India and Pakistan are celebrating their 78th Independence Day this month, with India marking the occasion on August 15 and Pakistan observing it a day earlier. This difference in dates dates back to the 1947 partition of British India into the two nations. Here’s why the two countries observe their Independence Days on different dates.
Historical Context and the Indian Independence Act of 1947
The Indian Independence Act of 1947, enacted on July 18, 1947, established India and Pakistan as independent dominions. According to the Act, independence for both nations was set to begin on August 15, 1947. Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Pakistan’s founding father, declared in a historic radio address that August 15 marked Pakistan’s independence and the realization of the Muslim nation’s aspirations. Jinnah and Pakistan’s first cabinet were sworn in on August 15, 1947, which was also the last Friday of Ramadan, adding religious significance to the date.
Events on August 14, 1947
On August 14, 1947, Lord Mountbatten, the British Viceroy, addressed the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. Due to logistical constraints, Mountbatten transferred power to Pakistan on August 14, before traveling to New Delhi to do the same for India. Pakistani historian Khursheed Kamal Aziz noted that the need for a simultaneous transfer of power made August 14 the practical choice for the transfer in Pakistan.
Why Pakistan Moved Its Independence Day
Although the Indian Independence Act set August 15 as the date for both countries, Pakistan officially adopted August 14 as its Independence Day in 1948. The shift was reportedly motivated by a desire to celebrate the day before India, as suggested by Pakistan’s then-Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and other leaders. Some accounts argue that Jinnah, who was gravely ill by that time, may not have personally approved the date change. However, the adjustment was seen as a way for Pakistan to establish its own national identity distinctly from India.
Since 1948, Pakistan has consistently celebrated its Independence Day on August 14, while India continues to observe it on August 15.