Four Facts Pakistanis Don't Know about their Independence Day

The world’s first Islamic Republic is about to turn 68. Along with the younger ones, the teens and the elder ones are passionate too to celebrate the Independence Day with national zeal and gusto. Parents and Grand-parents would tell stories of the partition, real life scenes and the friends and family they lost during the partition but there are some facts, true, that may not accepted by my fellow Pakistanis with open arms but still, they are true. 

14 August is celebrated as the Independence Day of Pakistan - is it really?

Here are the four facts most Pakistanis don't know about the Independence Day:

1. The Original Partition Schedule

The original partition was scheduled to take place in June 1948 but on March 30, 1947 Muhammad Ali Jinnah suddenly collapsed after attending a session of Muslim League meeting. He was rushed to Beach Candy Hospital and was diagnosed with TB. Dr Patel, his personal physician, admitted that the patient's timely arrival was the only factor that saved him and advised to admit him in the hospital but Quaid's arrogance meant he was discharged a day later. Jinnah's illness combined with outcomes of the World War II fast forward the case as the British think tanks believed that Jinnah was the only who stand for the Muslim's demand of 'two-Nations'.

Lord Mountbatten with Jinnah, Nehru, Liaqat Ali Khan & other leaders discussing the Independence Act 1947 (Source: wikimedia)

2. August 15 - the Signed Independence Day of Pakistan

Shocking it may be but the original British documents clearly state August 15 as the Independence Day of Pakistan and India. The Independence Act 1947 signed by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah has August 15 as our 'National Day'. Even Pakistan's first postage stamp, released in 1948, depict August 15 as the Day of Independence. The fact is also supported by Jinnah's first broadcast to the nation, as I quote a piece:

“August 15 is the birthday of the independent and sovereign state of Pakistan. It marks the fulfillment of the destiny of the Muslim nation which made great sacrifices in the past few years to have its homeland."

One of the first postage stamps of Pakistan clearly states 15th August 1947 as Independence Day

3. Choosing August 15 was just Random

August 15 itself wasn't the ideal date, the then Viceroy Lord Mountbatten chose. When asked why he chose August 15 as the day to hand over power to Indians, this was his reply:

"The date I chose came out of the blue. I chose it in reply to a question. I was determined to show I was the master of the whole event. When they asked: had I set a date, I knew it had to be soon. I hadn't worked it out exactly then - I thought it had to be about August or September and then I went to the 15th of August. Why? Because it was the second anniversary of Japan's surrender."

August 15, 1945, was when Japan surrendered after it was pulverized by two nuclear bombs. The date had a personal appeal for Mountbatten as he had been Supreme Allied Commander of South-East Asia Command and had accepted the Japanese surrender himself in Singapore.

4. The Independence Day was reversed to August 14 in 1948

The date was later changed to 14th August mainly because the ceremony of the 'Transfer of Power' held a day earlier (Aug 14) at Karachi - the first capital of Pakistan. And the announcement was made at around midnight of 14-15 August, coincidentally the 27th of Ramadan, a sacred date to the Muslims. This may have contributed towards revising the Independence Day to 14^th August.

Disclaimer: It is a research-based article. If you find any of the information contradictory, feel free to contact.