Independence Day Highlights: President Murmu hosts reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, PM Modi, V-P Dhankhar attend

Australian Prime Minister Albanese, extending his greeting to India on its 77th Independence Day said that the 'warm friendship' between Australia and India reflects the deep bonds between 'our people' and that his aim is to bring the two nations even close together in the future, according to news agency PTI.

'We will do that through the strength of Australia-Indian communities,' Albanese said in a statement.

Albanese said whether as students, entrepreneurs, professionals, or building families and communities, 'Australia is grateful for all the experiences and ideas you have shared. We are a richer country because you have made Australia your home'.

On the occasion of India's Independence, 'let us celebrate our shared democratic heritage', he said. (PTI)

Extending “best wishes” to the people of India on behalf of the American people on Independence Day, US Secretary of State Blinken said as the world's oldest and largest democracies, America and India have created a strong bond that grows ever closer as the two countries work together for a world that is open, prosperous, secure, stable and resilient, news agency PTI reported.

“On this momentous day, we reflect on the depth and breadth of our strategic partnership, and we celebrate the proud history of the Indian people, who are the key to the bright future we are building together,” PTI quoted Blinken in a statement.

“We stand with you in our shared commitment to tackle the most pressing global challenges to ensure the peace and prosperity of our people," he said, adding that last year has shown that the US-India relationship is deeper and more expansive than ever.

Congratulating the people of India on their 77th Independence Day, French President Emmanuel Macron shared on X (formerly Twitter), recalled him meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a month ago in Paris.

He wrote, "A month ago in Paris, my friend @narendramodi and I set new Indo-French ambitions all the way to 2047, the centenary year of India's Independence".

Further he wrote, "India can count on France as a reliable friend and partner, always."

?????????? ???? ?? ??????????? ?? ??????? ?????

?? ????? ???? ????? ???, ???? ????? @narendramodi ?? ????? ???? ?? ?????????? ?? ??????? ????, 2047 ?? ?? ????-?????? ??????????????? ????????? ???? ???? ?? ????????? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ???? ??, ?????? https://t.co/TN7Y5CqKd2

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 15, 2023

In a message of greetings to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Independence Day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is confident that the two nations will continue to boost fruitful bilateral cooperation in all areas through joint efforts, as well as constructive partnership in resolving pressing issues on the regional and global agenda.

“We attach great importance to our relations of special and privileged strategic partnership with New Delhi," he said, according to a PTI report.

News agency ANI quoted the government of Russia, saying, "Your country has achieved universally acknowledged success in economic, scientific and technical, social and other fields. India enjoys well-earned respect on the world arena and plays important constructive role in the international affairs."

"India enjoys well-deserved authority on the international stage, playing an important and constructive role in international affairs,” he stressed, wishing happiness and prosperity to all Indians.

The national anthem of India, "Jana Gana Mana", was originally composed in Bengali by poet Rabindranath Tagore, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.

Here's an English translation of the anthem:

"Jana Gana Mana" is the national anthem of India, originally composed in Bengali by poet Rabindranath Tagore, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.

Pictured: An English translation of Jana Gana Mana by Tagore pic.twitter.com/oVJ1BMEjlQ

— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) August 15, 2023

Deep sea divers swam 30-feet down the sea level to hoist the national flag in Tamil Nadu's Rameshwaram on the occasion of 77th Independence Day, news agency PTI reported.

VIDEO | Deep sea divers swam 30-feet down the sea level to hoist the national flag in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu on the occasion of 77th Independence Day. pic.twitter.com/uKGZNtLDHa

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 15, 2023

The beating retreat ceremony was held at Attari-Wagah border in Punjab's Amritsar, news agency PTI reported.

Watch here:

Visuals of Beating Retreat ceremony at Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar, Punjab. #IndependenceDay2023 pic.twitter.com/2XVfdjqgi1

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 15, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday attended the 'At Home' reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.

V-P's spouse Sudesh Dhankhar also accompanied them to the reception held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and his spouse Sudesh Dhankhar attended the 'At Home' reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on the occasion of #IndependenceDay at Rashtrapati Bhavan. pic.twitter.com/q5irR1ptrt

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2023

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Tuesday took to X (formerly Twitter) to wish everyone a Happy Independence Day. Along with his son AbRam, the actor posted a video of him and his family saluting the tri-colour. "Now the little one has made it a tradition. Hoisting of our beloved Tricolour and wishing everyone Happy Independence Day. Love to all and may our country, India prosper and all of us with it," he wrote.

