At midnight hours between 14-15 August, 1947 two separate nations, India and Pakistan came into existence. Partition was followed by large scale violence, displacement, riots and loss of lives. Jawaharlal Nehru and Muhammad Ali Jinnah both knew that they have taken the responsibility of a demanding task. Alien to the concept of democracy, both the newly-born countries had vast socio-economic problems to take care of.
However, one question that still worries many is when both the countries were born on the same date and time then why both have different Independence Days. While Pakistan celebrates its freedom on August 14, India commemorates it on August 15. Jinnah lost his battle against tuberculosis on September 11, 1948, just 13 months after the creation of Pakistan. On every Independence Day, Pakistan listens his radio message which mentions August 15 as the freedom day. However, the message is played by Radio Pakistan on August 14. Reports say that the first two Independence Day celebrations of Pakistan were held on August 15 itself but later it was advanced a day before. In fact, first commemorative postage stamps of Pakistan released on July 1948 also mentioned August 15 as the Independence Day. So, how did the date of freedom change? There are couple of theories which attempt to substantiate this shifting of day.
Reportedly, the last Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten decided to transfer power to Pakistan on August 14 in order to attend India's first Independence Day celebration on the next day. While some reports claim that the neighbouring country celebrates the day of Indpendence in advance because 27th day of the holy month of Ramadan coincided with it. Hence, Pakistan's leadership one and all decided to celebrate Independence Day a day before the original date.
Dealing with myriad instabilities, this year both the South-Asian nations celebrate their 70th Independence Day.
