Independence Day in India is declared as a national holiday and it is the freedom that is celebrated all over the country with utmost happiness and joy. It is a day when we pay our tribute and respect to our freedom fighters who gave their lives so that we could breathe an air of freedom. The year 1947 has been a momentous year in the history when our country gained freedom from the British Empire that ruled for about 200 years. It was not only the British who ruled our country, but also many others that began with the Aryans who came from Central Europe, followed by the Persians, Iranians, the Parsis and many others. But it was only after a long struggle that India got freedom from the British Raj and on the eve of 15th August 1947, the Indian flag was unfurled at the Red Fort in Delhi by the first Prime Minister of India, Jawahar Lal Nehru.

Role of the freedom fighters:

The freedom fighters played a significant role in gaining the independence for the country. It was the Revolt of 1857, which was the first war of Independence of India and it started as a mutiny by the Muslim and the Hindu Sepoy of the East India Company. Rani Lakshmi Bai, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Tatya Tope, Nana sahib, Mangal Pandey were some active freedom fighters who were involved in the revolt against the British. Rani Lakshmi Bai is considered as the symbol of resistance against the British rule.

The Indian National Congress was founded and Surendranath Banerjee laid the foundation. Other active leaders included Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Chittaranjan Das, Jawaharlal Nehru and it was Gandhiji who pushed the party and encouraged the struggle for freedom by following the nonviolent path.

The Red Fort Ceremony:

It is on the eve of Independence Day that the President of India delivers a speech addressing our Nation. The Prime Minister hoists the Indian flag on the Red Fort in Delhi and twenty one gun shots are fired to honor the freedom fighters and the occasion. It is during the speech delivered by the Prime Minister that he highlights the achievements of his government during the past year and also raises important issues and plans for further development of the country. The Indian national anthem “Jana Gana Mana” is sung followed by various other activities. Similar celebrations are organized in state capitals where the Chief Minister of the state unfurls the national flag, which is followed by parades and cultural programs.

Different types of celebrations and activities:

The Indian Independence Day is celebrated all over the country and children participate in cultural activities in schools, colleges, cultural institutions and even in residential colonies. Patriotic songs like Vande Mataram, Aye mere Vatan ke logo are sung in musical concerts or programs. Most Government building and offices are decorated with flags and tri colored ribbons and many organizations arrange special shows, competitions and cultural programs. Even the TV channels telecast movies that are based on India’s freedom struggle and the day is packed with outings, kite flying, drills, parades and etc. To mark the occasion, children wear tri-colored clothes with slogans like “I Love India” and other patriotic messages. Various wristbands, stickers, badges and flag pins are also sold in the market for the celebration.

India at present

India has seen a major development in the nation’s services sector and there have been great improvements in the tele services and information technology. Today, several multinational firms continue to outsource their services from our country because of the huge pool of talented resources and our expertise in various fields. Foreign countries are directing their investments to meet their demands and this has created a great opportunity for employment for the people of India. There has been a rapid progress in the education sector, agricultural sector, infrastructure development and these have directly contributed to the growth of the nation.
The youth of the country should now imbibe the spirit of that magical day in 1947 and create a path of values for the country so that we all Indians unite and stand together!