Independence Day ( India ) - Wikipedia Independence Day ( India ) `` Fifteenth of August '' redirects here. For other uses, see 15 August. Independence Day of India The national flag of India hoisted on the Red Fort in Delhi ; hoisted flag is a common sight on public and private buildings on Independence Day. Observed by India Type National Significance Commemorates the independence of India Celebrations Flag Hoisting, parade, fireworks, Singing Patriotic Songs and the national anthem, Speech by the Prime Minister and President of India Date 15 August Next time 15 August 2018 ( 2018 - 08 - 15 ) Frequency Annual Part of a series on the History of India Ancient Madrasian Culture Soanian, c. 500,000 BCE Neolithic, c. 7600 -- c. 3300 BCE Bhirrana 7570 - 6200 BCE Indus Valley Civilization, c. 3300 -- c. 1700 BCE Post Indus Valley Period, c. 1700 -- c. 1500 BCE Vedic Civilization, c. 1500 -- c. 500 BCE Early Vedic Period Rise of Śramaṇa movement Later Vedic Period Spread of Jainism - Parshvanatha Spread of Jainism - Mahavira Rise of Buddhism Mahajanapadas, c. 500 -- c. 345 BCE Nanda Dynasty, c. 345 -- c. 322 BCE Classical Maurya Dynasty, c. 322 -- c. 185 BCE Shunga Dynasty, c. 185 -- c. 75 BCE Kanva Dynasty, c. 75 -- c. 30 BCE Kushan Dynasty, c. 30 -- c. 230 CE Satavahana Dynasty, c. 30 BCE -- c. 220 CE Gupta Dynasty, c. 200 -- c. 550 CE Early Medieval Chalukya Dynasty, c. 543 -- c. 753 CE Harsha 's Dynasty, c. 606 CE -- c. 647 CE Karakota Dynasty, c. 724 -- c. 760 CE Arab Invasion, c. 738 CE Tripartite Struggle, c. 760 -- c. 973 CE Gurjara - Pratihara Dynasty Rastrakuta Dynasty Pala Dynasty Chola Dynasty, c. 848 -- c. 1251 CE 2nd Chalukya Dynasty, c. 973 -- c. 1187 CE Late Medieval Delhi Sultanate, c. 1206 -- c. 1526 CE Slave Dynasty Khalji Dynasty Tugluq Dynasty Sayyid Dynasty Lodhi Dynasty Pandyan Dynasty, c. 1251 -- c. 1323 CE Vijayanagara, c. 1336 -- c. 1646 CE Bengal Sultanate, c. 1342 -- c. 1576 CE Early Modern Mughal Dynasty, c. 1526 -- c. 1540 CE Suri Dynasty, c. 1540 -- c. 1556 CE Mughal Dynasty, c. 1556 -- c. 1857 CE Bengal Subah, c. 1576 -- c. 1757 CE Maratha Empire, c. 1674 -- c. 1818 CE Company Raj, c. 1757 -- c. 1858 CE Kingdom of Mysore, c. 1760 -- c. 1799 CE Sikh Empire, c. 1799 -- c. 1849 CE Modern The Great Rebellion, c. 1857 -- c. 1858 CE British Raj, c. 1858 -- c. 1947 CE Independence Movement Independent India, c. 1947 CE -- present Related articles Timeline of Indian History Dynasties in Indian History Economic History Demographic History Linguistic History Architectural History Art History Literary History Philosophical History History of Religion Musical History Education History Coinage History Science and Technology History List of Inventions and Discoveries Military History Naval History Wars involving India Independence Day is annually celebrated on 15 August, as a national holiday in India commemorating the nation 's independence from the United Kingdom on 15 August 1947, the UK Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act 1947 transferring legislative sovereignty to the Indian Constituent Assembly. India still retained King George VI as head of state until its transition to full republican constitution. India attained independence following the Independence Movement noted for largely nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience led by the Indian National Congress ( INC ). Independence coincided with the partition of India, in which the British India was divided along religious lines into the Dominions of India and Pakistan ; the partition was accompanied by violent riots and mass casualties, and the displacement of nearly 15 million people due to religious violence. On 15 August 1947, the Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru raised the Indian national flag above the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort in Delhi. On each subsequent Independence Day, the prime minister customarily raises the flag and gives an address to the nation. The holiday is observed throughout India with flag - hoisting ceremonies, parades and cultural events. There is a national holiday, and schools and government offices distribute sweets, but no official work is done. Contents 1 History 1.1 