As the nation celebrates 67th Independence Day, let's take a look at some of the lesser known facts on how August 15 was chosen as the day to finally grant freedom to India.
Indian Independence Day was chosen by the last Viceroy and first Governor General of India - Louis Mountbatten.
The date August 15 was very carefully selected as it was on this very day that Japan surrendered to allied forces in 1945 at the end of World War II. It was done to block any Indo-Japanese linkage in future. India celebrates while Japan remembers its humiliation! Also, South Korea had gained independence from Japan on the same date two years back. It was particularly relevant in the days of 1947 when the rumors of Japanese support to Subhash Chandra Bose's Indian National Army were prevailing in India.
Freedom at Midnight, a book by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre has quoted Mountbatten saying the decision to give freedom to India was taken instinctively at a press conference. The quick decision left very little time for preparation of freedom and partition which lead to violence and deaths during Indian partition.
There is another lesser know fact on why India celebrated Independence at Midnight rather than in the morning. When August 15 was announced, astrologers all over India raised a loud cry that August 15 was not an auspicious day. So Indian Leaders had to arrive at a compromise and the Independence day was celebrated at Midnight - as a day, according to Hindu customs, begins only after sunrise.
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