Independence Day 2024: 10 rare pictures from India’s struggle for freedom – Times of India

India’s independence day is not just any ordinary day. It is the day we pay homage to decades of sacrifice, it is the day we thank the brave souls who laid their lives for the motherland, it is the day we remember the ones who gave us free land to live and free air to breathe in and it is the day our eyes swell up with joy and pride to be a part of the nation that we proudly refer to as our Mother.
The fight for making the motherland free from the British Raj has been narrated to generations through stories and pictures.
This year, India is observing its 78th Independence Day.
Sharing here few of the iconic pictures that holds so many stories of freedom struggle.

The iconic image that speaks of “A tryst with destiny” everytime we see it

“Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny. Now the time has come when we shall redeem our pledge – not wholly or in full measure – but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance,” these were the words Jawaharlal Nehru spoke addressing the nation about freedom from colonial era.
See more: Happy Independence Day 2024: Patriotic memes and messages that will make you feel proud to be an Indian

Indian National Congress

This picture was shot in 1885 in the month of December when the Indian National Congress was formed and its first session was held in Bombay. The session was presided by WC Banerjee and had several leaders in attendance including Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjee, Badruddin Tyabji, Pherozeshah Mehta, S. Ramaswami Mudaliar, S. Subramania Iyer, and Romesh Chunder Dutt.
See more: Happy Independence Day 2024: 100+ Wishes, images, messages, quotes, pictures and greeting cards

Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi

This photo is from 1915 when Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa. Gandhi stayed in South Africa for more than 20 years. Today, January 9, 1915 is observed as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to mark the return of Gandhi to the country. Mahatma Gandhi’s role in India’s freedom movement is the replica of exemplary leadership and had gained global attention.

“Simon go back”

Lala Lajpat Rai played a key role in voicing against the Simon Commission in 1927. The Commission was set up to suggest political reforms in India by the Britishers. Lala Lajpat Rai led a protest march against this with the slogan “Simon Go Back“. Police lathi charged the protesters and Lala Lajpat succumbed to the injuries he had obtained in the protest.
See more: Happy Independence Day 2024: 25 Patriotic quotes and messages by freedom fighters of India that will make you emotional

Quit India movement

This iconic picture is from the Quit India movement. This movement played key role in India’s fight for freedom. It was launched on August 8, 1942 during World War II. The movement which started at the Bombay session of INC demanded an end to British rule in the country.

India’s first cabinet of ministers

In 1947 after the country achieved freedom from British rule, a new government was formed and these are the cabinet of ministers of the government that was formed in free India. The photograph has eminent leaders including B. R. Ambedkar, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, Sardar Baldev Singh, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Vallabhbhai Patel, John Mathai, and Jagjivan Ram.

Dandi March

The Salt Satyagraha, also known as the Salt March, was a significant campaign led by Mahatma Gandhi against British colonial rule in India. Beginning in 1930 and lasting until early 1931, the campaign had a profound impact on the Indian independence movement. The historic march commenced in 1930 from the village of Dandi near Surat, with Mahatma Gandhi leading a group of followers on a 240-mile journey to the Arabian Sea. The primary objective of the Salt March was to challenge the British-imposed salt tax, which heavily burdened the Indian population.

Champaran Satyagraha

The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was a pivotal Indian independence movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. In Bihar’s Champaran district, Gandhi championed the cause of local farmers suffering under oppressive British indigo planters. Using nonviolent resistance, he demanded fair treatment and better working conditions. The successful campaign marked Gandhi’s first major involvement in Indian politics, setting a precedent for future nonviolent struggles for justice and independence.

Signing of Lucknow Pact

The Lucknow Pact, signed in 1916, was a significant agreement between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. This pact aimed to unite Hindus and Muslims in their struggle against British colonial rule. It called for joint representation in legislative bodies and supported increased political rights for Indians. The agreement was a major step towards communal harmony and political cooperation, strengthening the push for self-rule and laying groundwork for future nationalist movements.

Jallianawala Bagh massacre

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar, India, when British Brigadier General Reginald Dyer ordered troops to open fire on a peaceful gathering of Indians protesting repressive laws. The massacre resulted in the deaths of hundreds and injuries to thousands, sparking widespread outrage and a profound shift in Indian attitudes toward British rule.