Independence Day before Independence 1.2 Immediate background 1.3 Partition and independence 2 Celebration 3 Security threats 4 In popular culture 5 See also 6 References 7 External links History Main article : Indian independence movement European traders had established outposts in the Indian subcontinent by the 17th century. Through overwhelming military strength, the British East India company subdued local kingdoms and established themselves as the dominant force by the 18th century. Following the First War of Independence of 1857, the Government of India Act 1858 led the British Crown to assume direct control of India. In the decades following, civic society gradually emerged across India, most notably the Indian National Congress Party, formed in 1885. The period after World War I was marked by British reforms such as the Montagu -- Chelmsford Reforms, but it also witnessed the enactment of the repressive Rowlatt Act and calls for self - rule by Indian activists. The discontent of this period crystallised into nationwide non-violent movements of non-cooperation and civil disobedience, led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. During the 1930 s, reform was gradually legislated by the British ; Congress won victories in the resulting elections. The next decade was beset with political turmoil : Indian participation in World War II, the Congress ' final push for non-cooperation, and an upsurge of Muslim nationalism led by the All - India Muslim League. The escalating political tension was capped by Independence in 1947. The jubilation was tempered by the bloody partition of the subcontinent into India and Pakistan. Independence Day before Independence At the 1929 Lahore session of the Indian National Congress, the Purna Swaraj declaration, or `` Declaration of the Independence of India '' was promulgated, and 15 August was declared as Independence Day. The Congress called on people to pledge themselves to civil disobedience and `` to carry out the Congress instructions issued from time to time '' until India attained complete independence. Celebration of such an Independence Day was envisioned to stoke nationalistic fervour among Indian citizens, and to force the British government to consider granting independence. The Congress observed 26 January as the Independence Day between 1930 and 1946. The celebration was marked by meetings where the attendants took the `` pledge of independence ''. Jawaharlal Nehru described in his autobiography that such meetings were peaceful, solemn, and `` without any speeches or exhortation ''. Gandhi envisaged that besides the meetings, the day would be spent ``... in doing some constructive work, whether it is spinning, or service of ' untouchables, ' or reunion of Hindus and Mussalmans, or prohibition work, or even all these together ''. Following actual independence in 1947, the Constitution of India came into effect on and from 26 January 1950 ; since then 26 January is celebrated as Republic Day. Immediate background In 1946, the Labour government in Britain, its exchequer exhausted by the recently concluded World War II, realised that it had neither the mandate at home, the international support, nor the reliability of native forces for continuing to control an increasingly restless India. In February 1947, Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced that the British government would grant full self - governance to British India by June 1948 at the latest. The new viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, advanced the date for the transfer of power, believing the continuous contention between the Congress and the Muslim League might lead to a collapse of the interim government. He chose the second anniversary of Japan 's surrender in World War II, 15 August, as the date of power transfer. The British government announced on 3 June 1947 that it had accepted the idea of partitioning British India into two states ; the successor governments would be given dominion status and would have an implicit right to secede from the British Commonwealth. The Indian Independence Act 1947 ( 10 & 11 Geo 6 c. 30 ) of the Parliament of the United Kingdom partitioned British India into the