Echoes of Vande Mataram is what fills the country's air on August 15. After facing an agony of slavery for a period of 200 years, Indian freedom fighters had finally managed to free our motherland from the chains of slavery on the historic day of August 15, 1947. India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru raised the Indian flag on the Red Fort in Delhi back then. Ever since then, it became a ritual to be followed on the said date every year.

Irrespective of their caste, color, creed, religion and state, Indians from every corner of the country celebrate this day with great enthusiasm and spirit of patriotism. It's considered as National Holiday and is commemorated with flag hoisting, cultural events, parades and many other events.

Why August 15?

The British Governors had planned to set India free by June 1948. However, when Lord Mountbatten became the viceroy in February 1947, things took a different turn. He was left bewildered by the partition talks between Jinnah and other Indian leaders; especially Jawaharlal Nehru. Looking at things going beyond his control, he decided to set India free in 1947 and chose his lucky date August 15. Again, it was on August 15, 1945 that England had won the World War II against Japan and Mountbatten was the commander of the force. This is why he wanted to set India free on August 15 and when advised by Indian astrologers that the day wasn't auspicious, he changed it to August midnight as Mountbatten was in no mood to let go off his lucky date. And this way, India got freedom from the colonial rule on the midnight of August 15.

India then & now

Celebrating the 68^th Independence Day this August 15, India certainly has a lot to talk about. Over these years, the country has witnessed tremendous changes; both good and bad. Under the British rule, Indian s had no life and freedom. They were merely slaves to the Britishers who exploited them for their own benefits. Thanks to our great leaders and freedom fighters, who had the courage to revolt against the injustice being done to the Indian people on their own land, that the country could breathe in free. We have truly come a long way. From a country that had lost all its riches to the British, we have now become one of the most happening and developing countries in the world. Our economy has seen a n amazing growth and is yet to grow more. Be it technology, education, healthcare, sports or entertainment; India is lagging nowhere.

Indian Independence: A Matter of Respect & Value

The real value of freedom can only be understood by a person who has experienced the suffering of being in prison. The present generation of our nation can talk of independence with pride but they can never realize how much hardships were borne by our leaders to give us a free India. Being independent is a matter of great honor and pride. As Indian citizens, it is our duty to ensure that the legacy of our nation is never harmed. It should be carried on from generations to generations. And for it, we will have to see that our kids are taught the real meaning of Independence Day. It shouldn't be just limited to singing a few patriotic songs or hoisting flags.

Giving Right Values to the Generation

It has a lot deeper meaning. We have to treasure this independence by fulfilling our duties as the citizens of this country. If 68 years back we were struggling under British rule, currently the nation is a slave to numerous crimes such as corruption, terrorism, gender discrimination and many more. Our fight for freedom hasn't ended yet. We still have the responsibility of freeing our country from all these negativism so that the coming generation can live in eternal peace and harmony. As parents, as teachers and as a responsible citizen we must see that the kids, who will be the future of this country, understand their culture and value it completely. They must be taught to respect their motherland and keep up the right values.

The power must always be in the right hands so that tomorrow we will not have to wage out one more struggle to set ourselves free! Never let the spirit of freedom and patriotism die. Jai Hind!!