HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

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;European traders had established outposts on the Indian subcontinent by the 17th century. Through overwhelming military strength, the British East India company subdued local kingdoms and established themselves as the dominant force by the 18th century. Following the Rebellion of 1857, the Government of India Act 1858 led the British Crownto assume direct control of India. In the decades following, civic society gradually emerged across India, most notably the Indian National Congress, formed in 1885.^[3][4]:123The period after World War I was marked by British reforms such as the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, but it also witnessed the enactment of the repressive Rowlatt Actand calls for self-rule by Indian activists. The discontent of this period crystallized into nationwide non-violent movements of non-cooperation and civil disobedience, led byMohandas Karamchand Gandhi.^[4]:167

During the 1930s, reform was gradually legislated by the British; Congress won victories in the resulting elections.^[4]:195-197 The next decade was beset with political turmoil:Indian participation in World War II, the Congress's final push for non-cooperation, and an upsurge of Muslim nationalism led by the All-India Muslim League. The escalating political tension was capped by Independence in 1947. The jubilation was tempered by the bloody partition of the subcontinent into India and Pakistan.^[4]:203

Independence Day before Independence

At the 1929 Lahore session of the Indian National Congress, the Purna Swarajdeclaration, or "Declaration of the Independence of India" was promulgated,^[5] and 26 January was declared as Independence Day.^[5] The Congress called on people to pledge themselves to civil disobedience and "to carry out the Congress instructions issued from time to time" until India attained complete independence.^[6] Celebration of such an Independence Day was envisioned to stoke nationalistic fervour among Indian citizens, and to force the British government to consider granting independence.^[7]:19

The Congress observed 26 January as the Independence Day between 1930 and 1947.^[8][9] The celebration was marked by meetings where the attendants took the "pledge of independence".^[7]:19-20 Jawaharlal Nehru described in his autobiography that such meetings were peaceful, solemn, and "without any speeches or exhortation".^[10]Gandhi envisaged that besides the meetings, the day would be spent "... in doing some constructive work, whether it is spinning, or service of 'untouchables,' or reunion of Hindus and Mussalmans, or prohibition work, or even all these together"

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