India Republic Day
India Republic Day
England's Queen Victoria had been proclaimed Empress of India in 1877, and it wasn't until 1947 that India won its long fight for freedom. The India Independence Act was passed by the British Parliament in July 1947, and by August 15 the Muslim nation of Pakistan and the Hindu nation of India had become independent dominions. Lord Mountbatten served as governor-general during the transition period. When a new constitution came into effect in 1950 his governor-generalship ended, and India stood fully independent. Independence Day on Aug. 15 is also a national holiday, but is observed chiefly with speech-making and none of the grandeur of Republic Day.
Embassy of India
2107 Massachusetts Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
202-939-7000; fax: 202-265-4351
www.indianembassy.org
AnnivHol-2000, pp. 15, 136
GdWrldFest-1985, p. 111
IntlThFolk-1979, p. 205
NatlHolWrld-1968, p. 18