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Sunday, August 14, 2011

Independence Day: August 14 or 15?

On the morning of August 14, the last British Viceroy Mountbatten attended a ceremony at the Constituent Assembly Building (now the Sindh Assembly) in Karachi. There he “transferred the power” to the Governor-General designate Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the elected representatives of the people.

The nation had become independent but technically speaking, Pakistan was not yet born. The Viceroy flew off to New Delhi the same afternoon. The Union Jack was still flying in the Governor-General house when it was suggested to the Quaid that it should be removed now that British had left. He refused, since such discourtesy would have been beneath his dignity. Hence the British flag was brought down at its appointed hour of the sunset and not without due respect.

That sunset also marked the beginning of the 27th of Ramadan – the “Night of Power”, which according to the Quran was better than a thousand nights, when angels and the Spirit descend on the earth in order to carry out every task under the direct command of the Creator. It was a night which, according to the Quran, is peace till the dawn. The Quran itself had been revealed on this night more than 1300 years ago.

The radio station of Lahore went on announcing itself as “All-India Radio” till shortly before midnight.

The birth of Pakistan was announced at the appointed hour, which was the midnight. The next morning, i.e. August 15 (Ramazan 27th), the newspapers felicitated the people on the birth of an independent state. Quaid-i-Azam was sworn in as Governor-General. Liaquat Ali Khan took oath as Prime Minister. The flag of Pakistan was hoisted. The Quaid addressed the nation on radio. And, therefore, “the evening and the morning were the first day.”

The question then arose whether the “Independence Day” should be celebrated on August 14th or 15th in the future? My friend Aqeel Abbas Jafri tells me that he has seen in the national archives an official circular that was properly circulated the next year stating that although Pakistan came into being on August 15, it would be more appropriate if it celebrates its “Independence Day” on August 14, since the nation had technically become independent with the transfer of power by the last Viceroy.

This practice has been followed since 1948. Unfortunately there is no dearth of sensationalists who distort these facts in order to gain quick attention. They raise objections to the celebration of the Independence Day on August 14.

I almost became a victim to one myself when I read his book The Murder of History in Pakistan in the early 1990s. The author made much of the fact that Pakistan was born on August 15, and therefore it was wrong to celebrate the Independence Day on August 14. This author did not care to address some basic questions which any historian with a shred of self-respect would have tried to answer before raising the alarm: When was the date of the Independence Day changed to August 14? Who changed it, under what authority and was any reason given? Documents are available in the national archives and they leave no room for ambiguity.

The argument presented in The Murder of History in Pakistan has been picked up by countless other sensationalists. Neither of them has the self-respect to even raise these basic questions. We cannot say whether they fail to raise the questions because their real intention is not to set the record straight; they just feel sorry for having become independence, since they have been raised up with a slave mentality and therefore it hurts them when they see everybody else celebrating independence.

On our parts, it is our duty to know the facts. The people of Pakistan became independent on August 14, 1947 AD (Ramazan 26, 1366 AH). As an independent nation they themselves created Pakistan the next day, August 15, 1947 AD (Ramazan 27, 1366 AH). The birthday of Pakistan is August 15 just as the Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah mentioned in his inaugural address to the nation that morning. The “Independence Day”, in all fairness, cannot be the same date. It has to be the day when power was transferred to us (at least to those of us who are willing to have it). That was August 14, 1947.

This is just one of the several questions that are shamelessly thrown at the patriotic Pakistanis, very often by some who know neither shame nor self-respect. End of the day, the answer to all such questions boils to down to one counter-question: Are you happy that you are free? Let’s stop at saying that an answer beginning with “Yes, but…” counts as “No.”

Postscript: My answer is “Yes”, and I hope that so is yours. Happy Independence Day, August 14, 2011.

Special announcement: August 14 next year will fall again on Ramazan 26. Once again, the night of the Independence Day will be the “Night of Power”.

17 comments:

  1. Shafique Sahib...hmm...nice debate...and nice argument....

    I believe that 14 August is our real independence day because that's the day and night of 15 August when people started for Pakistan.

