India celebrates 60th anniversary of independence Associated Press Published Wednesday, August 15, 2007 7:15AM EDT NEW DELHI - India celebrated the 60th anniversary of its independence from British rule Wednesday in a triumphant mood, with many here feeling the country is finally taking its rightful place as a major global player. "I assure you that for each one of you, and for our country, the best is yet to come," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the nation in his traditional Independence Day speech. But with many of India's 1.1 billion people being left behind by the country's lightning economic growth, Singh warned: "we must not be overconfident." Wednesday's celebration came a day after neighboring Pakistan marked its independence from Britain with colorful displays of national pride. Tens of thousands rallied throughout the world's second most populous Muslim nation, waving Pakistan's olive-green flag with a white crescent. Others held prayer gatherings at home. Britain's partition of the subcontinent in 1947 brought one of modern history's biggest mass migrations as some 10 million people crossed the newly created frontier, and one of its bloodiest chapters as sectarian and religious fighting killed hundreds of thousands.

Lingering disputes -- especially over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir -- led to three wars between the South Asian neighbors, and tensions persist. On Wednesday, the fault lines that have so long divided India also were apparent with security tight across the country, especially in places where insurgencies are simmering. In Kashmir, mobile phone service was shut down in a bid to prevent the usual Independence Day violence. Singh, however, focused on the challenges faced by a country where children are more likely to be malnourished than in Africa and that is home to about a third of the people in the world living on less than US$1 a day. "India cannot become a nation with islands of high growth and vast areas untouched by development, where the benefits of growth accrue only to a few," he told a crowd of thousands of dignitaries and schoolchildren dressed in the orange, white and green of the Indian flag. Singh spoke from behind a bulletproof screen atop the ramparts of the historic Red Fort, the massive 17th-century sandstone structure built by the Mogul emperors who ruled much of modern-day India before the British arrived.

His speech touched on a range of domestic issues -- from plans to invest $6.25 billion in agriculture, which provides a livelihood for two-thirds of Indians, to improving schools in the country where a third of the people remain illiterate. "Gandhi's dream of a free India will only be fully realized when we banish poverty from our midst," Singh said, referring to independence leader Mohandas Gandhi. He also pledged to press ahead with industrialization and build "first-rate infrastructure" -- moves that in the past year have led to repeated clashes between police and farmers who don't want their land plowed under to make way for factories. Conspicuously absent from his speech was any talk of neighboring Pakistan -- India's longtime rival. Aside from its rivalry with Pakistan, India also faces dozens of insurgencies by separatist rebels claiming to represent one of the country's myriad ethnic groups. In Himalayan Kashmir, a predominantly Muslim region split between India and Pakistan, an Islamic insurgency has raged since 1989. In the remote northeast, there are dozens of rebel groups representing the region's diverse population. Five bomb blasts were reported Wednesday in Assam, the region's main state, but no one was killed or wounded.

Ethnic Assamese rebels have in the past week killed 32 people, most of them migrant workers from others parts of India who speak a different language and have different customs. Photos A child holds the Indian flag as he watches a ceremony to commemorate India's 60 years of independence at the government secretariat in Mumbai, India, Aug. 15, 2007. (AP / Gautam Singh) Balwant Sanghera-India has just celebrated its 60th anniversary of independence on August 15 India marks 60th anniversary: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh message: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh marked the 60th anniversary of independence from British rule by urging the country to work harder to free itself from the shackles of poverty, ignorance and disease. "India cannot become a nation with islands of high growth and vast areas untouched by development, where the benefits of growth accrue only to a few," he said on Wednesday from the ramparts of New Delhi's historic Red Fort behind a bulletproof glass screen. "We have moved forward in the many battles against poverty, ignorance and disease.

But can we say we have won the war?," he told a crowd of officials and diplomats as well as children dressed in the white, orange and green of the Indian flag. India is one of the world's fastest-growing economies, but has some of the sharpest inequalities in the world, with hundreds of millions of poor surviving on a fraction of a dollar a day. India has just celebrated its 60th anniversary of independence on August 15 Richmond, BC, Canada, Aug. 15, 2007 Balwant Sanghera India has just celebrated its 60th anniversary of independence on August 15.This most populous democracy in the world is incredible in many ways. No doubt, like any other developing country, India has its own multitude of problems. Fast growing population, poverty, pollution, corruption, religious conflicts etc continue to be some of the biggest challenges facing India. However, at the same time, this nation of over one billion people has a lot to be proud of. Last year, my wife and I had an opportunity to travel extensively to various parts of India. We found it to be an extremely enjoyable experience.

