We will soon be celebrating our 70th independence day on the 15th of August and like every year, the nation will rejoice over our independence. The day won’t end without remembering how hundreds of freedom fighters gave up their lives to ensure we live a life of dignity today, how Mahatma Gandhi spearheaded a non-violent movement and led us to our independence. Patriotic songs will be played in every nook and corner and celebrations will go on from dawn to dusk.

The Prime Minister will hoist the national flag from the Red Fort and we will from our terraces. Children will be taught the significance of the Independence Day, while octogenarians will recall their teen days when patriotism ran in their blood. There are numerous stories surrounding independence that we have all heard from our childhood, but there are also many facts that have somewhat got hidden in the last seven decades. Read on about some interesting facts about India’s Independence Day.

Why 15th of August

One of the most obvious questions that can come to any curious mind is why 15th August? Who chose this date? What was the reason? Was there any significance of this specific date? Well, the date was chosen by Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British ruled India. On the same date two years back, that is, 1945, Japan had surrendered to the Allied Forces which brought an end to World War II. There is another interesting fact pertaining to the date. We share our independence day with several other countries. South Korea, North Korea, Republic of Congo and Bahrain also celebrate their independence day on the same date.

India Continued Under British Dominion Even After 1947

From the midnight of 15th August 1947 onwards we ceased to be a ruled by the British but we still had the King of Britain – King George – as the head of state. The Dominion of India existed from 15th August 1947 to 26th January 1950, the day when we formally adopted our Constitution. Thus King George was our head of state and Lord Mountbatten the Governor-General of India during the interim period when our Constitution was being written.

How Nehru Became the 1st Prime Minister of Independent India

We all know that Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India but few know how he became one. Much against popular belief, Nehru wasn’t the obvious choice among many Congressmen to become independent India’s first PM - it was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. But Gandhi favored Nehru over Patel and felt that an English-educated freedom fighter with modern outlook would make a better PM. Sardar Patel who was a patriot and who revered Gandhi respected the latter’s opinion and chose to stay out of the contest making it easy for Nehru to script history.

Gandhi’s Absence From 15th August Celebrations

This can be easily regarded as one of the biggest ironies of India’s independence. The man who is credited to have almost single-handedly scripted India’s freedom was absent from all celebrations that took place on an eventful day in 1947. He did not participate because he had kept a fast and was concerned about the communal tension that broke out because of the Partition of India.