India will be celebrating its 77th Independence Day on August 15, 2023. India was under British rule from 1858 to 1947, prior to which the East Indian Company controlled India from 1757 to 1857. The first struggle for independence occurred in 1857, famously called the Sepoy Mutiny or the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Several freedom fighters took part in the Indian Independence Movement and fought for the freedom of the country and finally ousted the British to free the nation on August 15, 1947.
Real independence did not come in 1947
India became independent on August 15, 1947, or did it? Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous speech, ‘Tryst with Destiny’ delivered at midnight on August 15, is remembered as the moment a new nation was born thereon. In reality, though, that was the moment when India and Pakistan acquired dominion status. While India remained a dominion till 1950, Pakistan retained the status till 1956.In simpler words, dominions were autonomous communities within the British Empire that were equal in status but had an allegiance to the Crown.
Indian Flag was first hoisted in 1906
The Indian national flag with 3 horizontal stripes of red, yellow, and green was hoisted on August 7, 1906, at Parsee Bagan Square, Kolkata. The first variant of our current national flag was designed by Pingali Venkayya in 1921. India’s first national flag is said to have been designed by Sister Nivedita, a disciple of Swami Vivekananda, in 1904.Free India’s Parliament presented its first flag by famous Gandhian Hansa Mehta on behalf of all the women of India.
M Karunanidhi wrote PM, asking CMs to unfurl flag
Until 1973, the Governors of the respective states unfurled the national flag on Independence Day. The Chief Ministers of the respective states commenced unfurling the Indian flag only in 1974. Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi, played a major role in initiating this tradition. He 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.
5 More Countries Celebrate Independence Day
Apart from India, 5 other countries celebrate Independence Day on 15th August. These include North Korea, South Korea, the Republic of Congo, Bahrain, and Liechtenstein.
The Indian Flag is Manufactured in only One Place in India
The Indian flag is manufactured and supplied from only one place in the country. The Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha (KKGSS), located in Dharwad, Karnataka, has the authority 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.