With 24 major languages and 874 dialects, India offers a unique experience in diversity. It is a fascinating, vast, complex, multicultural and multilingual country. During the past few years, India’s economy has been growing at an impressive rate. India’s GDP is reported to have increased by 9.4% last year. This kind of growth has attracted a lot of international attention. One fifth of Fortune 500 companies have set up their R&D centers in India. A recent Ernst Young European Attractiveness Survey took note of India’s economic potential. It went on to state that economies of four specific countries-Brazil, Russia, India and China – are growing at an amazing rate and it won’t be long before they begin to challenge the U.S. and Japan in this regard. India’s middle class of more than 300 million offers a very tempting consumer market to big international corporations. Thus it is no wonder that each of these multinationals wants to establish a base in India. In addition to a robust and dynamic financial system, India has a lot more to offer. Its film industry, popularly known as Bollywood, is the largest in the world. One out of every ten cell phone users is an Indian.

India has one of the largest TV networks in the world with 300 channels and over 500 million viewers. Eleven out of every twelve diamonds are polished in India and half of world’s tea is produced there. Recently, India was in the news worldwide. It had elected the first woman as its president since becoming independent. Also, the world famous Taj Mahal was selected as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Of course, the Taj Mahal is very unique. However, Agra, the home of this popular attraction, also has two more world heritage sites-the Fort and nearby Fatehpur Sikri. Not only this, nearly every one of India’s 29 provinces has something unique to offer. At every corner one sees diversity of a different kind. In this context, the remarks made by the newly elected president of India, Pratibha Patil, were very timely: “ Ours is an ancient civilization but a young nation. We look back with pride to the tremendous achievements made during the 60 years of our independence in all spheres of life.

More than anything else we have demonstrated to the world that a developing country of over one billion people, each aspiring for a better quality of life, can live harmoniously and move forward within a framework of a secular democracy.” Happy Independence Day, India! Balwant Sanghera (Balwant Sanghera is a retired School Psychologist and Community Activist. He is recipient of the Order of British Columbia) Celebration of the Independence Day in My School Research Paper - 291 Words Independence day Essay ...begin to speak on this auspicious occasion I would like to thank to my teachers for giving me this opportunity of speaking on this occasion. Today we are here to celebrate the 68th independence day of this great Nation, Bharat. Being an Indian, it is no less than an honour to give speech on Independence Day of our great nation and share my notions with you. India celebrate her Independence... 317 Words | 1 Pages Essay about my school ...Baisakhi Festival marks the time for harvest of rabi crops and they celebrate the day by performing joyful bhangra and gidda dance.

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The day when India got freedom against the British Rule after so many... 479 Words | 2 Pages independence day Essay ...our 67 prosperous years of Independence. A day so special in the history of India that wouldn’t fail to remind us of the heroic deeds of not just our freedom fighters but the citizens of India. On the eve of Independence our 1st Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru rose to make a speech on Independence Day, “ When the world sleeps, India will wake to life and freedom.” My dear friends , we are the... 689 Words | 2 Pages Independence Day Essay ...treasured up in India only.” Honourable Chief Guest, teachers and all my dear friends. This day 15th August of every year is a golden day engraved in the history of the world. We won our freedom on this date and it is a day of celebration. As we celebrate it hoisting the flag, playing our National Anthem with fervor, singing and rejoicing, we need to recall the past to remember and pay homage to the builders of our nation....

575 Words | 2 Pages Celebration of Independence Day in Bangladesh Essay ...Celebration of Independence Day The independence of Bangladesh was declared and the Liberation War began on 26 March 1971 which is celebrated as the Independence Day every year. The people of then-East Pakistan took part in this war to liberate Bangladesh from Pakistan. Independence for Bangladesh was gained through a nine-month civil war against the Pakistani Army, which resulted in the... 290 Words | 1 Pages first and last day of school Essay ...Monday morning I woke stretching to switch my buzzing alarm clock off it was 7am. I did not sleep very well because it was my first day at secondary. Part of the night I was feeling restless but I did not know why. I was feeling rather anxious throughout the night but I was happy to start a new life. I worked over to open the blinds for once the sun was shining bright as my new uniform. I worked over to make sure that my... 1290 Words | 3 Pages quizballs 50 -- part 2 - Google Groups quizballs 50 -- part 2 41.