Now the little one has made it a tradition. Hoisting of our beloved Tricolour and wishing everyone Happy Independence Day. Love to all and may our country, India prosper and all of us with it. pic.twitter.com/kmmdpwQ8wM

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 15, 2023

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said "Bharat Mata" is the voice of every single Indian — no matter how weak or strong.

In his message on the occasion of 77th Independence Day, Gandhi talked about his 145-day Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and shared his experience on how the people during his journey touched him all along. "The object of my love had suddenly revealed herself. My beloved Bharat Mata was not a land. It wasn't a set of ideas. It wasn't a particular culture, history or religion. Neither was it the caste that people had been assigned. India was the voice of every single Indian, no matter how weak or strong. India was the happiness, the fear and the pain hidden deep inside all the voices," he said on X (formerly Twitter).

"To hear India, my own voice - my desires - my ambitions had to fall silent. India would speak to one of her own, but only if one was humble and completely silent," Gandhi further wrote. 

Sharing his experience of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi said, "How simple it had turned out to be. I had been looking in the river for that which could only be found in the sea." He quoted Persian poet Rumi to say, "If words come from the heart they will enter the heart". The Congress leader also mentioned the pain in his knee from an old injury which surfaced soon after he began his yatra, according to PTI report. However, he said that the pain subsided as the number of people grew larger and he received their energy.

Bharat Mata is the voice of every Indian ?? pic.twitter.com/7w1l7VJaEL

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 14, 2023

Popular MPs from across political parties were seen at the Red Fort in New Delhi during the 77th Independence Day celebrations.

(Express Photos by Renuka Puri)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech on the occasion of 77th Independence Day, mentioned that India was enslaved for 1200 years.

What exactly is he referring to? Indian Culture expert Devdutt Pattanaik breaks it down for you here:

Independence day celebrations at SCD Government College in Ludhiana.

(Express Photos by Gurmeet Singh)

Independence Day celebrations at Manekshaw parade grounds in Bengaluru. 

(Express Photos by Jithendra M)

A Tiranga Yatra with 1000-feet long tri-color was held from Noida Stadium to Stellar Park in Sector 44.

(Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday hoisted the tri-colour and participated in celebrations of the country's 77th Independence day.

#WATCH | Kohima: Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio hoisted the Tiranga and participated in #IndependenceDay celebrations. pic.twitter.com/1Lh0r0B3C2

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2023

The High Commission of India in London on Tuesday celebrated India's 77th Independence day.

#WATCH | #IndependenceDay celebrations at High Commission of India, London. pic.twitter.com/SOUBWobe3z

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2023

On the occasion of India's Independence Day, Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar said: "I think it is a great journey for the growth of India... now we are on the path of protecting India. Let us all join together to see that there is peace in India. I wish the entire country gets united to save India."

#WATCH | On #IndependenceDay, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, "...I think it is a great journey for the growth of India, for the peace of India. We are on the path of protecting India. Let us all join together to see that there is peace in India. I wish the entire country… pic.twitter.com/2dqBjd8mCE

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2023

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday skipped the Independence Day celebrations at Delhi’s Red Fort, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a speech to the nation. Kharge cited “eye problems” and “paucity of time” as the reasons behind his absence at the event.

However, he unfurled the Tricolour at his residence in Delhi and at the Independence Day function at the AICC headquarters.

A chair reserved for the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha was seen to remain empty during the event.

Explaining his absence, Kharge said, “Firstly, I have some problem with my eyes. Secondly, I had to hoist the national flag at my residence at 9.20 am, as per protocol. Later, I had to come to the Congress office and also unfurl the Tricolour there. So, I could not have reached the Red Fort. His (Modi’s) security is so tight that they don’t let anyone go till the Prime Minister leaves… This is why I thought it would be better to avoid going to Red Fort keeping in mind the security detail and the paucity of time.”

Read more

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday that the state has become a model for the entire country by treating everyone equally and solving the problems of society unitedly and called for strengthening unity, secularism and scientific temper.

