After ages of British rule in India, the 1947 Indian Freedom Act was approved, establishing Pakistan as a separate country and handing India independence. Many people rejoiced with the end of the Raj: after decades of slavery and British tyranny, India was finally free to choose its own government.
Today we proudly celebrate our independence every year on 15 August, sharing patriotic poems in Hindi, quotes, shouting slogans, and just enjoying the independent air we have around ourselves.
But how did India manage to shake off centuries of British colonialism, and why did Britain eventually agree to leave India so fast after so many years?
The India we live in today, “Independent India”, but how it became independent, it’s important to understand how actually India got Independent, and even if you are about to give a speech on Independence day in Hindi, then this article is very very important for you, so read till the end.
okay, let’s start now!
How India Got Independence From Britishers
Growing Indian Nationalism
India had long been a jumble of princely states, many of which were competitors. The British took advantage of this at first, using long-standing rivalries as part of their aim to divide and dominate. Former enemy states began to band together against British rule as they grew increasingly powerful and exploitative.
The East India Company was deposed and the Raj was established as a result of the 1857 Rebellion. Nationalism remained a simmering issue: assassination plots, bombings, and attempts to foment insurrection and bloodshed were commonplace.
Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India at the time, stated in 1905 that Bengal would be divided from the rest of India. This infuriated Indians and galvanized nationalists in their fight against the British. The policy’s ‘divide and rule’ aspect, as well as the government’s complete contempt for popular opinion, radicalized many people, particularly in Bengal. In the face of possible revolutions and persistent demonstrations, the authorities reversed their decision just six years later.
Following India’s massive contribution to the British effort during WWI, nationalist leaders began to push for independence once more, claiming that their contributions had demonstrated that India was capable of self-government.
The British responded by introducing the Government of India Act of 1919, which established a diarchy in which British and Indian authorities shared control.
Gandhiji’s Role in Independence of India
Mahatma Gandhi was an anti-colonial Indian barrister who was trained in Britain. He led an anti-colonial nationalism movement in India. Gandhi preached nonviolent resistance to colonial tyranny and ascended through the ranks of the Indian National Congress to become its President.
Gandhi’s first foray into Indian liberation politics was the Champaran movement in Bihar. Farmers in Champaran were compelled to cultivate Indigo and were subjected to torture if they refused.
The farmers sought Gandhi’s assistance, and Gandhi was able to gain concessions from the authorities through a calculated nonviolent protest.
Gandhi had a significant impact on the Muslim people. His participation in the Khilafat Movement exemplified this. After the First World War, Muslims were concerned about the safety of their Caliph or religious leader, and a worldwide demonstration was organized to denounce the Caliph’s deteriorating status.
Gandhi became a leading figure in the All India Muslim Conference, and he returned the Empire’s medals he had acquired while serving in the Indian Ambulance Corps in South Africa. His involvement in the Khilafat quickly elevated him to national prominence.
Gandhi realized that the British were only able to stay in India because of the Indians’ cooperation. He advocated for a non-cooperation campaign with this in mind.
With the help of Congress and his unwavering determination, he persuaded the public that peaceful non-cooperation was the route to independence. The dreadful day of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre sparked a non-cooperation movement. Gandhi established the objective of Swaraj, or self-governance, which has since become the Indian liberation movement’s credo.
During World War II, Gandhi was resolved to deal a decisive blow to the British Empire, ensuring their expulsion from India. When the British began recruiting Indians for the war, this happened.
Gandhi protested vehemently, claiming that Indians could not be participating in a war for democratic causes since India was not a free country. This dispute exposed the colonizers’ two-faced image, and they were out of the nation in less than a half-decade.
Role of Second World War in Indian Independence
In WWII, Japan was a powerful nation and at the end of the war, the Americans destroyed Japan by bombarding Hiroshima and Nagasaki. When the world war ended Japan had thousands of war prisoners of the British army. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose went to Japan and made an agreement with japanese government to free the indian soldier and help him to free India. Then, Netaji formed an army AZAD HIND FOUJ- INA And attacked northeast part of Ghulam India. He almost freed Shilong from Britishers.
Netaji was a very revolutionary leader no one can deny it. He took complete advantage of External affairs to deal with Britishers. While Bapu and Congress were busy in Peaceful Satyagrah. He took a different path. They demanded “Angrezo!! Bharat Chhodo” And Netaji Demanded Blood (in terms of soldiers) to Indians. He said, “Tum mujhe khoon do, mai tumhe azadi dunga”
Both parties have completely different strategies, but they affected the British govt. And today we are the Independent Republic of India. World’s largest democracy.
Some Unknown Facts Related to Indian Independence
1. The song ‘Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata,’ created by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1911, was renamed ‘Jana Gana Mana,’ and chosen as the national anthem by the Constituent Assembly of India on January 24, 1950.
2. On August 7, 1906, in Parsee Bagan Square in Kolkata, the Indian national flag with three horizontal stripes of red, yellow, and green was raised. Pingali Venkayya, a freedom warrior, developed the first form of India’s present national flag in 1921. The present flag, which has the Ashok Chakra in the centre and is made of saffron, white, and green colours, was adopted on July 22, 1947, and raised on August 15, 1947.
3. It’s hard to imagine, but Mahatama Gandhi was not there during the inaugural celebration of Independence Day.
4. The 15th of August was chosen by Lord Mountbatten as India’s Independence Day since it marked the second anniversary of Japan’s surrender to the Allies.
5. India shares Independence Day with South Korea, the Republic of Congo, and Liechtenstein.
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