10 Interesting and Lesser-Known Facts About Indian Independence Day

India will celebrate its 79th Independence Day on August 15, 2025, which marks the completion of 78 years of independence from British colonial rule. The day is a testimony to all the sacrifices made by freedom fighters to realize the dream of a sovereign and independent nation. This year's Independence Day will not only honor its past but also reflect on the threat that still plagues Indian society.

History of Independence Day

The history of Independence Day is linked to the history of the freedom struggle. The history of India's freedom struggle was not a single event but a series of interconnected events that culminated in a century-long struggle. A starting point for reference can be considered the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, followed by the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885, the Bengal Partition of 1905, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919, the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920-22, the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930, the Quit India Movement of 1942 and the Partition and Independence of 1947.

This decade-long struggle, which began with Mangal Pandey, was carried forward by many others such as Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Arunindo Ghosh, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru. These are some notable examples.

The British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act 1947, which granted Dominion status to India (and Pakistan) from midnight of 14-15 August. This day was not arbitrary; it coincided with the second anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. On this historic night, Jawaharlal Nehru delivered the historic "meeting with destiny" speech at midnight, which marked the moment when "India would awaken to life and freedom".

Theme of Independence Day 2025

The day will begin with the hoisting of the national flag at the Red Fort, followed by a guard of honour, the national anthem, a 21-gun salute and flower showers by Indian Air Force helicopters.

10 Interesting Facts About the Indian Freedom Struggle

1. Indian National Anthem Adopted Only in 1950

At the time of Independence, India had no official national anthem. The song "Bharato Bhagyo Bidhata", composed in 1911 by Rabindranath Tagore, was renamed as "Jana Gana Mana" and adopted as the national anthem by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950.

2. The Indian flag was first hoisted in 1906

The Indian national flag with three horizontal stripes of red, yellow and green was hoisted on 7 August 1906 at the Parsi Bagan Square in Kolkata. The first version of our current national flag was designed by Pingali Venkaiah in 1921. The current flag with saffron, white and green stripes and the Ashoka Chakra with 24 spokes was officially adopted on 22 July 1947 and hoisted on 15 August 1947.

3. Lord Mountbatten chose 15 August as Indian Independence Day

Although the Indian Independence Act was approved on 18 July 1947, Lord Mountbatten chose 15 August as the date of Indian independence because it coincided with the date of Japan's surrender to the Allied forces after World War II.

4. Our national song, 'Vande Mataram' was part of a novel

The national song 'Vande Mataram' composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, was actually part of his novel Anandamath, written in the 1880s. The song was first sung by Rabindranath Tagore in 1896. Vande Mataram was adopted as the national anthem on 24 January 1950.

5. Radcliffe Line officially published on 17 August 1947

The Radcliffe Line, the boundary line drawn by Sir Cyril Radcliffe to demarcate the Pakistani and Indian parts of Punjab and Bengal, was completed on 3 August 1947. But it was officially published on 17 August 1947, 2 days after India gained independence from the British.

6. Rabindranath Tagore wrote the national anthem of Bangladesh

'Amar Sonar Bangla' was written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905. The first 10 lines of this song were adopted as the national anthem during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

7. M. Karunanidhi wrote a letter to the Prime Minister requesting Chief Ministers to hoist the flag on Independence Day

Till 1973, the Governors of the respective states used to hoist the national flag on Independence Day. The Chief Ministers of the respective states started hoisting the Indian flag only from 1974. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi played an important role in starting this tradition. He wrote a letter to the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi highlighting the different tradition followed in Delhi. This suggestion was accepted by the Central Government.

8. 5 more countries celebrate Independence Day on 15 August

Apart from India, 5 other countries celebrate Independence Day on 15 August. These include North Korea, South Korea, Republic of Congo, Bahrain and Liechtenstein.

9. Goa was the last state to join the Indian territory in 1961.

Even after India gained independence on 15 August 1947, Goa remained under Portuguese control. Indian troops annexed it to India in 1961 itself. Thus, Goa was the last state to join the Indian territory.

10. The Indian flag is manufactured at only one place in India

The Indian flag is manufactured and supplied at only one place in the country. The Karnataka Khadi Gramodyog Samyukta Sangha (KKGSS), located in Dharwad, Karnataka, has the right to manufacture and supply the Indian flag. According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, the national flag is manufactured only from hand-spun and woven cotton khadi flags.

These are 10 interesting and lesser-known facts related to Indian Independence Day. Hope you enjoyed reading!

Read More: Independence Day 2025 – 78th or 79th? Date, History, Flag Hoisting & Celebration Details