Happy Independence Day, India - August 15, 2014

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On this day, in 1947, the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, raised 

the Indian National flag at the  Lahore Gate of the Red Fort in Delhi, celebrating

India's independence from Britain.

The British had, initially, come to India in the 1600's for trade purposes but,

gradually, took control of India and ruled for 200 years.

Prior to independence, there was a period of civil disobedience and nonviolent protest,

led by Mohandas Ghandhi.

The Indian Independence Act 1947 partitioned British India into India, Pakistan and

what is now Bangladesh, with a mass exodus of refugees on both sides of the 

border.  In the ensuing bloodshed and violence, an estimated 250,000 to a million

people lost their lives.

In the ensuing 67 years, since India became the world's largest democracy, 

every prime minister has raised the Indian flag at the Red Fort on Independence

Day and given a speech.   The new prime minister, Narendra Modi, was no 

exception, and his speech today showed both inspiration and vision for this

vast country. 

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I hope that all my friends in India and worldwide had a very special Independence

Day.  This is actually my third time to be in India for this special occasion.  I

visited India, for the first time, for ten days in February of 1997, never dreaming 

that, as a senior citizen, I would end up living here, off and on for 16 out of 

32 months.  I have grown to love India, its people, its cultures, and all that makes

it great.  

Happy Independence Day.  You have come a long way in just 67 years!

Photo:  Courtesy Bing Images, Domain free

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(India)

http://www.festivalsofindia.in/independenceday/