“Our unity, secular approach and scientific temper have contributed to this achievement. In our journey ahead, we have to strengthen unity, secularism and scientific temper. However, there are regressive attempts which have to be nipped in the bud. Only then will our freedom become more meaningful,” Vijayan said in his Independence Day address at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

The chief minister said that the national movement against imperialism was marked by the participation of all sections of people in India. The country’s character of unity in diversity emerged from that participation, Vijayan said. The freedom movement comprised people belonging to different castes, religions, cultures and regions. Hence, freedom belonged to everyone and should not be confined to any particular segment, he added.

Read more

#WATCH | Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan hoists the national flag in Thiruvananthapuram on 77th Independence Day pic.twitter.com/z1tvr8ofRB

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2023

With his 10th Independence Day speech that lasted 90 minutes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday tied Manmohan Singh’s tally of addresses delivered from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi. Only Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi have delivered more Independence Day speeches.

Check out some interesting figures about Prime Ministers’ Independence-Day speeches here

Delivering his 10th Independence Day address, the last of his second term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday framed the 2024 Lok Sabha election battle in many ways — he stressed the need for strengthening “probity, transparency and impartiality” for making India a developed nation by 2047 and argued corruption, nepotism (parivaarvad), and appeasement were “diseases” pulling the country backwards.

Modi argued that the mood for change in the country had brought him to power in 2014, “performance” gave him a second term in 2019, and the next five years would be focused on unprecedented development. More than once in his speech during which he repeatedly recounted his government’s “achievements”, Modi exuded confidence that he would return as Prime Minister after the 2024 elections.

With general elections just a year away, Modi delivered a heavily political speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort. He spoke about the capability, hard work and prowess of the people. The PM said the only hurdle that can come in the way of the country’s development was “corruption, dynastic politics, and appeasement”. He spoke about some “perversions” that have become a part of the social system over the last 75 years.

Manoj C G writes

Ours is a journey of collective expectations. Independence for India was a tectonic shift from colonial rule and from a centuries-old social order based on inequality. Our shared challenges were many and so were the efforts to preserve the gains during the struggle against systems of oppression. The founding leaders charted a path to replace the colonial model of governance with institutional democracy, based on the constitutional ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Our Constitution was transformative in the transfer of political power. In the aspiration to achieve a just society, the Constitution has charted out a transformative potential.

When the Constitution of India was adopted, commentators argued that India’s constitutional democracy would be short-lived in the absence of conditions necessary for the sustenance of democracy. Social equality, political literacy, and an institutional culture would, it was hoped, be the cornerstone of the new nation. The Constitution we adopted recognised the perils to democracy and national unity. It entrusted to democratic institutions the task of curing these inequities. The future of democracy would depend on this endeavour.

India’s model of constitutional democracy has sustained the test of time because of our entrenched constitutional values and her institutions of governance. Each institution contributes to democratic governance in terms of the constitutional role assigned to it. The roadmap of every institution of governance, now and in the future, must focus on strengthening the role of the institution within constitutional limits. Our effort to realise our potential and the opportunities ahead must be guided by a robust constitutional understanding of the democratic parameters governing the exercise of all authority.

CJI Chandrachud writes for 'At the Steering Wheel - The Road Ahead', an Express Series

Making a strong pitch for a third term for his government ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that he would inaugurate the projects whose foundation stones were being laid now and present the country’s achievements from the Red Fort next year.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 77th Independence Day, PM Modi said, “Jab main kahta hoon na ki jiska shilanyas hamari sarkaar karti hai, uska udghatan bhi hamare kalkhand me karte hain. In dinon main shilanyas kar raha hun na, aap likhkar rakhiye uske udghatan bhi aap sabne mere nasib me hi chhode huye hain. (…The schemes for which our government lays the foundation stone, we also inaugurate them. You note it down, these days, the foundation stone I am laying down, you have left it in my destiny to inaugurate it.)”

Stating that he came into power by promising a change in 2014 and was re-elected in 2019 based on the performance of his government, Modi said that he would present a report on the achievements of the country from the Red Fort next year.

Harikishan Sharma writes

Over the years, the Red Fort has become an integral part of India’s Independence Day celebrations, often capturing the mood of the nation and the government in power.

