Independence Day: 15 iconic images that capture India's struggle for freedom

It was on August 15, 1947, at the stroke of the midnight hour when India got its hard-earned freedom from the British Raj. For decades, our brave countrymen fought against the cruelties of the invaders for India's freedom. As we celebrate the 75th Independence Day of India on August 15, 2022, let us revisit some iconic pictures from the pages of history that truly capture our country and countrymen's struggles for freedom. Let us not forget the sacrifices our brave men, women, and children made in those days just so we can now live freely in our country.

Source: Pixabay

It was on August 8, 1942, three years before India attained its freedom from the British Raj, when hundreds of people took to the streets to protest against the Britishers. Together the Indians shouted the slogan: Quit India, thus making it loud and clear for the British Raj that they need to give us our freedom and leave our country. It was during this protest when the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi urged Indians to do or die for their motherland in order to attain freedom from Britishers.

Source: @IndiaHistorypic/ Twitter

Seen in this picture are the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi along with his wife, Kasturba Gandhi. This iconic picture was clicked just before he was arrest during the passive non-cooperation movement in the 1920s. 'The Non-cooperation movement was a political campaign launched on 4 September 1920, by Mahatma Gandhi to have Indians revoke their cooperation from the British government, with the aim of inducing the British to grant self-governance,' as per Wikipedia.

Source: NewsTrack

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was one of the prominent freedom fighters of our country. This is a picture of him taken at Haripura in the year 1938 after he was elected by the party men to be the President of the Haripura Congress session.

Source: Rare Book Society of India/ Facebook

This iconic picture captures two of the greatest Indian personalities of the 20th century in one frame! Seen in this picture are Mahatma Gandhi and Nobel Literature laureate, Gurudev Ranbindranath Tagore. Did you know that it was Tagore who actually gave the remarkable title of 'Mahatma' to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi? The word Mahatma literally translated to 'a great soul'.

Source: Indsyntest

In this iconic picture from the 1940s, you can seen political leader Mohammad Ali Jinnah having a conversation with Mahatma Gandhi. The picture was taken at Jinnah’s house. 'Jinnah served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until the inception of Pakistan on 14 August 1947, and then as the Dominion of Pakistan's first governor-general until his death,' as per Wikipedia.

Source: IndiaFacts

This image is taken during the 1930s. In this picture, one can notice an Indian volunteer lying on the road in front of a bullock cart that carried imported British cloth. Back then, this was a way to non-violently protest against the British Raj and their goods in our country.

Source: Kapegami

Seen in this picture are iconic freedom fighters of India, Mahatma Gandhi along with Sarojini Naidu. The picture was taken during the Salt March also known as the salt satyagraha or Dandi March, which was an act of non-violent civil disobedience under Mahatma Gandhi's guidance in British-ruled India. 'The 24 day march lasted from 12 March 1930 to 6 April 1930 as a direct action campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly,' reads a report on Wikipedia.

Source: National Gandhi Museum

In this picture, one can see non-violent protestors and satyagrahi forming a human wall during a protest against the British rulers. Back then, this was one of the ways the satyagrahi would try to shield their leaders against British officers and policemen during their protests for India's freedom.

ce: National Gandhi Museum

In January 1928, the Simon Commission left England for India. But the seven British MPs were met with huge protests by Indians in whichever Indian city they went to. When the Simon Commission arrived in Lahore (then a part of India) on October 30, 1928, the protests against them were led by Lala Lajpat Rai. It was during this protest that he sustained head injuries due to a lathi charge by the police. Lala Lajpat Rai later succumbed to his injuries on November 17, 1928. Here is an iconic picture of one of the 'Simon Go Back' protests in India.

Source: The Atlantic

Clicked in 1946, here is an iconic picture of the first day of the historic Indian Constituent Assembly. Some of the most important freedom fighters of our country can be seen together in this rare picture. How many of them can you identify?

Source: The Wire

It was at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, when India finally got its freedom from the Britishers, after decades of being a British colony. Seen in this picture is Indian political leader, Pandit Nehru giving his iconic speech. “Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom," Pandit Nehru had said.

Source: IB Times

It was on August 15, 1947, when India celebrated its first Independence day. The countrymen woke up to the news of India's freedom from Britishers and there was a wave of joy and happiness which could be felt among Indians. In this iconic picture, one can see Pandit Jawarharlal Nehru along with Lord Mountbatten, the Viceroy of India and the first Governor-General of India, and his wife Lady Edwina Mountbatten on the first Independence day of India on August 15, 1947.

Source: Khas Khabar

Here's an iconic picture of the front page of The Times of India newspaper on August 15, 1947. It features news about India's freedom from the British Raj and how the citizens of the country rejoiced on that historic day.

Source: Durgapur Adda

The joy of India gaining its freedom from British Rule on August 15, 1947, was short-lived for our countrymen, as it was soon followed by the news of the partition of our country into two nations-- India and Pakistan. Seen in this picture is a young boy in Delhi's refugee camp. This picture speaks volumes of the struggles and agony of hundreds of innocent refugees during the partition of India.

Source: @HistoryInImages/ Twitter

Here's an iconic picture of a crowded train, full of Muslim refugees, who left New Delhi, India for Pakistan. This picture was clicked in September 1947. India-Pakistan partition in 1947 led to massive riots across the nation. It resulted in the killing of roughly 1 million people, while approximately 15 million people were displaced.

Source: AP Photo, File