70 years of independence

70 years of independence is a series reflecting upon the colonial roots of India and the forces of nationalism that helped shape its present and future. In the next few weeks and months, we will map everything that our history has made- architecture, cinema, food, politics of bringing India together and the memories of those who witnessed the nation's birth and its division.

News
Photos

70 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE NEWS

partition, bangladesh, 1947, pakistan, indian independence, creation of bangladesh, indian express

1947 and Bangladesh: The third unknown history

August 27, 2017 9:05 am

The partition of Bengal in 1905 was a good example. East Bengalis were mostly peasants, mostly Muslims, mostly resentful of Kolkata and popular with the newly arriving Muslim middle class. In 1906 the Muslim League was formed in Dhaka which gave Indian Muslims a political voice.

british press, india british colony, britain reception of india independence, british india empire

The self-congratulatory British Press at the eve of India's freedom

August 11, 2020 7:02 pm

Both quality papers as well as tabloids in British press portrayed the transfer of power to India and Pakistan as the ‘fulfillment of Britain’s mission’.

70th Independence Day, 71st Independence day, Communists role in freedom struggle, Indian freedom struggle, Communism, National Congress, Gandhi, Indian Express

71 years of Independence: How Communists kept pestering the British throughout the freedom struggle

January 24, 2019 9:22 pm

Despite generally being neglected and discarded in the historiography of India’s glorious freedom movement, it has to be accepted that the Communists played a crucial role in the country’s freedom struggle,

independence day, independence day 2017, memories of independence, independence day history, indian independence day, 15th august, 15th august 1947, 15th august 2017, independence day news, Indian Express

Independence notes: Different experiences in Portuguese Goa and British Malabar

August 28, 2017 4:18 pm

At the stroke of midnight, the freedom finally arrived, largely with the efforts of the Congress. But what did this freedom mean to those who were neither ruled by the British, nor were they close enough to the Congress' political centre?

Voices of Partition: One UP Muslim and two Pakistan born Hindus recollect the horrors of 1947

August 19, 2017 11:19 am

The partition of Punjab remains by far the bloodiest part of Indian history, the dirtiest and scariest of all, tagging along as it did with the euphoria of freedom.

police in water independence day, up police independence day viral photo, independence day photos, indian express, indian express news

Photos of police personnel in flooded UP celebrating Independence Day are going viral

August 16, 2017 4:32 pm

On Wednesday afternoon, DGP UP Sri Sulkhan Singh tweeted out photos of policemen and policewomen standing in knee- and ankle-deep water saluting the national flag in Bahraich and Siddharthnagar, which have created quite a lot of buzz on the micro-blogging site.

independence day, independence day 2017, freedom, 7 things in india, 7 things in india video, independence day video, unseen things in india, indian express, indian express news

VIDEO: Is India really FREE? 7 grim realities after 70 yrs of independence

September 06, 2017 10:15 pm

It's been 70 years, and a lot of great things have happened. We are the seventh largest country in the world, and collectively the whole country wishes for this to be the best country in the world. But, while filming a travel series by travelling across India in 30 days, a filmmaker came across seven heartbreaking experiences in India that will make you think if we are really free.

Independence Day, Shiv Sena, Sena on Independence Day, Saamana, 70 years of independence, indian express news

I-Day, Republic Day have turned into 'picnic fests': Shiv Sena

August 15, 2017 8:51 pm

"Have we been able to ward off internal and external threats? We have no answers to these questions even after 70 years of independence," the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

Jharkhand CM announces entire state as open defecation free

CM Raghubar Das talks about 'New Jharkhand', Governor underlines several projects in Santhal Pargana region

August 15, 2017 7:57 pm

Das pointed out that his government was keen to preserve the traditional languages and heritage of the tribals and, therefore, has developed school books in languages such as Ho, Kharia, Mundari, Santhali, Odiya and Bengali.

independence day, indian independence day, dangal, aamir khan, dangla cake, world most expensive cake, most expensive cake, dangla theme cake, food news, indian express,

Happy Independence Day 2017: This Dangal-themed Aamir Khan cake is 'world's most expensive'

August 15, 2017 7:41 pm

With all that opulence it cake is worth a whopping $40,000 that roughly would cost more than Rs 25 lakh! The edible structure is 4ft tall from the base to the tip of Aamir Khan’s head. The cake weighs 54kg and was made by Broadway Bakery Dubai.