August 15, 1947 - India Gains Independence - a podcast by Stephen Hammond

India gains independence. India came under direct British rule in 1858, following a failed uprising. From that point forward, citizens’ resentment grew towards the rulers; the Indian people wanted to control their own destiny. The next few decades were marked by protests, arrests, killings and internal fighting. But the creation of the Indian National Congress in 1885 and the civil disobedience of leader Mohandas Ghandi starting in 1920, were two factors that led to a turn of events. At the stroke of midnight between August 14 and 15, 1947, Britain relinquished its control. India broke into two countries: India (predominantly Hindu) and Pakistan (predominantly Muslim). Though the process would be marred by violence, on that day, India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, said, “We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again.” His speech became world famous.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Further episodes of Human Rights a Day

Further podcasts by Stephen Hammond

Website of Stephen Hammond