What Cumbrian town was used as a 2007 pilot for the digital TV switch-over? 42. It was announced in April 2007 that Lord Justice Scott Baker would replace Baroness Butler-Sloss in what position? 43. What remarkable sale price did Damien Hirst's diamond-encrusted skull achieve? 44. Which world champion 400m runner successfully overturned her Olympic Games ban for missing drug tests? 45. Monks featured strongly in the September protests in which country? 46. Which northern England city was flooded by torrential rain on on 25 June 2007? 47. In what US city did Barack Obama announce his presidential candidacy in February 2007? 48. Which Bollywood actor was at the centre of the 2007 Big Brother TV Show racism uproar? 49. Shinzo Abe resigned in September 2007 as prime minister of which country? 50. Which corporation bought 1.6% of Facebook for $240m? 51. The Kate Moss Collection was launched by what store chain? 52.

The two CDs lost by the UK department HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) contained personal details of 20m people relating to claims of what? 53. Who resigned as England cricket coach after the 2007 Ashes series 5-0 defeat? 54. What nickname was used by the media for the senior policeman in charge of the Cash for Honours investigation? 55. In May 2007 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the biggest what in history to date? 56. Intensive British forces operations in Afghanistan through 2007 were centred in which province? 57. In what significant UK location was the August 2007 Climate Change Camp sited? 58. Which movie star left the much publicized 'rude pig' phone message for his twelve year old daughter? 59. In a bizarre 2007 confessional frenzy, Ruth Kelly, Jacqui Smith, Harriet Harman, Hazel Blears and Alistair Darling where among several British government ministers to make what admission? 60. At the end of 2007 how many England Premiership football (soccer) clubs were foreign owned?

61. In June 2007 the Millennium Dome re-opened under what name? 62. Which famous aviator and adventurer went missing over the Nevada Desert in September 2007? 63. The perfume brand 'Mwah' was launched in 2007 by which 'celebrity'? 64. What country celebrated on August 15th 2007 its 60th anniversary of independence from British rule? 65. Who resigned as World Bank President after failing to disprove allegations of his nepotism? 66. Which country won the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup? 67. Following an Ofcom investigation which TV company was judged in September 2007 to be the worst offending in the premium line phone-in scandals? 68. What film won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Picture? 69. Speculation towards the end of 2007 suggested that Rupert Murdoch's News International Group was in discussion to buy what significant business networking website? 70. Which rapper cancelled his UK tour when refused entry to the country? 71.

What was the name of the Space Shuttle which launched on June 8th 2007? 72. Who made this amusing statement: "I have expressed a degree of regret that may be equated with an apology..." ? 73. Whose secret donations of over half a million pounds caused a big problem for the Labour Party when they were exposed in November 2007? 74. Who became the new French president in 2007? 75. Who was charged with fraud when he reappeared five years after going missing in a canoe off the Cleveland coast? 76. Clarence Mitchell was appointed media spokesman for whom in September 2007? 77. Which Formula One racing team was expelled from the 2007 Constructors Championship for spying on a competitor? 78. Blake Fielder-Civil achieved notoriety as whose errant husband? 79. Which former newspaper owner and business mogul was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment for fraud in December 2007? 80. Which major city switched off its lights for an hour on the evening of 31 March 2007 as a political statement about climate change? 81.

What was the village and laboratory site name connected with the August 2007 foot-and-mouth desease outbreak near Guildford in Surrey? 82. Garments of which famous clothes label were found being made by child labour in India in October 2007? 83. Which organization announced euphemistically it would 'transition' its modestly performing '360' social networking website? 84. What Richard Dawkins' book attracted huge popularity and controversy throughout 2007? 85. In 2007 according to World Health Organization statistics what are the only two non-African countries with an under-five infant mortality rate of more than 10%? ANSWERS: 42. Coroner at the inquests into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed 60. Nine (Manchester Utd, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Fulham, Portsmouth, West Ham and Sunderland.) 61. O2 (or to be precise, O2) 62. Steve Fosset (fully James Stephen Fossett) 63. Channelle Hayes (UK 2007 Big Brother contestant) 64.