But why was Red For chosen for this honour? To understand this, first a brief history of how Delhi became the seat of power in India.

We explain

A look at the #RedFort on #IndependenceDay2023 #redfortdelhi #IndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/FPM5E8RhIu

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) August 15, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday wished the nation on the 77th Independence Day and said a new world order is in the works after the pandemic, similar to the one brought about by the end of World War II. He said that India now identified as a ‘Vishwamitra’ and also announced the launch of the Vishwakarma Yojana for barbers and goldsmiths with an initial spending of Rs. 13,000-15,000 crore.

PM @narendramodi addresses the nation on #IndependenceDay2023

Express Photo?: @purirenuka #IndependenceDayIndia #IndependenceDay #RedFort #NarendraModi pic.twitter.com/GzOGtzMtA0

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) August 15, 2023

Extending Independence Day greetings, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote on Twitter: "The chapters of our history are written in courage and resilience. As we hoist the tricolour, let's remember the sacrifices of our freedom fighters and pledge to uphold the values they fought for."

"Let their sacrifices inspire us to forge ahead with purpose and dedication. Let us rise beyond divisions, casting aside our differences, and stand united in our journey towards a brighter, better INDIA," she added.

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The chapters of our history are written in courage and resilience. As we hoist the tricolour, let's remember the sacrifices of our freedom fighters and pledge to uphold the values they fought for.

Let their…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 14, 2023

Extending Independence Day greetings, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote on Twitter: "Our freedom movement wasn't just about breaking chains; it was about forging a diverse and inclusive India. On this Independence Day, let's uphold our nation's secular and democratic ideals, and ensure these values remain at the core of our nationhood."

Our freedom movement wasn't just about breaking chains; it was about forging a diverse and inclusive India. On this #IndependenceDay, let's uphold our nation's secular and democratic ideals, and ensure these values remain at the core of our nationhood. Happy Independence Day!

— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) August 15, 2023

A standard narrative exists about the role of Muslims during the Partition in India, which talks about how the Muslim community, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his Muslim League, stood for the two-nation theory and demanded the Partition of India. “Historical documents prove that the majority of Indian Muslims opposed the concept of Pakistan and stayed back in India, as much as the Hindu population did,” says political scientist Shamsul Islam who has authored the book, ‘Muslims against Partition: Revisiting the legacy of Allah Baksh and other patriotic Muslims’ (2015). “Further, there were elements within the Hindu leadership, those who propagated Hindutva, who stood for and were in fact the original makers of the two-nation theory,” he argues.

Take a deep dive into this aspect of India's history with our Express Research from last year

While the tradition of kite-flying or ‘patang bazi’ is associated with different festivals in different parts of the country and the world, in old Delhi and parts of north India, it is an intrinsic part of Independence Day celebrations. The kite, for that matter, is so deeply intertwined with our childhood years, that very rarely do we care to look into the roots of its existence. Its tendency to soar high up in the sky has meant that it is often used as an analogy for freedom, perhaps one of the many reasons why it is so enthusiastically indulged in, during the celebrations on August 15.

But the kite has historically also been more than just a sport. While Taqi is using it for spreading awareness on coronavirus and other social issues, kites have been used for other practical purposes in the past as well. For that matter, its strong links with Independence Day is traced back to nationalist movement itself, when kites were flown carrying messages against the British rule.

Adrija Roychowdhury writes

As India marks 77th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday appealed for peace in Manipur from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Speaking on the occasion, Modi asserted that resolution to the crisis in the northeastern state can be found through peace only and the Central government and the state government is putting all its efforts to it.

Modi unfurled the country’s national flag at the Red Fort and paid tributes to the freedom fighters “who contributed towards the independence of country”.

Here are the top quotes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on Independence Day

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Nagpur Mahanagar Sanghchalak Rajesh Loya and senior pracharak Rambhau Bondale on Tuesday hoisted the national flag at the Sangh headquarters in Nagpur to celebrate India's 77th Independence Day.

RSS volunteers and pracharaks were present during the event, held amid tight security at the Sangh headquarters in Mahal area of Maharashtra's Nagpur city.