    The great MIGRATION....started from 14 August...so I think it should be our independence day as that day we actually made a choice....

    But people will make ridiculos questions and will answer those themselves...they are like parasites...they eat the whole plant...but never gain any weight....they keep multiply...and once invaded never let go....

    I am glad that we have people like you who are aware of these parasites....and I think your research and article are best remedies....

    Thank you so much.

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  2. Thanks for the article about Independence Day. The first four postage stamps which issued by Pakistan Post by the approval of Quaid-e-Azam on July 09, 1948, you can see the Independence Day August 15, 1947 on the stamps. The date August 15, 1947 printed on these four stamps which designed by Abdur Rehman Chughtai with the help of his two friends Rashiduddin and M. Latif. But first definitive stamps which also approved by Quaid-e-Azam issued on August 14, 1948. The first slogan post mark of Pakistan Post also shows the date August 15, 1947 with the commemorative slogan "Pakistan Zindabad". You can see the images on www.philatelyofpakistan.blogspot.com. The first medal of Pakistan called Independence/Pakistan Medal shows the both dates August 14, 1947 and Ramadan 26, 1366H. These are authentic proves of our Independence Date.

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  3. thanks for shutting down so many fuss makers,
    our job is to be thankful to Allah that we have independence,and regard this blessing.

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  4. thanks for shutting down so many fuss makers
    our job is to cherish this blessing of independence and be thankful to Allah

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  5. Salaam dear, I raised this issue about 12 years ago in my book "Wafa ka kaba' Pakistan's independence day is 15th Aug. The proof is Indian independece Act approved by British Parliament. Pakistan formation was annouced at 12am Mid night when date rotate to 15th Aug. India and Pakistan have the same date of independence but the difference of timing.India was liberated at 8AM in the morning of 15th of Aug.My point of view is same as Hakim M. Saeed Shaheed and Dr Ghulam Murtaza Malik(Late)27th of Ramadan should be celeberated as Eid e Azadi of Pakistan. One thing more I want to add, India was offered to get independece before than Pakistan at Mid night. but they refuses on the basis of their regious Pandits and Jotshis. They calculated and declared these Liala tul Qadir moments are worst(Manhoos) so then British rulars offeren Muslim League to get freedom first.I also want to tell that Last Viceroy Lord Mount batten Announced Indian freedon in June 1948 but some time suddenly he announced to free South Asia in Mid of Aug. 1947. One of the correspondent asked him that, from where you get this date? he replied I have inspirations. Any how this date come from Allah and we should be follw our independence according to Ramadon.See Sura Dukhan first 3 Verses, Allah says In this night Allah takes the decisions of Wisdom. So Pakistan is the decission of that night. It shows it has a great role in future and it will have Quranic system.