India 65. Paul Wolfowitz (arranged a big pay rise and promotion for his partner and World Bank employee Shaha Riza) 66. Germany (becoming the first nation to retain the title, with a 2-0 final victory over Brazil) 67. GMTV (Good Morning Television Ltd - 75% owned by ITV, and 25% owned by Walt Disney Co., as at 2007.) 68. The Departed (directed by Martin Scorsese) 69. Linkedin.com 71. Atlantis (its five sister Space Shuttle craft are/were Enterprise, used for testing only, Columbia, Challenger, Discovery and Endeavour - interestingly not the US spelling 'endeavor' because the craft was named after the English explorer James Cook's ship HMS Endeavour. Challenger was lost shortly after launch in 1986; Columbia was lost on re-entry in 2003.) 72. Des Browne (UK Defence Minister, after conveniently allowing the distracting purchase and publication by the press of stories from British sailors captured and held by Iran) 73.

David Abrahams What Happened on August 15th This Day in History 1910 , 1914 , 1927 , 1930 , 1934 , 1945 , 1947 , 1950 , 1953 , 1965 , 1969 , 1971 , 1972 , 1983 , 1989 , 1994 , 1995 , 1998 , 2000 , 2005 , 2006 , 2007 , 2011 , 2013 , Born This Day , 1969 U.S.A. Woodstock Music Festival 15th Aug. 1969 : The Woodstock Music Festival opens with 500,000 rock music fans going to this Peace and Harmony Music Festival the groups who performed includes some of the greatest performers of late 60s pop music . Day 1 Richie Havens, Swami Satchidnanda, Country Joe McDonald, John B.

Sebastion, Sweetwater, Incredible String Band, Bert Somner, Tim Hardin, Ravi Shanker, Melanie, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Biaz Day 2 Quill, Keef Hartley Band, Santana, Canned Heat, Grateful Dead, Mountain, Credence Clearwater Revival, Sly & The Family Stone, Janis Joplin, The Who. Day 3 Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker, Country Joe & The Fish, Ten Years After, The Band, Day 4Blood Sweat and Tears, Johny Winter, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Sha-Na-Na, Jimi Hendrix. How many chances are there to see this type of talent assembled in one place playing live music Find More What happened in 1969 Born on the Bayou" Woodstock 1969 1914 Panama Panama Canal Opens 15th Aug.

1914 : The Panama Canal, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, was officially opened, the original construction began in 1880 by French Engineers but after 20,000 workers died of malaria, yellow fever and other diseases during construction the French gave up and American money and engineers completed the project. The canal is 48 miles long and has three major locks and Tolls are decided by the Panama Canal Authority based on vessel type, size, and cargo. The tolls still provide a significant saving on fuel and time for ships to go the long route round Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America. 1910 England Ireland Home Rule Discussions 15th Aug. 1910 : President Theodore Roosevelt conferred with King George and asserted that Home Rule in Ireland would be beneficial. Roosevelt offered Great Britain support for its ongoing problems with Ireland. 1927 Jamaica Canadian Lumber Imports 15th August 1927 : Jamaica has been importing Canadian lumber which for the most part is Douglas Fir. Its trade with Canada has increased 100 per cent in the last year. Jamaica is still a colony of Britain. 1930 U.S.A.

US Hit by Drought 15th Aug. 1930 : Following the stock market crash in Late 1929 , America is hit by one of the worst droughts ever seen which combined with the market crash leaves many hundreds of thousands without food and shelter. President Herbert Hoover tells Americans his plans for relief of individuals and businesses affected by the droughts, only history confirms that his plans were not wide ranging enough to stave off the great depression years which dogged not only America but the world during the rest of the > 1930's . 1934 Germany Paul von Hindenburg 15th Aug. 1934 : In his last will and testament, the dying Reich president, Paul von Hindenburg endorsed Hitler’s revival of the fatherland and this fact was used to gain popular support for Hitler. Hindenburg wrote of Germany, “I thank Providence for permitting me to see in the evening of my life the hour of recovery.” 1945 U.S.A. / UK VJ Day 15th Aug. 1945 : Following the US President Harry S Truman telling the world at a press conference at the White House yesterday that Japan has surrendered unconditionally.

