“At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.” These were the famous words spoken by the then Congress leader and freedom fighter Jawaharlal Nehru in his ‘Tryst With Destiny’ speech addressing the Indian Parliament on the eve of Indian Independence, towards midnight on 15th August, 1947.
Many may wonder why after several years of freedom struggle, India was given Independence at midnight and why not during the day on 14th or 15th. Here’s an interesting story behind it. After the British officially announced that India will be given total Independence, several senior freedom fighters and national leaders who firmly believe in religious beliefs and astrology, found out that 15th August, which falls on a Friday and the day also being a Chaturdasi and Amavasya entering from 7:30 PM, was considered inauspicious for the big day.
When the leaders found out that 14th and 17th were auspicious, they wanted to carry out the proceedings on the 14th, but realized that the Lord Mountbatten, the Last Viceroy of India, will be in Karachi, Pakistan for the transfer of power on the Pakistan’s Independence Day and will only leave for India at midnight. Apart from this, the British Government had already announced in the Parliament that India will be Independence on the 15th.
In such a crisis situation, eminent historian and Malayali scholar who had immense knowledge of Indian customs and beliefs and astrology, KM Panicker, came to the rescue of the national leaders. According to Panicker’s solution, the Constitutional Assembly will begin on the 14th night at 11 pm and right at the stroke of midnight hour at 12 am on 15th, India will get is Independence from the British at an auspicious time.
On the 14th night, soon after Babu Rajendraprasad, the President of the House, finished his speech at 12 am, Jawaharlal Nehru formally announced the transfer of powers from the British to India and the resolution was introduced by the President of the House and was passed by the members of the Constitutional Assembly. Sucheta Kriplani rendered the first few lines of the National Song Saare Jahan Se Achcha and the National Anthem Jana Gana Mana.
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