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  6. Salaam dear, I raised this issue about 12 years ago in my book "Wafa ka kaba' Pakistan's independence day is 15th Aug. The proof is Indian independece Act approved by British Parliament. Pakistan formation was annouced at 12am Mid night when date rotate to 15th Aug. India and Pakistan have the same date of independence but the difference of timing.India was liberated at 8AM in the morning of 15th of Aug.My point of view is same as Hakim M. Saeed Shaheed and Dr Ghulam Murtaza Malik(Late)27th of Ramadan should be celeberated as Eid e Azadi of Pakistan. One thing more I want to add, India was offered to get independece before than Pakistan at Mid night. but they refuses on the basis of their regious Pandits and Jotshis. They calculated and declared these Liala tul Qadir moments are worst(Manhoos) so then British rulars offeren Muslim League to get freedom first.I also want to tell that Last Viceroy Lord Mount batten Announced Indian freedon in June 1948 but some time suddenly he announced to free South Asia in Mid of Aug. 1947. One of the correspondent asked him that, from where you get this date? he replied I have inspirations. Any how this date come from Allah and we should be follw our independence according to Ramadon.See Sura Dukhan first 3 Verses, Allah says In this night Allah takes the decisions of Wisdom. So Pakistan is the decission of that night. It shows it has a great role in future and it will have Quranic system.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Salaam dear, I raised this issue about 12 years ago in my book "Wafa ka kaba' Pakistan's independence day is 15th Aug. The proof is Indian independece Act approved by British Parliament. Pakistan formation was annouced at 12am Mid night when date rotate to 15th Aug. India and Pakistan have the same date of independence but the difference of timing.India was liberated at 8AM in the morning of 15th of Aug.My point of view is same as Hakim M. Saeed Shaheed and Dr Ghulam Murtaza Malik(Late)27th of Ramadan should be celeberated as Eid e Azadi of Pakistan. One thing more I want to add, India was offered to get independece before than Pakistan at Mid night. but they refuses on the basis of their regious Pandits and Jotshis. They calculated and declared these Liala tul Qadir moments are worst(Manhoos) so then British rulars offeren Muslim League to get freedom first.I also want to tell that Last Viceroy Lord Mount batten Announced Indian freedon in June 1948 but some time suddenly he announced to free South Asia in Mid of Aug. 1947. One of the correspondent asked him that, from where you get this date? he replied I have inspirations. Any how this date come from Allah and we should be follw our independence according to Ramadon.See Sura Dukhan first 3 Verses, Allah says In this night Allah takes the decisions of Wisdom. So Pakistan is the decission of that night. It shows it has a great role in future and it will have Quranic system.
    regards
    Hasan Mahmood
    Melbourne

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  8. Hasan Mahmood sahab may I get a soft copy (PDF or epub) of Wafa Ka Kaba please.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Nadeem, I am in Australia. I don't have a copy of my book but I am trying to go back soon. After coming back I will try to launch its, Revised edition and online edition.
      you can contact me on facebook
      regards
      Hasan Mahmood

      Delete
  9. Muhammad Ibrahim
    Salam Sir.You answered a dirty and rubbish question with a greate lagic, real facts and a delightfull manner. May ALLAH give you long life with happiness.
    My answer is Yes sir Hasan Mahmood. thanx

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    Replies
    1. Thank you dear M. Ibrahim for your nice words for me.
      Have you read my book?
      regards
      Hasan Mahmood

      Delete
  10. i like your article its interesting and wonderful as well as good collection.

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  11. i checked the date bro .... i.e. August 14th (Ramazan 27th),

    u can check it

    http://islam1.org/prayer_schedule_data.php?month=8&year=1947

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    Replies
    1. The link you have provided takes us to a page where it says at the bottom: "the Islamic date might be inaccurate by a day." You didn't read the fine print?

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    2. See the following link of Dawn newspaper 15 Aug 1947 edition, confirms 27th of Ramadam is birth day of Pakistan

      http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://nativepakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/Rare-Newspaper-Independence-of-Pakistan-14-Aug-1947.jpg&imgrefurl=http://nativepakistan.com/rare-newspapers/rare-newspaper-independence-of-pakistan-14-aug-1947/&h=444&w=721&sz=173&tbnid=wKL1ENx15e0NKM:&tbnh=70&tbnw=114&zoom=1&usg=__gRKehc40t97xzX2FKTN8Tk6iQGY=&docid=w1AFIq-P5WWNmM&sa=X&ei=1oBLUv_vMuHoiAfTooFI&ved=0CEAQ9QEwAw

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  12. in between end of 14 and beginning minutes of 15 august, when the clock strikes 00:00 according Independence Act, 1947 Pakistan and India came into being and British India cease to exist.
    pakistan decided to wind its clocks 15 minutes backwards while India decided to move its time 15 minutes forward.
    so, AT that moment
    British India's time was: 00:00 am 14/15 august , 1947.
    Pakistan's time was: 11:45 pm 14 august ,1947.
    India 's time was : 12:15 am 15 august ,1947.

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  13. I wanted to ask that why the radio announced the independence between the night of 13,14 August while the independence was achieved between the nights of 14,15 August?

    ReplyDelete