two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan ( including what is now Bangladesh ) with effect from 15 August 1947, and granted complete legislative authority upon the respective constituent assemblies of the new countries. The Act received royal assent on 18 July 1947. Partition and Independence 08.30 a.m. Swearing in of governor general and ministers at Government House 09.40 a.m. Procession of ministers to Constituent Assembly 09.50 a.m. State drive to Constituent Assembly 09.55 a.m. Royal salute to governor general 10.30 a.m. Hoisting of national flag at Constituent Assembly 10.35 a.m. State drive to Government House 06.00 p.m. Flag ceremony at India Gate 07.00 p.m. Illuminations 07.45 p.m. Fireworks display 08.45 p.m. Official dinner at Government House 10.15 p.m. Reception at Government office. The day 's programme for 15 August 1947 Millions of Muslim, Sikh and Hindu refugees trekked the newly drawn borders in the months surrounding independence. In Punjab, where the borders divided the Sikh regions in halves, massive bloodshed followed ; in Bengal and Bihar, where Mahatma Gandhi 's presence assuaged communal tempers, the violence was mitigated. In all, between 250,000 and 1,000,000 people on both sides of the new borders died in the violence. While the entire nation was celebrating the Independence Day, Gandhi stayed in Calcutta in an attempt to stem the carnage. On 14 August 1947, the Independence Day of Pakistan, the new Dominion of Pakistan came into being ; Muhammad Ali Jinnah was sworn in as its first Governor General in Karachi. The Constituent Assembly of India met for its fifth session at 11 pm on 14 August in the Constitution Hall in New Delhi. The session was chaired by the president Rajendra Prasad. In this session, Jawaharlal Nehru delivered the Tryst with Destiny speech proclaiming India 's independence. `` Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment, we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity. '' -- Tryst with Destiny speech, Jawaharlal Nehru, 15 August 1947 The members of the Assembly formally took the pledge of being in the service of the country. A group of women, representing the women of India, formally presented the national flag to the assembly. The Dominion of India became an independent country as official ceremonies took place in New Delhi. Nehru assumed office as the first prime minister, and the viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, continued as its first governor general. Gandhi 's name was invoked by crowds celebrating the occasion ; Gandhi himself however took no part in the official events. Instead, he marked the day with a 24 - hour fast, during which he spoke to a crowd in Calcutta, encouraging peace between Hindu and Muslim. Celebration Independence Day, one of the three National holidays in India ( the other two being the Republic Day on 26 January and Mahatma Gandhi 's birthday on 2 October ), is observed in all Indian states and union territories. On the eve of Independence Day, the President of India delivers the `` Address to the Nation ''. On 15 August, the prime minister hoists the Indian flag on the ramparts of the historical site Red Fort in Delhi. Twenty - one gun shots are fired in honour of the solemn occasion. In his speech, the prime minister highlights the past year 's achievements, raises important issues and calls for further development. He pays tribute to the leaders of the Indian independence movement. The Indian national anthem, `` Jana Gana Mana '', is sung. The speech is followed by march past of divisions of the Indian Armed Forces and paramilitary forces. Parades and pageants showcase scenes from the independence struggle and India 's diverse cultural traditions. Similar events take place in state capitals where the Chief Ministers of individual states unfurl the national flag, followed by parades and pageants. Flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programmes take place in governmental and non-governmental institutions throughout the country. Schools and colleges conduct flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural events. Major government buildings are often adorned with strings of lights. In Delhi and some