Celebrations for the Independence
Pakistan came into existence as a result of the Pakistan movement that aimed at forming a separate homeland for Muslims. This movement was led by the All-India Muslim League under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. Pakistan was established in two wings; West Pakistan (present-day Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). According to the Islamic calendar, we achieved independence on the 27th of Ramadan, the eve of which known as Layl-tul-Qadr is very sacred for Muslims. The main Independence Day event takes place in Islamabad where flag hoisting is done in the Presidential and Parliament buildings. It is then followed by the national anthem and speeches by prominent national leaders. Other events and festivities also take place which include cultural events, flag-raising, national songs, and patriotic tableaus. Award ceremonies also take place during this day and the people of the homeland show their love for the country by raising flags at the top of their homes or on their vehicles and other attire.
History
The area which now comprises Pakistan was a part of the British Empire during most of the 19th century. The British got hold of the sub-continent by establishing the East India Company. The War of Independence 1857 put the sub-continent under the direct crown of the British. The all-India Muslim League was formed at Dhaka in 1906 to demand a separate homeland for the Muslims.
After World War 1, many Indian activists got into action. There were nationwide non-cooperation movements and civil disobedience. The idea of a separate Muslim homeland was given by Allama Muhammad Iqbal in his speech in December 1930 as the President of the All-India Muslim League. Three years later, the name “Pakistan” for a separate Muslim homeland was given by Chaudhry Rehmat Ali. It comprised five units; Punjab, Afghania, Kashmir, Sindh, and Balochistan. Like Iqbal, Bengal was left out by Chaudhry Rehmat Ali in his proposal.
During the 1940s the independence movement intensified and Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the most prominent leader. For a long time, the feelings between Muslims and Hindus had started intensifying. The all-India Muslim League was the driving force for creating a separate homeland for Muslims in South Asia. On 23rd March 1940, the Lahore Resolution was passed which focused on demanding a separate homeland for Muslims. This is why 23rd March is now recognized as Pakistan Day.
Independence
After World War 2, the British realized that they didn’t have enough British Army and resources to rule restless British India as their sources were already exhausted. Thus, they decided to end their rule over rebellious British India. In 1946, The India National Congress, demanded a single state being a secular party. The All-India Muslim League opposed this suggestion and gave the separation of Pakistan as an alternative. Efforts were carried out by the British Government to bring peace between the two parties but all went in vain and riots started in South-Asia.
In February 1947, the Prime Minister, Clement Attlee announced that India would be given independence no earlier than June 1948. On 3rd June 1947, it was announced that British India would be divided into two separate states. The two successor governments will be given dominion status. Lord Mount Batten chose 15th August as the date for the transmission of power. He chose 14th August as the date of the power transfer to Pakistan as he wanted to attend the ceremonies in both countries.
Thus, the subcontinent was divided into the Republic of India and The Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Boundaries were established between the two countries. The partition led to a massive massacre. 15 million people migrated towards their homeland according to their religion following the months of partition.
On 14th August 1947, the Dominion of Pakistan was established and Muhammad Ali Jinnah became the first Governor General in Karachi. Independence was marked with great celebrations.
The Date of Independence
The partition took place in the midnight of 14-15 August, so 15th August 1947 was considered as the date of Independence. The Act confirmed this date.
Jinnah also stated the same date in his first radio broadcast.
Celebrations
Independence Day is one of the six national holidays and is celebrated across the country. Meetings are held in Government offices by diplomats, officials, and politicians before the day. Government bodies and educational institutions arrange different sports activities, and cultural and social events for the day. In Karachi, the Mazar-e-Quaid is cleaned up for the celebrations.
Celebrations start with the hoisting of flags in the Presidential and Parliamentary offices. The President and Prime Minister of Pakistan address the nation in live telecasts. Government officials and politicians make speeches at different rallies and events in which they appreciate the sacrifices of our national heroes and discuss future goals. Main buildings like the President House etc are lightened up. A change of guard takes place at the National Monuments. The Airforce, Army, and Navy feature in Independence Day parades. The flag hoisting ceremony in the city is carried out by the Mayor and by senior officials in different private and public sectors.
Source: blogger-hub.com
Gandhi’s role in the Indian independence movement
Gandhi became the leader of the struggle for independence in 1921. The Jallianwala Bagh incident spurred him into taking on a larger role in the freedom fight, and in a few years his civil disobedience movement had become popular across the country.
Gandhi believed in non-violence, or ahimsa, and started the non-cooperation movement, in which he urged Indians to boycott British goods. He also led thousands of Indians in the Salt March against a British law that forbade Indians to make salt and force them to buy the heavily taxed British salt instead. Shortly after, Winston Churchill asked India to join World War II, and Gandhi responded by launching the Quit India Movement, which led to his arrest and widespread tension in India. Due to growing unrest in the country between Hindus and Muslims, plans were announced to partition British India into two nations – India and Pakistan. Gandhi had believed in unity, but was unable to stop the partition of the country into India and the new nation of Pakistan and the migration that caused the loss of a million lives. Source theculturetrip.com
What led to the India and Pakistan partition?
Divisions between Hindu and Muslims had been encouraged by the British “divide and rule” approach. Muslims were a minority in India and some leaders were worried about what an India dominated by Hindu rulers would mean for them. Gandhi called for the two religious groups to work together, and the leader of the political group the Muslim League, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, believed that Muslims needed a homeland within India. However, widespread violence between Hindus and Muslims started in Calcutta in August 1946 and spread later throughout North India. During Direct Action Day, also known as the Great Calcutta Killings, Muslims in Calcutta went on hartal (strike) to press for the new nation of Pakistan. The protest resulted in the worst few days of communal rioting British India had ever seen
The Pakistan Movement or Tehrik-e-Pakistan
Although the majority of the Indian population under the British Raj were Hindus, some provinces (now called states)had Muslim majorities. Due to the political unrest in the country, Britain decided that India would need to be partitioned to carve out a separate homeland for Indian Muslims, but it wasn’t immediately clear which provinces would join which country. Some were given the right to choose, while others were divided up – the provinces of Assam, Bengal, and Punjab were each split in half, with one half going to India and the other to the new Pakistan. The remaining princely states could pick a side. After the partition, Jinnah became the first Governor-General of Pakistan, and Jawaharlal Nehru became India’s first president. Gandhi, who remained the strongest advocate for a unified country, was shot by a Hindu religious fanatic in 1948, just a month before the last of the British troops finally left India. Source theculturetrip.com