The RSS has organised a programme at Dr Hedgewar Smarak Samiti in Reshimbagh area on the occasion of the Independence Day.

The swayamsevaks will also carry out 'pathsanchalan' (march past) in various parts of the city at 5 pm.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is in Bengaluru, where hoisted the national flag during a programme in the morning. (PTI)

Ending his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "During this 'Amrit Kaal', we have to work hard to ensure that the dreams of 140 crore Indians become reality and in 2047, when the Tricolour is unfurled, the world is singing praises of a developed India."

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister brought in poetry to talk about his vision of India moving forward:

"Chalta chalata kal chakra
Amrit kal ka haal chakra
Sabke sapne, Apne sapne
Pal pe sapne saare
Dheer chale, veer chale
Chale yuva humare
Neeti sahi
Reeti nayi
Gati sahi
Ray nahi
Chuno chunauti seena taan
Jag ma badhao desh ka naam"

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he had converted the promises he had given the nation before being elected as the PM into 'trust' through his motto of 'Reform, Perform, Transform'.

He said that he had worked as a servant ("sevak") since becoming PM to take the country forward. 

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "We have to fight against these three evils with all our might: Corruption, dynasty politics and appeasement."

He added, "On India's 100th Independence Day, the tricolour that will be flown globally should be the tricolour of a developed India."

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government has increased India's prestige on the global stage, and the country is now identified as a 'Vishwamitra' (friend of the world).

"After Covid, we spoke about 'One World, One Health' concept. We have contributed to global well-being through yoga and AYUSH. We have spoken about global warming and discussed how to combat it," he said.

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government has changed the thinking about border villages through its 'Vibrant Villages' scheme.

"The village on the border is not India's last village, as was said before, it is the first village of the country," he said.

Chants of 'Modi, Modi' were heard at Red Fort, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the fort today.

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that women-led development will help India achieve its goals and reach new heights.

He cited the increase in women pilots and scientists, and talked about how he talked about women-led development in G20, which was accepted by world leaders.

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Yeh Bharat na rukta hai, yeh Bharat na thakta hai, yeh Bharat na haanfta hai, yeh Bharat na haarta hai (This India doesn't stop, this India doesn't get tired, this India doesn't pant, this India doesn't lose)"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech said that his government is likely to complete all its targets, be it building toilets or opening Jan Dhan accounts, before their deadlines.

"We are ahead on most of our goals and targets," he said. 

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the world has not been able to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic yet, and that when we import commodities, we import inflation too.

However, he added that the inflation situation in India is much better than other nations. "We have been able to control inflation succesfully," he said.

'When poverty decreases in country power of middle class increases considerably,' PM Modi said during his Independence Day speech.

'In the next 5 years, I promise India will be in the top 3 world economies,' he added.

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that his government was spending 4 times more than the previous governments on building houses.

He added that through the MUDRA Yojana, employment was generated through small entrepreneurial ventures.

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that that in 2014, when his government first came to power, India was ranked as the 10th best economy in the world, and today it is 5th.

"By constantly fighting corruption, we have ensured that economic prosperity has come for the common citizens today," he said.

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that that in 2014, after 30 years, the country decided it was time for a change and elected a government that would guarantee them changes.

"After I took over, my lakhs of bureaucrats began whole-heartedly working to transform the country across the length and breadth of the country," he said.

"Reform, Perform, Transform: this is our motto," he added.

He listed how the country has witnessed transformative changes in AYUSH, fisheries, and cooperative sectors, among others.

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that just like the situation after World War 2, a new global order is emerging after the Covid-19 pandemic. 

"India becoming voice of global South, its prosperity is becoming an opportunity for the world. We are bringing the promise of stability to the world," he said.

"No ifs, no buts, only trust," Modi added.

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the country was making great strides in the agriculture sector. 

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the youth of the country that there was no limits to the opportunities in India.

"This country will provide you with unlimited opportunities, you don't need to worry," said PM Modi.

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he believed in the power of India's youth to bring about great and revolutionary changes in the country. 

He added that the youth of the country has made it proud by excelling and taking the country forward through the start-up ecosystem.

Recalling the G20 Summit in Bali last year, Modi said that the leaders of major developed nations of the world wanted to know in detail about Digital India.