15 August has been declared Victory in Japan ( VJ ) day. 1945 U.S.A. Gas Rationing 15th Aug. 1945 : World War II gas rationing in America ended . Gasoline rations depended on your need for gas and there were a number of different criteria including basic use to different amounts depending on your job needs for example farmers of firemen would gain a larger number of units than an ordinary individual. Gasoline ration card A entitled the holder to seven units of gasoline Gasoline ration card B1 entitled the holder to eleven units of gasoline Gasoline ration card B3 entitled the holder to nineteen units of gasoline 1947 Denmark Rebuilding 15th Aug. 1947 : Denmark’s population in this decade is 4,000,000 people and it occupies a peninsula and several islands. In the past this country was famous for its dairy products, but German occupation had decimated it. Denmark is now in the process of rebuilding and it is a member of the U.N. Assembly.

1947 India and Pakistan Gains Independence 15th August 1947 : India and Pakistan gain independence from Britain ending 200 years of British rule much of the thanks for this should be given to the Indian independence leader Mohandas Gandhi as because of his many effective passive resistance campaigns he had managed to get many of the other world leaders to pressurize the British government into giving India and Pakistan independence. 1950 Great Britain 15th Aug. 1950 : The future queen of England Princess Elizabeth, has given birth to a daughter at Clarence House in London it is almost 2 years since her first son, Prince Charles was born. 1953 China Jeer Mao Tse Tung 15th Aug. 1953 : In Panmunjom rebellious Chinese POWs dealt the communists a blow, by jeering and refusing to go home to China and Mao Tse Tung. Of the 500 prisoners 490 chose captivity to communism and only 10 were subservient and agreed to covert. 1965 U.S.A. Beatles Live Concert at Shea Stadium Sunday 15th Aug.

1965 : At the peak of American Beatlemania the Beatles play at Shea Stadium in New York City where 55,000 Beatles fans mostly young teenage girls screamed and cried through the concert. 1965 U.S.A. Watts Riots 15th Aug. 1965 : The violence and destruction of the Watts area of Los Angeles has continued over the weekend and Armed National Guards have been put on the streets with orders to arrest looters and others who have been setting fires to local businesses. 1969 India Elections 15th Aug. 1969 : India has 539 million people and complex politics. Many of the voters cannot read. For the last 22 years Sanjiva Reddy had ruled, but his coalition started crumbling. His opponent, Venkata Giri was popular with left wingers and boasted the endorsement of Indira Gandhi. 1971 U.S.A. Inflation, Wage Freeze 15th August 1971 : President Richard M. Nixon announced a 90-day freeze on wages, prices and rents in an attempt to bring inflation that was increasing under control.

As part of the measures he also removed the gold/silver backing from the US Dollar effectively ending the ( Bretton Woods System ) and the American role as the guarantor of stability for the US Dollar and other worlds currencies. By the end of the year the US dollar became a floating currency and shortly after most of the rest of the worlds currencies followed which is still the case today. 1972 Israel Hijackers Life Sentence 15th Aug. 1972 : In Israel hijackers get a life sentence. Two Arab girls who helped hijack a Sabena Airlines plane of Belgian origin got a sentence of 25 years in prison. The accused apparently had weapons and explosives with them and planned to use them. Their pleas for clemency were ignored by military police. 1983 U.S.A. Hurricane Alicia 15th Aug. 1983 : Hurricane Alicia forms in the Gulf of Mexico and three days later hits the Texas Gulf Coast causing 21 deaths, thousands of injuries and billions of dollars in damages. 1989 Iran American Hostage Murdered 15th Aug. 1989 : American hostages were being held in Iran and Lt. Col. William Higgins was murdered. President George H.

Bush said that he didn’t retaliate militarily because the rest of the eight hostages might be killed if he did. 1994 Sudan Carlos the Jackal Captured 15th Aug. 1994 : The terrorist Illich Ramirez Sanchez, known as Carlos the Jackal, is captured in Khartoum, Sudan, by French intelligence agents, he had had associations with some of the most ruthless terrorist groups including The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine The Organization for Armed Arab Struggle The Japanese Red Army. 1995 U.S.A. Captain Wang Prosecuted 15th Aug. 1995 : The accidental shooting down of two U.S. military helicopters by seven American officers probably will cost them their military careers. Twenty-six individuals were killed in the April 14th , 1994 incident. While six officers were reprimanded, grounded, and had critical letters put in their files, only one -- Captain Wang was prosecuted as a criminal.

