Dominion of India on December 30, 1947. Later, on January 26, 1950, the three-dimensional emblem showing four lions was adopted as the State Emblem of India.
The National Song Vande Mataram, Part of a Novel
The national song 'Vande Mataram' composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, was indeed part of his novel Anandamath, written in the 1880s. This song was first sung by Rabindranath Tagore in 1896 and later, on January 24, 1950, it was adopted as the national song.
Indian Independence Act 1947 Came into Force
The 1947 Indian Independence Act was passed by the British Parliament, which officially declared the Independence of India. The act divided British India into Pakistan and India, two newly independent nations. On July 18, 1947, the British Parliament approved the Indian Independence Act of 1947.
Radcliffe Line was officially published on August 17, 1947
The borderline that separated India from Pakistan, known as the Radcliffe Line, was revealed on August 17, 1947. The demarcation line, drawn by Sir Cyril Radcliffe to depict Punjab and Bengal's Pakistani and Indian portions, was completed on August 3, 1947. However, it was officially published on August 17, 1947.
Chief Ministers Commenced Unfurling the Indian Tricolor only in 1974
Governors of the respective states unfurled the national flag on Independence Day until 1973. While the Chief Ministers of the respective states started unfurling the Indian National Flag only in 1974, this comes after the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi, wrote a letter to the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, highlighting the different practices followed in Delhi. This suggestion was accepted by the Central government.
India Receives its National Flag from only One Place
The entire nation receives the Indian flag from the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha (KKGSS), located in Dharwad, Karnataka. It is the only unit in India that is authorized to manufacture and supply the Indian flag. According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, the national flag is manufactured only with hand-spun and handwoven cotton khadi bunting.
Mahatma Gandhi did not Attend India's First Independence Celebrations in Delhi
On August 15, 1947, while the nation celebrated its arduously earned freedom, Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, did not attend the first Independence Day celebration in Delhi. Gandhi was on a hunger strike in Kolkata, Bengal, to stop the violence between Hindus and Muslims.
India Named after River Indus
India received its name from the River Indus, a place that was home to the country's first inhabitants. In India, it is known as Bharat Ganarajya in Sanskrit. It is popularly called Bharat in Hindi.
Sikkim Became Part of India After 28-Year of Independence
Sikkim became the 22nd state of India on May 16, 1975, after then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed signed the 36th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on April 23, 1975, and May 15. The amendment bill was introduced after 97.5 percent of the people voted to go with India in the referendum held on April 14, 1975.
The Price of Gold at the Time of Independence was Below 100
Gold is one of the commodities whose prices have increased significantly since independence. As per the Indian Post Gold Coin Services, the price of 10 grams of gold used to cost Rs 88.62 in 1947. Ten grams of the precious metal will now cost lakhs of rupees.
Other Nations Celebrate Independence Day on August 15
Apart from India, five other nations also celebrate their Independence Day on August 15. These nations include the Republic of Congo, which gained full independence from French colonial rulers in 1960. Both South Korea and North Korea were freed from Japan's colonial rule in 1945. Similarly, Bahrain gained independence from its British colonial rulers in 1971, and Liechtenstein gained independence from German rule in 1866 and has celebrated August 15 as its National Day since 1940.
As India is all set to celebrate the 75th anniversary of independence. To celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence, the Government of India launched Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The initiative is also aimed at celebrating the glorious history of its people, culture, and achievements. Besides multiple cultural and literary functions across the country, several big events have been part of the Mahotsav. Apart from being celebrated to spread the feeling of patriotism throughout the nation, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is dedicated to the people of India who have not only been instrumental in bringing the country thus far in its evolutionary journey but also have the power and potential to take forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
When did Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav begin?
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav officially commenced on March 12, 2021 - around 75 weeks before 15 August 2022 - with PM Modi inaugurating the curtain-raiser activities of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad. The celebrations will continue till August 15, 2023.
Themes of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
There are five themes of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav:
1. Freedom Struggle:
The theme will help bring alive stories of unsung heroes whose sacrifices have made freedom a reality. Programs under this theme include Birsa Munda Jayanti, Declaration of Provisional Government of Free India by Netaji, Shaheed Diwas, and others.
2. Ideas@75:
The theme focuses on programs and events inspired by ideas and ideals that helped shape the country and will guide us as we navigate through this period of Amrit Kaal (25 years between the 75th anniversary of Independence Day and the 100th anniversary of Independence Day).
3. Reslove@75:
This theme focuses on our collective resolve and determination to shape the destiny of our motherland. The journey to 2047 requires each one of us to rise and play our part as individuals, groups, civil society, institutions of governance, etc.
4. Actions@75:
The theme focuses on all the efforts that are being undertaken to help India take its rightful position in the new world order emerging in a post covid scenario.
5. Achievements@75:
This theme intends to grow into a public account of our collective achievements as a 75-year-old independent country with a legacy of 5000+ years of ancient history.
Activities around India@75
Several activities, competitions, and campaigns are being organized around Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Some of them are:
Swachhata Filmon ka Amrit Mahotsav
Design Competition for Iconic Structure in Nav Bharat Udyan
Draw Your Favourite Freedom Hero
Quiz on One Nation One Ration Card Plan
Suggest a Tagline for the One Nation One Ration Card Plan
Logo Design Contest for One Nation One Ration Card Plan
Online Creative Writing Competition on the theme Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav
Logo Design Contest to Celebrate 75th year of India's Independence
Comments (0)