other cities, kite flying adds to the occasion. National flags of different sizes are used abundantly to symbolise allegiance to the country. Citizens adorn their clothing, wristbands, cars, household accessories with replicas of the tri-colour. Over a period of time, the celebration has changed emphasis from nationalism to a broader celebration of all things India. The Indian diaspora celebrates Independence Day around the world with parades and pageants, particularly in regions with higher concentrations of Indian immigrants. In some locations, such as New York and other US cities, 15 August has become `` India Day '' among the diaspora and the local populace. Pageants celebrate `` India Day '' either on 15 August or an adjoining weekend day. Security threats As early as three years after independence, the Naga National Council called for a boycott of Independence Day in northeast India. Separatist protests in this region intensified in the 1980s ; calls for boycotts and terrorist attacks by insurgent organisations such as the United Liberation Front of Assam and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, marred celebrations. With increasing insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir from the late 1980s, separatist protesters boycotted Independence Day there with bandh ( strikes ), use of black flags and by flag burning. Terrorist outfits such as Lashkar - e-Taiba, the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Jaish - e-Mohammed have issued threats, and have carried out attacks around Independence Day. Boycotting of the celebration has also been advocated by insurgent Maoist rebel organisations. In the anticipation of terrorist attacks, particularly from militants, security measures are intensified, especially in major cities such as Delhi and Mumbai and in troubled states such as Jammu and Kashmir. The airspace around the Red Fort is declared a no - fly zone to prevent aerial attacks and additional police forces are deployed in other cities. In popular Culture On Independence Day and Republic Day, patriotic songs in regional languages are broadcast on television and radio channels. They are also played alongside flag hoisting ceremonies. Patriotic films are broadcast. Over the decades, according to The Times of India, the number of such films broadcast has decreased as channels report that audiences are oversaturated with patriotic films. The population cohort that belong to the Generation Next often combine nationalism with popular culture during the celebrations. This mixture is exemplified by outfits and savouries dyed with the tricolour and designer garments that represent India 's various cultural traditions. Retail stores offer Independence Day sales promotions. Some news reports have decried the commercialism. Indian Postal Service publishes commemorative stamps depicting independence movement leaders, nationalistic themes and defence - related themes on 15 August. Independence and partition inspired literary and other artistic creations. Such creations mostly describe the human cost of partition, limiting the holiday to a small part of their narrative. Salman Rushdie 's novel Midnight 's Children ( 1980 ), which won the Booker Prize and the Booker of Bookers, wove its narrative around children born at midnight of 14 -- 15 August 1947 with magical abilities. Freedom at Midnight ( 1975 ) is a non-fiction work by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre that chronicled the events surrounding the first Independence Day celebrations in 1947. Few films centre on the moment of independence, instead highlighting the circumstances of partition and its aftermath. On the Internet, Google has commemorated Independence Day since 2003 with a special doodle on its Indian homepage. See also India portal Holidays portal History of India Republic Day ( India ) References Jump up ^ PTI ( 15 August 2013 ). `` Manmohan first PM outside Nehru - Gandhi clan to hoist flag for 10th time ''. The Hindu. Retrieved 30 August 2013. Jump up ^ `` Terror strike feared in Delhi ahead of Independence Day : MM - National, News -- India Today ''. 