Independence Day Through this esteemed and widely circulated daily I would like to share with the citizens of India why 15th August was chosen as the Independence Day of India. This year's Independence Day is special because it is the 75th year of the country's independence. On this occasion, many events are to be organized across the country under 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'. The government has also launched the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign. Changes were also made to the rules for the 'Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign'. After the change, now you will be able to hoist the tricolour in your house from 13 to 15 August at any time of the day or night. Many old tales are also heard on the occasion of the independence anniversary. The First Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the tricolour above the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort in Delhi on August 15, 1947. After this, it is a tradition which is followed every year by the Prime Ministers. Along with hoisting the flag, the Prime Minister's address to the nation is also done from the ramparts of the Red Fort. The tricolour flag shows that we now live in an independent India. After many years and months of struggle, hardship and non-violence campaigns during the Freedom Movement, the British Parliament finally gave the mandate to Lord Mountbatten to transfer power by June 30, 1948. However, Mountbatten modified it and set the date for handing over power to 15 August 1947. 15 August 1947 was the lucky day when India was declared independent from British colonialism and the reins of control were handed over to the leaders of the country. Independent India's first Indian Governor General C Rajagopalachari said that the day was changed because Mountbatten wanted to ensure that there was no bloodshed, riots or violence on that day. General C Rajagopalachari said that had Lord Mountbatten waited until 1948, it would not have been left to transfer power. So Mountbatten shifted the date to August 1947. The Indian Independence Act was passed in the House of Commons of the British Parliament on July 4, 1947, just after the review given by Mountbatten. On 18 July 1947, the India Independence Act 1947 was given royal assent and came into force and ended the British rule in India. In Freedom at Midnight, Lord Mountbatten was quoted as saying why he chose August 15 as the date of India's Independence Day. According to the book, Mountbatten says, 'The date I chose was sudden. I chose this date in response to a question. I wanted to tell you that everything is in my hands. When did he ask me if I had fixed a date? So I knew it had to be quick. I had not thought of a date till then but was assuming that it could be the month of August or September. After this, I said 15 August. Because this was the second anniversary of the surrender of Japan during the Second World War. After this, the date of 15 August was fixed in the bill of independence of India.' Pinaki Nandy, Guwahati,