1998 Northern Ireland Omagh Bombing 15th August 1998 : A massive car bomb in the market town of Omagh, County Tyrone has left at least 27 dead and more than 100 injured in the worst paramilitary bombing since the start of the Northern Ireland conflict thirty years ago. A splinter group of the IRA who oppose the current peace negotiations "The Real IRA" who formed after the Provisional IRA declared a cease fire are suspected of planting the bomb. 1998 U.S.A. Apple Launches iMac 15th Aug. 1998 : Apple computers who have been having a hard time over with last 3 years with poor sales and financial problems are lauching a new concept in home computers the iMac. The iMac is an all in one home computer and internet ready consisting of only of a monitor/central unit, keyboard and mouse and is going on sale in the US priced at $1,299. Apple currently holds less than 5% of the home computer market. ( 2008 market share is closer to 8% ). 2000 Korea Family Reunions 15th Aug.

2000 : The first family reunions since 1985 between North and South Koreans took place in an atmosphere of highly charged emotion. One hundred family members from each side were allowed to participate. The communist north and the capitalist south have been sworn enemies since the Korean war from 1950 - 1953. However, the two sides are working towards an eventual rapprochement. 2005 Israel Neve Dekalim Settlement 15th Aug. 2005 : Following an agreement between Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to end four years of Middle East violence which included the hand over of five West Bank towns to Palestinian control. Israeli troops arrive at the Neve Dekalim Settlement in the Gaza Strip to serve eviction notices where they are facing angry Israeli settlers who are refusing to leave. 2005 U.S.A. Latest Census Figures 15th Aug.

2005 : The US Census Bureau has released it's latest figures showing that 35 million immigrants ( those not born in the United States ) in the US making up 12.4% of the US population, and Hispanics have increased to the US largest minority group, at 14.4% of the population. 2006 New Zealand Maori Queen Dies 15th Aug. 2006 : Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, the Maori queen of forty years died at the age of 75 on this day. Dame Te Ata, as she was known, served the longest as the head of the Kingitanga movement, a 150 year old royal line. Dame Te Ata held a ceremonial position but was often consulted by politicians and looked at as a cultural ambassador for the Maori in New Zealand. 2007 Peru Earthquake 15th Aug.

2007 : An earthquake measuring 8.0 strikes the central coastal area of Peru affecting the cities of Pisco, Ica and Chincha Alta in the Ica Region leaving some small villages completely devastated, the death toll is believed to be over 500 with many more now homeless. China 2011 China Tibetan Monk Burns Himself to Death 15th August, 2011 : Tsewang Norbu, a Tibetan monk, set himself on fire in an apparent protest against Beijing in China's Sichuan province. Norbu allegedly shouting "Long live the Dalai Lama" before burning himself to death. Cambodia 2013 Cambodia Landmine Kills Six 15th August, 2013 : Six people died after driving over an old landmine in Cambodia. The landmine was most likely from Cambodia's civil war and had not been disarmed. The men who were thought to be farmers, were probably inspecting their fields in a flooded area when they drove over it, the area was a battlefield during the 1980s.

Help Support The People History Unlike many other sites we are not sponsored and do not ask for donations but hope our visitors will support us by purchasing products from our "Taking You Back In Time" Range including Year In History Prints, Personalized Newspaper Front Pages, Year In History Mugs, Anniversary Mugs including our India and Pakistan at crossroads as they celebrate 60 years of independence | World news | The Guardian India and Pakistan at crossroads as they celebrate 60 years of independence · Parades accompanied by tight security · 500,000 march for peace on both sides of border Randeep Ramesh , South Asia correspondent Wednesday 15 August 2007 06.36 EDT Share on Messenger Close Pakistan and India began celebrating 60 years as independent nations yesterday with a series of parades, gun salutes and speeches that sees both nations at crucial crossroads in their histories. In Pakistan , a Muslim nation of 160 million people, cannons boomed as dawn broke on the 60th anniversary and the country's green and white flag was raised amid a deep political crisis and bloody militant violence.

Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, last week toyed with imposing emergency rule. Across the border, where celebrations will take place today, the story could not be more different. After decades of sloth, India , with a 1 billion-strong population, is poised to regain its pre-colonial glory as a great economic power and has had fair and free elections for decades. Both countries have been ravaged by terrorism and security has been tightened in major cities. In Pakistan yesterday fireworks were banned and public gatherings were being discouraged. Normally independence day is celebrated with wild public abandon in Pakistan. In India, Delhi's ring road was shut to traffic in the evening and the historic Red Fort, where the prime minister traditionally appears with political leaders for an annual speech, was last night ringed by 10,000 police officers. The two nations, the first colonies to break free of British rule after the second world war, technically became independent on the stroke of midnight between August 14 and 15 1947. But because the last viceroy of British India did not arrive in India from Pakistan until August 15, the two countries celebrate a day apart.

Analysts say celebrations were likely to be more frenzied in India today. Although both nations inherited British legal and parliamentary traditions, Pakistan and India produced widely diverging histories. Pakistan has lurched between corrupt civilian governments and military rule, embedding cynicism in the electorate. India has regularly held elections, producing governments of differing political complexions. "We are essentially the same people, same high-voltage flashes of emotions, same generosity but one thing separates us: democracy," said MJ Akbar, editor-in-chief of India's Asian Age newspaper. Akbar said that despite the burden of poverty and the curse of religious and caste strife, "India's democracy has survived the whole range of Himalayan problems". He added: "That cannot be said of Pakistan." Both countries were born amid bloodshed. The division of British India into a Muslim state and a vast Hindu-majority nation led to sectarian riots and ultimately the deaths of 1 million people. The killings marked the beginning of a hostile relationship between the south Asian countries. After just a quarter of a century, they had fought three wars. By 1971, two had become three with the creation of Bangladesh from East Pakistan.

The 50th anniversary came a year before tit-for-tat nuclear tests that many feared presaged more bloodshed. But a decade on, the rivalry looks as if it is finally mellowing. There is even a chance that a diplomatic solution can be found over Kashmir, over which Pakistan and India last fought in 1999. Hajrah Mumtaz, an editor at Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, which is running a series of polls with the Indian Express, said: "There's a lot of media exchange between the two countries now and with the internet we can see what each other is thinking and saying. I think, too, we are dealing with the fourth generation after partition and some of the reasons for the animosity tend to dim." On the border in Punjab last night, a remarkable display of peace and friendship took place when 500,000 people gathered to call for an end to hostilities. Fifteen Pakistani MPs were due to attend the candlelit march, the first of which was started 14 years ago by veteran journalist Kuldeep Nayar. "When we started it was just 12 people. Now it is half a million.

That is proof of goodwill between us," said Nayar, who was born in Sialkot city, Pakistan, 81 years ago. "I think people are beginning to realise that the cycle of revenge has got to end and we need to have a more normal relationship." India's Independence Day « btw-Stuff You Should Know These dancers perform in traditional dress at an Independence Day cermony in Bangalore. In India, Independence Day is August 15. It honors the day in 1947 when India gained its freedom after 200 years of British rule. Throughout the country, Independence Day is a national holiday marked with colorful parades, patriotic speeches, and flag-raising ceremonies. The Prime Minister of India leads the national commemoration by raising the national flag and addressing the nation. This ceremony takes place at the Red Fort, a historical monument near Indiaâs capital of New Delhi. Afterward, Indian government officials review a large parade made up of army and police forces as well as civilian groups. Similar official ceremonies take place in the capitals of Indiaâs 28 states. At the same time, schools mark Indiaâs Independence Day with cultural activities, drills, flag raising, and distribution of treats.

Neighborhoods, cultural centers, and other clubs hold sports competitions and entertainment based on the theme of freedom. Families and friends get together for lunch or dinner, or for an outing. At night, buildings in Indiaâs cities are ablaze with colorful lights, and fireworks sweep across the dark sky. Evening television covers Independence Day events and provides special programs recalling the heroes of Indiaâs independence movement. These heroes include Mohandas K. Gandhi, leader of the nonviolent campaign against British rule, and Jawaharlal Nehru, Indiaâs first prime minister. On August 15, 2007, India celebrated the 60th anniversary of its freedom from British rule. You can watch a news report about the ceremonies posted on YouTube, a brief excerpt of the ceremonies led by Indiaâs prime minister. Learn basic facts about India, its history, and its people at the CIA World Factbook. Please read our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice before you explore our Web site. To report a technical problem with this Web site, please contact Technical Support . India Marks 60th Anniversary - AP Online | HighBeam Research APA "India Marks 60th Anniversary." AP Online.