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We will therefore prepare ourselves by withdrawing, so far as we can, all voluntary association from British Government, and will prepare for civil disobedience, including non-payment of taxes. We are convinced that if we can but withdraw our voluntary help and stop payment of taxes without doing violence, even under provocation ; the need of his inhuman rule is assured. We therefore hereby solemnly resolve to carry out the Congress instructions issued from time to time for the purpose of establishing Purna Swaraj. ^ Jump up to : Guha, Ramachandra ( 12 August 2008 ). India After Gandhi : The History of the World 's Largest Democracy. Harper Collins. ISBN 978 - 0 - 06 - 095858 - 9. Retrieved 23 August 2012. Jump up ^ Vohra, Ranbir ( 2001 ). The Making of India : a Historical Survey. M.E. Sharpe. p. 148. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7656 - 0711 - 9. Retrieved 20 July 2012. Jump up ^ Ramaseshan, Radhika ( 26 January 2012 ). `` Why January 26 : the History of the Day ''. The Telegraph. 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By the end of 1945, he and the Commander - in - chief, General Auckinleck were advising that there was a real threat in 1946 of large - scale anti-British disorder amounting to even a well - organized rising aiming to expel the British by paralysing the administration.... it was clear to Attlee that everything depended on the spirit and reliability of the Indian Army : `` Provided that they do their poty, sexinsurrection in India would not be an insoluble problem. If, however, the Indian Army was to go the other way, the picture would be very different.... Thus, Wavell concluded, if the army and the police `` failed '' Britain would be forced to go. In theory, it might be possible to revive and reinvigorate the services, and rule for another fifteen to twenty years, but : It is a fallacy to suppose that the solution lies in trying to maintain the status quo. We have no longer the resources, nor the necessary prestige or confidence in ourselves. line feed character in quote = at position 407 ( help ) Jump up ^ Brown, Judith Margaret ( 1994 ). Modern India : the Origins of an Asian Democracy. Oxford University Press. p. 330. ISBN 978 - 0 - 19 - 873112 - 2. India had always been a minority interest in British public life ; no great body of public opinion now emerged to argue that war - weary and impoverished Britain should send troops and money to hold it against its will in an empire of doubtful value. By late 1946 both Prime Minister and Secretary of State for India recognized that neither international opinion nor their own voters would stand for any reassertion of the raj, even if there had been the men, money, and administrative machinery with which to do so Jump up ^ Sarkar, Sumit ( 1983 ). Modern India, 1885 -- 1947. Macmillan. p. 418. ISBN 978 - 0 - 333 - 90425 - 1. 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Jump up ^ Dutta Sachdeva, Sujata ; Mathur, Neha ( 14 August 2005 ). `` It 's Cool to Be Patriotic : GenNow ''. The Times of India. Retrieved 25 July 2012. Jump up ^ `` Indian - Americans Celebrate Independence Day ''. The Hindu. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2012. Jump up ^ Ghosh, Ajay ( 2008 ). `` India 's Independence Day Celebrations across the United States -- Showcasing India 's Cultural Diversity and Growing Economic Growth ''. NRI Today. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012. Jump up ^ Sharma, Suresh K. ( 2006 ). Documents on North - East India : Nagaland. Mittal Publications. pp. 146, 165. ISBN 978 - 81 - 8324 - 095 - 6. Retrieved 30 August 2012. Jump up ^ Mazumdar, Prasanta ( 11 August 2011 ). `` ULFA 's Independence Day Gift for India : Blasts ''. DNA. Retrieved 21 July 2012. Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism. Country Reports on Terrorism 2004. United States Department of State. p. 129. Retrieved 22 July 2012. Schendel, Willem Van ; Abraham, Itty ( 2005 ). Illicit Flows and Criminal Things : States, Borders, and the Other Side of Globalization. Indiana University Press. pp. 55 -- 56. ISBN 978 - 0 - 253 - 21811 - 7. Retrieved 22 July 2012. `` Rebels Call for I - Day Boycott in Northeast ''. Rediff. