Independence Day 2025: With India’s Independence Day fast approaching, the country is preparing to observe one of its most significant national observances.
India obtained independence on August 15, 1947, marking its first Independence Day, and since then, the country has celebrated the day every year as a reminder of the end of colonial rule and the birth of a sovereign democracy.
This historic occasion marked the end of over two centuries of opposition and struggle among millions of Indians who aspired to a free and independent country.
The day honours the tremendous sacrifices made by freedom fighters, revolutionaries, and ordinary residents who heroically stood up to the British Empire, enduring immense hardships in the name of their country’s freedom.
Independence Day is a day for reflecting on the responsibilities that come with freedom, as well as a celebration of India’s diversity, unity, rich cultural legacy, and national achievements.
Is it India’s 78th or 79th Independence Day in 2025?
At first glance, the calculation appears simple. Subtract 1947 from 2025 to obtain 78. That is the number of years since India achieved independence from British colonial rule.
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However, when it comes to counting Independence Days, the rationale is slightly different, and this is where the confusion arises.
Some individuals wrongly assume that if you subtract 1947 from the present year, 2025, India will be 78.
While it is correct that 2025 minus 1947 = 78 years, this figure shows the number of completed years of independence, not the number of Independence Days observed.
Last year’s Independence Day celebration (Express Photo)
So, what number is this? India celebrated its first Independence Day in 1947, not 1948; hence, the count starts with one rather than zero.
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As a result, this year, August 15, 2025, India will be celebrating its 79th Independence Day with the country raising its flag to commemorate its struggle for freedom.
While there is often uncertainty about this number, it is more than just arithmetic. Independence Day is more than just counting the years; it is about celebrating every year of independence attained, defended, and cherished.
The 79th Independence Day falls at a time when India is reflecting on its social and economic growth, and this slight aspect indicates how we learn about and commemorate our past.
