With 200 years of British rule, our ancient brilliant education system, art, and culture, ethics were systematically destroyed which was the ultimate goal of Britishers. There was not even a single beggar in the streets of India before Britishers invaded India.
We all know that Independence Day (15 August 1947) is the day where our India got freed from the clutches of slavery after so much violence and sacrifices of many men and women warriors. But here are the 15 lesser-known facts about Independence day you are probably not aware of:
1. The famous “Jana Gana Mana” was not our National Anthem
Yes, you read it right. When India got its Independence from the British Empire on 15 August 1947, it was not recognized as Indian National Anthem till 1950. It is the homage to King George V in his praise and was sung in 1911 in Calcutta at an Indian National Congress Convention.
The “Adhinayaka“, our “Bhagya Vidhata” is King George V, and it is the King of England’s “Jaya Gaatha” that we sing every morning in our schools.
Vande Mataram was supposed to be our National Anthem which depicts the love and sacrifice we all have for our motherland. But, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru thought it was quite difficult to play on the band at that time, hence, “Jana Gana Mana” was chosen instead as the National Anthem.
2. Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru was not the choice of congress committee for Prime Minister post
It was Gandhi Ji who appointed Jawahar Lal Nehru as our Prime Minister due to the only fact that Jawahar Lal Nehru was not at all ready to play second fiddle to anybody Most of the congress committee voted for Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel for the post of our first Prime Minister judging from his contributions towards the Nation.
Gandhi Ji asked Sardar Patel to withdraw his name. Sardar Patel having immense respect for Gandhi withdrew his candidature without wasting any time.
3. One of the reasons 15 August was chosen as the official Independence Day is it commemorated Japan’s second Anniversary for its surrender to the allied forces.
North Korea, South Korea, Bahrain and the Republic of the Congo share their independence day with India. Lord Mountbatten had been given a mandate by the British parliament to transfer the power by June 30, 1948. If he had waited till June 1948, in C Rajagopalachari’s memorable words, there would have been no power left to transfer. Mountbatten thus advanced the date to August 1947.
4. Goa was not a part of India till the time Indian troops invaded Goa
On December 19, 1961, Indian troops invaded Goa and annexed it to India. After the Indian Independence, Portugal amended its Constitution and declared Goa as a Portuguese state. Following an incident of firing by Portuguese troops at Indian steamers and fishing boats, India sent in the army to liberate the territory by force. Within three days, without much resistance from the small Portuguese force, India liberated Goa.
5. 562 states in India were under the Princes’ rule at the time of Independence
Of 562, only 560 of these states joined India and the remaining two (Junagadh and Hyderabad) were annexed by the military. Through a combination of factors, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru convinced the rulers of the various princely states to accede to India.
Having secured their accession, they then proceeded, in a step-by-step process, to secure and extend the central government’s authority over these states and transform their administrations until, by 1956, there was little difference between the territories that had been part of British India and those that had been part of princely states.