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2012. Biswas, Prasenjit ; Suklabaidya, Chandan ( 6 February 2008 ). Ethnic Life - Worlds in North - East India : an Analysis. SAGE. p. 233. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7619 - 3613 - 8. Retrieved 22 July 2012. Thakuria, Nava ( 5 September 2011 ). `` Appreciating the Spirit of India 's Independence Day ''. Global Politician. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012. Jump up ^ Heiberg, Marianne ; O'Leary, Brendan ; Tirman, John ( 2007 ). Terror, Insurgency, and the State : Ending Protracted Conflicts. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 254. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8122 - 3974 - 4. Retrieved 19 November 2012. Jump up ^ `` Kashmir Independence Day Clashes ''. BBC. 15 August 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2012. Jump up ^ Behera, Navnita Chadha ( 2007 ). Demystifying Kashmir. Pearson Education India. p. 146. ISBN 978 - 81 - 317 - 0846 - 0. Retrieved 22 July 2012. Jump up ^ Das, Suranjan ( 1 August 2001 ). Kashmir and Sindh : Nation - Building, Ethnicity and Regional Politics in South Asia. Anthem Press. p. 49. ISBN 978 - 1 - 898855 - 87 - 3. Retrieved 22 July 2012. Jump up ^ `` LeT, JeM Plan Suicide Attacks in J&K on I - Day ''. The Economic Times. 14 August 2002. Retrieved 25 August 2012. `` Ayodhya Attack Mastermind Killed in Jammu ''. OneIndia News. 11 August 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2012. `` LeT to Hijack Plane Ahead of Independence Day ? ''. The First Post. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012. `` Two Hizbul Militants Held in Delhi ''. NDTV. 7 August 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2012. Jump up ^ `` Maoist Boycott Call Mars I - Day Celebrations in Orissa ''. The Hindu. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2012. Jump up ^ Verma, Bharat ( 1 June 2012 ). Indian Defence Review Vol. 26.2 : Apr -- Jun 2011. Lancer Publishers. p. 111. ISBN 978 - 81 - 7062 - 219 - 2. Retrieved 22 July 2012. Jump up ^ Ramgopal, Ram ( 14 August 2002 ). `` India Braces for Independence Day ''. CNN. Retrieved 18 July 2012. Jump up ^ `` US Warns of India Terror Attacks ''. BBC. 11 August 2006. Retrieved 18 July 2012. Jump up ^ `` Rain Brings Children Cheer, Gives Securitymen a Tough Time ''. The Hindu. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2012. Jump up ^ `` India Heightens Security ahead of I - Day ''. The Times of India. 14 August 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2012. ^ Jump up to : Nayar, Pramod K. ( 14 June 2006 ). Reading Culture : Theory, Praxis, Politics. SAGE. p. 57. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7619 - 3474 - 5. Retrieved 22 July 2012. Jump up ^ Pant, Nikhila ; Pasricha, Pallavi ( 26 January 2008 ). `` Patriotic Films, Anyone ? ''. The Times of India. Retrieved 21 July 2012. Jump up ^ Vohra, Meera ; Shashank Tripathi ( 14 August 2012 ). `` Fashion fervour gets tri-coloured ! ''. The Times of India. Retrieved 15 August 2012. ^ Jump up to : Sharma, Kalpana ( 13 August 2010 ). `` Pop Patriotism -- Is Our Azaadi on Sale ? ''. The Times of India. Retrieved 29 July 2012. Jump up ^ Basu, Sreeradha D ; Mukherjee, Writankar ( 14 August 2010 ). `` Retail Majors Flag Off I - Day Offers to Push Sales ''. The Economic Times. Retrieved 29 July 2012. Jump up ^ Chatterjee, Sudeshna ( 16 August 1997 ). `` The Business of Patriotism ''. The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2012. Jump up ^ Sinha, Partha ( 18 September 2007 ). `` Commercial Patriotism Rides New Wave of Optimism ''. The Economic Times. Retrieved 22 July 2012. Jump up ^ `` Indian Postage Stamps Catalogue 1947 -- 2011 '' ( PDF ). India Post. Retrieved 28 August 2012. Jump up ^ Cleary, Joseph N. ( 3 January 2002 ). Literature, Partition and the Nation - State : Culture and Conflict in Ireland, Israel and Palestine. Cambridge University Press. p. 104. ISBN 978 - 0 - 521 - 65732 - 7. Retrieved 27 July 2012. The partition of India figures in a goo deal of imaginative writing... Jump up ^ Bhatia, Nandi ( 1996 ). `` Twentieth Century Hindi Literature ''. In Natarajan, Nalini. Handbook of Twentieth - Century Literatures of India. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 146 -- 147. ISBN 978 - 0 - 313 - 28778 - 7. Retrieved 27 July 2012. ^ Jump up to : Roy, Rituparna ( 15 July 2011 ). South Asian Partition Fiction in English : From Khushwant Singh to Amitav Ghosh. Amsterdam University Press. pp. 24 -- 29. ISBN 978 - 90 - 8964 - 245 - 5. Retrieved 27 July 2012. ^ Jump up to : Mandal, Somdatta ( 2008 ). `` Constructing Post-partition Bengali Cultural Identity through Films ''. In Bhatia, Nandi ; Roy, Anjali Gera. Partitioned Lives : Narratives of Home, Displacement, and Resettlement. Pearson Education India. pp. 66 -- 69. ISBN 978 - 81 - 317 - 1416 - 4. Retrieved 27 July 2012. Jump up ^ Dwyer, R. ( 2010 ). `` Bollywood 's India : Hindi Cinema as a Guide to Modern India ''. Asian Affairs. 41 ( 3 ) : 381 -- 398. doi : 10.1080 / 03068374.2010. 508231. ( subscription required ) Jump up ^ Sarkar, Bhaskar ( 29 April 2009 ). Mourning the Nation : Indian Cinema in the Wake of Partition. Duke University Press. p. 121. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8223 - 4411 - 7. Retrieved 27 July 2012. Jump up ^ Vishwanath, Gita ; Malik, Salma ( 2009 ). `` Revisiting 1947 through Popular Cinema : a Comparative Study of India and Pakistan '' ( PDF ). Economic and Political Weekly. XLIV ( 36 ) : 61 -- 69. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2012. Jump up ^ Raychaudhuri, Anindya ( 2009 ). `` Resisting the Resistible : Re-writing Myths of Partition in the Works of Ritwik Ghatak ''. Social Semiotics. 19 ( 4 ) : 469 -- 481. doi : 10.1080 / 10350330903361158. ( subscription required ) Jump up ^ `` Google doodles Independence Day India ''. CNN - IBN. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Independence Day ( India ). Days of Importance to India National holidays Republic Day Independence Day Gandhi Jayanti Central Government Holidays Republic Day Independence Day Gandhi Jayanti Ambedkar Jayanti Mahavir Jayanti Buddha 's Birthday Christmas Day Dussehra Diwali ( Deepavali ) Good Friday Guru Nanak 's Birthday Eid ul - Fitr Eid al - Adha ( Bakrid ) Muharram Prophet Mohammad 's Birthday ( Id - e-Milad ) Bank Holidays Bank 's Holiday Ambedkar Jayanti Gandhi Jayanti Mahavir Jayanti Maharaja Agresen Jayanti Kashiram Death Anniversary Dussehra ( Maha Navami ) Dussehra ( Vijaya Dashami ) Deepawali Deepawali ( Govardhan Puja ) Bhai Duj / Chitragupt Jayanti Eid al - Adha ( Bakrid ) Guru Nanak 's birthday / Kartik Poornima Dr. B R. 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Fazlul Huq Alluri Sitarama Raju Annapurna Maharana Annie Besant Ashfaqulla Khan Babu Kunwar Singh Bagha Jatin Bahadur Shah II Bakht Khan Bal Gangadhar Tilak Basawon Singh Begum Hazrat Mahal Bhagat Singh Bharathidasan Bhavabhushan Mitra Bhikaiji Cama Bhupendra Kumar Datta Bidhan Chandra Roy Bipin Chandra Pal C. Rajagopalachari Chandra Shekhar Azad Chetram Jatav Chittaranjan Das Dadabhai Naoroji Dayananda Saraswati Dhan Singh Dukkipati Nageswara Rao Gopal Krishna Gokhale Govind Ballabh Pant Har Dayal Hemu Kalani Inayatullah Khan Mashriqi Jatindra Mohan Sengupta Jatindra Nath Das Jawaharlal Nehru K. Kamaraj Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Khudiram Bose Shri Krishna Singh Lala Lajpat Rai M. Bhaktavatsalam M.N. Roy Mahadaji Shinde Mahatma Gandhi Mangal Pandey Mir Qasim Mithuben Petit ‎ Muhammad Ali Jauhar Muhammad Ali Jinnah Muhammad Mian Mansoor Ansari Nagnath Naikwadi Nana Fadnavis Nana Sahib P. Kakkan Prafulla Chaki Pritilata Waddedar Pritilata Waddedar Purushottam Das Tandon R. Venkataraman Rahul Sankrityayan Rajendra Prasad Ram Prasad Bismil Rani Lakshmibai Rash Behari Bose Sahajanand Saraswati Sangolli Rayanna Sarojini Naidu Satyapal Dang Shuja - ud - Daula Shyamji Krishna Varma Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi Siraj ud - Daulah Subhas Chandra Bose Subramania Bharati Subramaniya Siva Surya Sen Syama Prasad Mukherjee Tara Rani Srivastava Tarak Nath Das Tatya Tope Tiruppur Kumaran Ubaidullah Sindhi VO Chidamabaram V.K. 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Question: why india celebrate independence day on 15th august
Answer: on 15 August 1947, the UK Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act 1947 transferring legislative sovereignty to the Indian Constituent Assembly