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On 15 August 1947, India attained freedom from the British Rule. Every year, August
15 is celebrated as the Independence Day in India. This national festival is celebrated
with great enthusiasm all over the country.

The Independence Day of any country is a moment of pride and glory. On this special
occasion, rich tributes are paid to the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives and
fought to free their motherland from the clutches of the oppressors - British who ruled
the country.
  
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At the stroke of midnight, as India moved into August 15, 1947,

Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, read out the famous
speech proclaiming India's independence.

The moment ended three centuries of British colonial rule. The land
was no longer the summer retreat of British sahibs who fancied spices,
shikar, elephants and snake-charmers.

Independence was also the end of nearly a century of struggle for

freedom, battles, betrayals and sacrifices. It also created a situation
where we were responsible for ourselves.
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But it wasn't a period of unqualified joy. For a lot of people, in spite of a new era
promised by independence, partition was a painful reality and so was the
bloodshed that accompanied it.

That was 60 years ago. Much has changed; the struggle for freedom lives on in
history books and memoirs, and on the tombstones of valiant martyrs.
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In June 1947, Muslim League and the Congress Party decided to partition India
along religious lines. Thus under the provision of the Indian Independence Act,
two separate nations, India and Pakistan were born.

Nearly 15 million refugees crossed the borders on the two sides with Hindus and
Sikhs moving from Pakistan to India and Muslims from India moving to Pakistan.

Bloodshed and riots followed in the provinces of Punjab and Bengal. While India
received most of the 562 scattered polities or princely states, Pakistan received
the remaining western part and the Muslim dominated eastern region which was
known as East Pakistan now Bangladesh.
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August 15, Independence Day, is celebrated in a mood of abandon and joy - no

rituals, just festivities. It is also a national holiday, with educational institutions,
private and government organisations remaining closed, but for official
celebrations in the morning.

Schools and colleges mark the day with cultural activities, drills, flag hoisting and
distribution of sweets. Government as well as private organisations celebrate it
similarly.

Families and friends get together for lunch or dinner, or for an outing. Housing
colonies, cultural centres, clubs and societies hold entertainment programmes
and competitions, usually based on the freedom theme.
 The Prime Minister sets the mood by hoisting the national flag
and addressing the nation from the Red Fort, the historical monument in
Delhi. This is accompanied by a march-past of the armed and police
forces. Similar ceremonies are held in all the state capitals. The Prime
Minister's address and the march-past are relayed live on national
television
 Red Fort Ceremony

On the morning of August 15, the Prime Minister addresses the nation from the
ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi. In his speech, he highlights the achievements
of the country during the past year and gives a call for further development. He
also pays tribute to leaders of the freedom struggle.

Independence Day should not merely become a part of our holiday list. There
should be serious efforts in educating the future generations about the struggles
which the freedom fighters underwent to give us the freedom that we enjoy today.

There has to be a concerned effort by everyone to make available the lives and
teachings of the sons of the soil, who sacrificed their all, so that we could enjoy
the freedom.
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India has completed 62 years of independence from the colonial rule in the year 2010.
Presentation by:- SANDHYA DUTTA