The country celebrates the 77th anniversary of its independence from the British Empire on August 15
Preparations are underway in New Delhi ahead of the 77th anniversary of the country’s independence. Security measures have been bolstered for Independence Day on Tuesday, and full dress rehearsals involving the armed forces took place at the capital’s historic Red Fort over the weekend.
Ahead of the nationwide celebrations marking 76 years of freedom from colonial British rule, Indian Railways has organized ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’ exhibitions at stations in New Delhi.
The photographs and exhibits commemorate the partition of the country in 1947, when the political borders of the Indian subcontinent were redrawn by British rulers on religious grounds, giving rise to India and Pakistan.
The concept of Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, which was first observed on August 14, 2021, was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to commemorate the victims and suffering of people as a result of the partition. The move is regarded as one of the most significant events in the history of the Indian subcontinent, impacting the lives of more than 20 million people, with up to one million lives believed to have been lost during that time.
विभाजन, भारत के इतिहास का काला अध्याय।#PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay pic.twitter.com/Wu9gMsgdd5
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) August 14, 2023
Around 1,800 individuals from various backgrounds and regions of the country have been invited to join the celebrations at the Red Fort on Tuesday. This aligns with the vision of the Modi government, emphasizing the importance of public engagement and participation, often referred to as ‘Jan Bhagidari’, or people’s involvement. The special guests include more than 400 heads of Panchayats, or village councils, and hundreds of people from the farming and construction communities, as well as primary school teachers, nurses, and fishermen.