Press Association, Inc. 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2017 from HighBeam Research: Please use HighBeam citations as a starting point only. Not all required citation information is available for every article, and citation requirements change over time. India Marks 60th Anniversary Browse back issues of this publication by date August 15, 2007 | Copyright Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. This material is published under license from the Associated Press. All inquiries regarding rights or concerns about this content should be directed to Customer Service . Create a link to this page Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog: <a href="" title="India Marks 60th Anniversary | HighBeam Research">India Marks 60th Anniversary</a> NEW DELHI - India celebrated the 60th anniversary of its independence from British rule Wednesday in a triumphant mood, with many here feeling the country is finally taking its rightful place as a major global player.

"I assure you that for each one of you, and for our country, the best is yet to come," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the nation in his traditional Independence Day speech. But with many of India's 1.1 billion people being left behind by the country's lightning economic growth, Singh warned: "we must not be overconfident." Wednesday's celebration came a day after neighboring Pakistan marked its independence from Britain with colorful displays of national pride.

… States News Service; August 15, 2011 361 words MONCTON, NB -- The following information was released by the Liberal Party of Canada: Liberal Leader Bob Rae made the following statement today on India Independence Day: "On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary Caucus I would like to extend warm wishes to everyone… States News Service; August 15, 2016 345 words OTTAWA, Canada -- The following information was released by the office of the Prime Minister of Canada: The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement in recognition of India's Independence Day: "Today, we join the people of India and members of the Indo-Canadian community… States News Service; August 14, 2014 502 words WASHINGTON -- The following information was released by the U.S.

Department of State: Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC August 14, 2014 On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I send best wishes to the people of the Republic of India as you… States News Service; August 15, 2015 402 words TORONTO -- The following information was released by the Liberal Party of Canada: The Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement in recognition of India's Independence Day: "This year marks India's 69th Independence Day -- an occasion that will be… States News Service; August 12, 2010 618 words WASHINGTON -- The following information was released by the office of New York Rep.

Joseph Crowley: On Wednesday, August 11, Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-Queens, Bronx), an active member of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, joined the Ambassador of India to the United States,… Momentous August - Mainstream Weekly Mainstream Weekly Mainstream, Vol XLV, No 35 Momentous August Saturday 18 August 2007 [(Musings)] On the 15th of August India would be celebrating the Sixtieth year of its Independence from British rule after a long, hard, and unique non-violent struggle, (not always non-violent, though). Sixty years is the time (in our culture) for introspection, weighing of gains and losses, of a renewal of faith in ourselves and the world around us. As it happens, August is also an august month for some very decisive moments in our history and the world. August was the month, on the 9th in 1942 when Gandhiji declared the last surge for our freedom struggle when he called upon Britain to “Quit India”, and his own countrymen to “Do or Die”.

And August was the month when World War II came to a decisive end when the United States dropped the first global atom bomb on Hiroshima in Japan demolishing the city and its people 180,000 of them in half a minute. Not content, nearby Nagasaki also went into oblivion two days later in a second atomic attack. It would not be wrong to say that in the circumstances August at various times saw the most profound changes in the world and possibly human history. Because following these Augusts, though World War II officially ended, a Cold War raged into the new century whose embers have been doused only recently but ignited by new tensions and violence on the most horrific scale in “shock and awe” operations. Relentless terrorisms of various kinds have plagued the world—our own country included. In measuring our own country’s journey through these six decades shall we say we have done a good job, or as many nay-sayers, the ones who never say yes, claim, we are the most corrupt, the filthiest, the most beastly people on earth. Well, no one in the world is all-shining.

Some of the so-called most advanced countries have corruption on a massive scale, which make ours peanuts. But that is no consolation. Our democracy is a sham, they say. And yet, how many times the people have democratically punished their leaders and yet restored them democratically after forgiving them! That’s shining democracy. The point is that in spite of faults, mistakes, impious acts, wrongs to society and people, greed, and other abominations, we, the people and their responsible leaders have vigorously fought to right the wrong, to establish human rights, the rights of man, woman and child. We have not stood by the silent and just watching or fell to abject surrender. That is the redeeming feature. That is our salvation and our victory in the times to come. That is the meaning of our momentous August. (Courtesy : Neighbourhood Flash)

Question: What country celebrated on August 15th 2007 its 60th anniversary of independence from British rule?
Answer: India