India on Independence Day 2024 will be celebrating its 77 years of freedom from British rule. The head of the elected party will hoist the tricolour flag and accept the guard of honour parade at Red Fort in the national capital. Chief Ministers will hoist the national flag at the state capitals, while district collectors hoist the flags at their respective districts.
Independence Day 2024
Crores of Indians living in the country and abroad observe the occasion to exhibit their patriotism. The national flag flies high at government buildings, banks and educational institutions, among other places. As a part of the celebrations, Gram Sabha will be held at every village panchayats in the country in addition to numerous cultural and social events.
The observations on Independence Day 2024 are to celebrate freedom and also to commemorate and pay tribute to martyrs and fighters who endured endless fights for almost two centuries to free us from the shackles of the British government. The British controlled and ruled India for almost 200 years before leaving India in 1947.
British rule in India before Independence Day 2024
The British East India Company was aimed at establishing a profitable trade network in Asia to trade goods like spices, silk, tea and cotton. India was seen as a lucrative opportunity to establish the network. For the country was not just rich with natural resources but also seen as a thriving market. The company entered India with an intention to create a dominant position in the trade routes along the Indian Ocean.
Over a period of time, it slowly expanded its presence and influence in the country. Along with its influence, it changed their interest from being a trading enterprise to a political and military power. They ruled the country from 1757. When a countrywide revolt aiming to shake off the English rule broke out in 1857, they ended up transferring the power to the British Crown.
Over a period of two centuries, freedom fighters had conducted numerous events, including the Quit India Movement, Swadeshi Movement and Satyagraha Movement, in their fight against British rule. While many had lost their lives and became martyrs, thousands of fighters had made innumerable sacrifices. The struggle continued until India was declared a free country at the stroke of midnight on August 15. The fight for freedom continued until the British troops withdrew from the country and Jawaharlal Nehru became Prime Minister.
Why was August 15 chosen as Independence Day?
Wouldn’t it be intriguing to know why August 15, of all the dates, was chosen to declare India a free country? The answer goes as below.
After the mounting pressure by Indian fighters became unbearable for the British, the British Parliament decided to free India. The Parliament had given the mandate to the last British governor-general of India, Louis Mountbatten, to transfer powers to India by June 30, 1948. According to the first governor-general of independent India, C Rajgopalachari, if only Mountbatten had waited till 1948, the British Parliament would not have been left with any power to be transferred.
However, Mountbatten advanced the date to August 15, 1947. At that time, he defended his decision to postpone the dates by claiming that it would avoid further riots and bloodshed. But riots broke out, and bloodshed was seen everywhere. He later admitted, “Wherever the colonial rule has ended, there has always been bloodshed. That is the price you pay.”
Not all good reasons
Mountbatten chose August 15 to free the country since the date marked the second anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.
Subsequently, Mountbatten gave his inputs to the British Parliament. Based on which, the British House of Commons introduced the Indian Independence Bill on July 4, 1947. The bill was passed within a fortnight. The bill provided for British rule’s end in the country on August 15, 1947. Not just that, it also called for the establishment of the dominions of India and Pakistan by dividing the country into two.
As quoted in the book ‘Freedom at Midnight’, Mountbatten said that “the date I chose came out of the blue. I chose it in reply to a question. I was determined to show I was a master of the whole event. When they asked if we had set a date, I knew it had to be soon. I hadn’t worked it out exactly then, I thought it had to be about August or September, and I then went out on the 15th of August. Why? Because it was the second anniversary of Japan’s surrender.”
It is to be noted that Japanese emperor Hirohito announced the surrender of Japan to the Allies through a recorded radio address on August 15, 1945. The public declaration came after atomic bombs ravaged Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945.
Independence Day 2024 in terms of education
In the pre-independent India, education was nothing but a dream for many. Formal education was limited to certain sections of society, mainly urban elites and then the urban castes. Access to education was provided based on gender, caste and religion selection. The education system was framed in such a way to create a clerical workforce to serve British administration. The curriculum was centred around the British educational standards and colonial subjects. Education through local languages and emphasis on regional culture and history were not encouraged.
Along with the freedom to decide our future, Indian leaders and scholars also grabbed the opportunity to decide our own curriculum. The curriculum talks about Indian history, culture and its struggle towards attaining freedom in addition to global knowledge. Regional languages were made mandatory, reflecting its linguistic diversity. Education was ensured to everyone, irrespective of their gender, caste, and religion.
The government mandated education for everyone until a certain age. To ensure children from marginalised communities avail of education, a certain number of seats have been allocated for them in educational institutions. There has been a significant increase in the educational institutions without any geographical differences. Over a period of time, there has been a significant shift in the educational goals from rote learning to holistic development. It aims to promote critical thinking and creativity. To enhance employability and support economic growth, several vocational education and skill development institutes were set up. In addition, both the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) provide vocational and skill development training to upskill youths.
Independence in terms of livelihood
The livelihood of Indian households has changed significantly in the last 77 years. In the pre-independence era, many were dependent on agriculture or restricted themselves to their clan work. For they neither had access to formal education nor vocational education. There was minimal industrialisation with almost no large-scale industries.
The Indian economy was just serving British economic interests. In addition, landlords and zamindars were controlling the agricultural land and exploiting farmers and farm help. There was no talk about labour rights and workers were bestowed with low wages and long-hour work. There was no scope for innovation or upgrading.
However, things started to turn for good after independence. With the rise of multiple sectors and industries and universal access to education, India had transitioned into a diversified economy. Along with the rise in GDP, the income of Indian households rose and improved their livelihood. With the rise of industries, the employment opportunities grew. Access to education and skill development programmes has given birth to innovation, upgrading, and modernization in all sectors, including agriculture.
Implementation of labour rights ensured no workers are exploited and are offered the right wages. To promote growth, attract foreign investment and improve inland businesses, economic reforms were adopted. Government social welfare programmes ensured people had a quality life.
Freedom today and everyday in India
As we celebrate Independence Day 2024, we often reflect on the significance of freedom in our lives. But what does freedom mean to the children supported by Smile Foundation? For them, freedom goes beyond the textbook definition—it is about the opportunities and dreams that were once out of reach.
To many of these children, freedom means access to education. It is the joy of holding a pencil, writing their names for the first time and realising that knowledge can unlock doors to a brighter future. Education is their path to breaking free from the cycle of poverty that has held back generations.
For others, freedom is about health and safety. It is knowing that they can grow up without the shadow of preventable diseases or the threat of malnutrition. Through our initiatives, these children experience the freedom to run, play and simply be children without the constant worry of illness.
Freedom also means the ability to dream big. The children we support are now daring to imagine careers as doctors, engineers, teachers, and leaders. They’re envisioning lives that their parents could only dream of, fueled by the support and care they receive every day.
This Independence Day 2024, as we celebrate the freedom that our nation fought so hard to achieve, let us also celebrate the small yet powerful freedoms that our children are now experiencing. These freedoms are the foundation for their future and they are the building blocks for a more just and equitable society.
Our work continues to ensure that these children not only understand what freedom is but live it every single day. As they grow, so does their potential to contribute to a better India. That, in itself, is a victory worth celebrating.