Facts about India’s Independence Day that will surprise you!! Sare Jahaan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara

The 18^th century was the beginning of a one of the most important financial crisis that India has ever faced when it was colonised after long years of slavery by the British Empire and the British East India Company. 

 They arrived in India in the 1740's and established trading ports in many cities under the control of the East India Company. The British rule lasted in India for a good portion of time – nearly 200 years and the endurance of their rule was remarkable given the physical size of the country.

However, this year 2018 as we celebrate the 72^nd Independence Day, let us remind ourselves about the dawn of the era from the clutches of the British colonialism. Besides this, there are also some surprising facts about India’s Independence Day that may surprise you!

1)     August 15^th is also celebrated as the Independence Day in other countries namely – North Korea, Bahrain, South Korea, Republic of Congo and Liechtenstein.

2)     While it is a known fact that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India, he was not the first choice. It was Sardar Vallabhai Patel who actually had won the majority of votes but Nehru didn't want to play second in command to anyone. Also, Mahatma Gandhi had a soft spot for Nehru so he requested Sardar Patel to step down.

  3)     Wow! Talk about vintage style!- India’s first Prime Minister was considered a global style icon!!His popular ‘Nehru’ jacket had earned him a place in the Vogue magazine!!!

   4 )    Although Independence Day was in 1947, there was no National Anthem!

    5)     It is on this this special day we remember the great sacrifices of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, RajGuru, Gandhiji and other dared freedom fighters for their unforgettable contribution in the independence of India.

6)     India gets its name from the River Indus which was the home of the Indus Valley Civilisation, and is considered to be one of the first civilisations. On the other hand, our country’s name in Sanskrit is Bharat Ganajya. 

7)     Many of us would think that the Indian flag was first hoisted on Aug 15th 1947? However, that isn’t true! Our National flag is said to be first hoisted on August 7, 1906 in Parsee Bagan Square (Green Park) in Calcutta.

8)  Jane Gana Mana’ was written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1911and was officially adopted as the anthem in 1950!! It was originally written & composed in Bengali.

9)     The official Indian flag was designed by Pingali Venkayya. It initially had a spinning wheel in the middle, later replaced by the “Dharma Chakra,” which represents a wheel of law.

10)  Hindi is not the national language of India. It was chosen as India’s first official language and was declared so in 1949.

11)  The top band is of Saffron colour, indicating the strength and courage.

12) The white middle band represents peace and truth with Dharma Chakra in the centre

13)  The last band is green in colour which represents the fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land.

14)The Dharma Chakra depicted the "wheel of the law" in the Sarnath Lion Capital made by the 3rd-century BC Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. The chakra on the flag intends to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation.

Jai Hind!