He added that the sweeping changes were not limited to urban spaces like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, but had spread to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that we are now standing in the middle of "1,000 years of enslavement and 1,000 years of greatness."

He added that whatever decisions we take today will impact the next 1,000 years.

"We are lucky to have demography, democracy, diversity," PM Modi said during his Independence Day speech.

He added that this trio will make the country's dreams come true, and that the country's youth will carry forward the legacy and determination of the nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech talked about India's "enslavement", which started 1,000-1,200 years ago due to a "small incident".

"Back then, we didn't know that a small incident could enslave us for a 1,000 years... whoever came, looted us," he said.

He added that despite everything, even the most ordinary person kept on wishing for freedom.

"In 1947, the country became independent... after 1,000 years, we were free," Modi said.

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked the ongoing violence in Manipur, and said that the country was standing with the people of Manipur.

He added that there has been peace in the state for the last few days, and called upon everyone to work together to maintain peace and harmony.

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled the sacrifices made by freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Aurobindo Ghosh, and others.

Earlier, he started off his speech by invoking India's status as the biggest democracy in the world, and also said that India was now the most populated country according to various estimates. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Red Fort Tuesday, and is set to address the nation on the occasion of the 77th Independence Day from its ramparts. Other Union Ministers, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, are also present.

Union Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju hoisted the national flag, as part of Independence Day celebrations, this morning.

Hoisted National Flag at Residence
Happy Independence Day to all my fellow Indian Brothers & Sisters ??#IndependenceDay #?????????????? #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav #JaiHind #AmritKaal #IndependenceDayIndia pic.twitter.com/zX83cuYUNU

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 15, 2023

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hoisted the national flag at his Delhi residence on the occasion of the 77th Indian Independence Day this morning.

#WATCH | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hoists the national flag at his residence in Delhi on the occasion of #IndependenceDay.#IndependenceDay2023 pic.twitter.com/q51tdnaW0T

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2023

‘Kitaabon se kabhi guzro to yun kirdaar milte hain, gaye waqton ki dyodhi mein khade kuch yaar milte hain, Jise hum dil ka veerana samajh kar chod aaye they, wahaan ujde huye shehron ke kuch aasar milte hain…”

Gurpreet Singh Anand picks up the immortal words penned by poet-author-filmmaker Gulzar to sum up the lingering pain of “rootlessness” that his family feels, 76 years after they were forced to migrate from Rawalpindi, when Punjab was bisected and Pakistan was born following the Partition of India.

It was this feeling that led Anand, now 64, to embark on a journey collecting and preserving shattered pieces of history, of the biggest ever migration of human beings, of forgotten friends and families, and of abandoned homes.

They together now form what Anand calls his “Dardan Di Pand — Ujaada 1947 (A bundle of pain — Partition of Destruction 1947)” — a library with a collection of over 1,500 books, documents and other published works dedicated to the Partition, including rare texts describing the horror people on both sides of the border went through.

“Collecting these fragments of memories has been a task that not everyone can understand. I wanted to understand and preserve those circumstances, which forced my family to leave their home, their roots,” says Anand, whose mother was from Gujar Khan and father from Rawalpindi.

Divya Goyal reports

Google celebrated India's 77th Independence Day on Tuesday with a special doodle dedicated to the event.

Designed by Delhi-based artist Namrata Kumar, the doodle showcases various textile craft forms from the country. Among these are Kutch embroidery from Gujarat, Pattu weave from Himachal Pradesh, Apatani weave from Arunachal Pradesh, Ilkal handloom weave from Karnataka, Mekhla Chador weave from Assam, Kalamkari block print/hand-painted textile from Andhra Pradesh, Phulkari embroidery from Punjab, fine Ikat from Odisha, Jamdani weave and Kantha embroidery from West Bengal, Kunbi weave textile from Goa, Pashmina kani woven textile from Jammu and Kashmir, Banarasi weave from Uttar Pradesh, Paithani weave from Maharashtra, Naga woven textile from Nagaland, Ajrakh block printing from Kutch Gujarat, Leheriya resist dyed textile from Rajasthan, Kanjeevaram weave from Tamil Nadu, Sujni embroidery from Bihar, and Bandhni resist dyed textile from Rajasthan and Gujarat.