Independence Day: India
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Contents |
Speeches by Prime Ministers
Duration: 2014-19
See graphic, ‘The Duration of Independence Day speeches by India’s Prime Ministers: 2014-19 ’
Dates celebrated on, other than 15 Aug
August 18 in Malda, Nadia, Murshidabad
Subhro Maitra & Ashis Poddar, August 19, 2019: The Times of India
Independence Day came three days late in some areas of Bengal bordering Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan. This littleknown episode of Indian history — the result of an error by the boundary commission — has since then been observed in parts of the state which celebrate Independence Day on August 18.
Cultural programmes are held to recall the three days when Bengal stood on the threshold of fresh communal strife in 1947 after being partitioned. Sunday was no different, with Malda’s English Bazaar and Shibnibash in Nadia’s Krishnaganj block holding flag-hoisting ceremonies.
At Shibnibash, the 18th August Independence Day Celebration Committee organized a procession of senior citizens carrying tricolours. Committee secretary Anjan Sukul said: “I heard about the three days from my grandfather, a freedom fighter.” Amlan Bhaduri, district TMC leader and English Bazaar Municipality councillor, said: “Though we live in free India today, it is imperative to make the present generation aware of history. Without the correction made in 1947, our history would have been entirely different.”
Md Ataullah, a veteran journalist, said: “It was an error by the boundary commission that created the misunderstanding. Eminent personalities like Ashu Choudhury and Baldevananda Giri were in Kolkata overnight and appealed to the commission to include Malda in India. Finally, the order came on the night of August 17, 1947.” The threeday nightmare ended with the tricolour being raised in Malda and people thronging the streets. Apart from Malda, Nadia and Murshidabad were also re-included in India.
Fear had gripped the Hindu community. Anima Sarkar, an octogenarian, said: “It was the worst of times when we suddenly found ourselves under East Pakistan.”