Shaheer Ahmed
We have entered the month of August, the most awaited time of the year. The month holds special importance in our hearts. An era of slavery came to an end when the sub-continent was given independence and two nation states i.e. Pakistan (14th August 1947) and India (15th August 1947) were carved on the world map. Every year on 14th August, the whole nation observes this day as the Independence Day of Pakistan. The whole country goes green and white. Houses, streets, roads, and historical sites are lightened up with green and white lights. You’ll see Pakistan’s flag and pennant hoisted everywhere. All this to commemorate the sacrifices, hardships, and efforts that led to the creation of Pakistan. Let’s revive the patriotism and nationalism on this Independence Day.
The Untold Stories Of Independence – Admiral Rafiuddin Qadri
Independence Day is not just about playing with fire crackers and wearing white and green clothes. It is way more than that. It’s a symbol of unity, faith, solidarity, and nationalism.
A day when the whole nation celebrates without any religious, cultural, regional divide. Before making plans for this Independence Day, let’s take a ride back to history and know why and what were the reasons behind creation of Pakistan. We need to know about our history before celebrating it at present or in future.
It all started with the downfall of Mughal Empire in 1857. When the East India Company took control over the entire subcontinent, enforcing the rule of the British crown. That’s how the sub-continent became one of the colonies of the Great Britain Empire. Over the time frame of 90 years, the British Empire played with the minds and sentiments of the people of the subcontinent. The famous phrase ‘divide and rule’ got popularity after the Hindu Muslim divide spread all over the subcontinent. A divide that still persist today, plaguing the mind-set of people of both the countries. Once lived in harmony turned against one another, that’s how the rulers ruled. Even after we got independence, having a fence in between both the countries can’t seem to live or think independent of each other. Nevertheless, separate states have helped people at least live peacefully without killing or getting killed by their neighbours.
One of the main reasons to get a separate state was a by-product of ‘divide and rule’ strategy. The divide went beyond the control of the British Empire, forcing the colonist to back out and give the control to the Indians. This is the crux of our history, the partition stories and the events that led to independence show that this independence was not an easy one. Many lost their lives, homes, and loved ones before and during the partition.
This Independence Day, Neemopani will connect you with the past, the unheard and untold stories that we are still unaware of, and paying tribute to the unsung heroes. Pakistan Independence Day should be more than cutting cakes, it should be to revive patriotism and nationalism.
