Why Pakistan celebrates Independence Day on August 14: Theories and historical context

August 14: Pakistan’s unique celebration (File)

History was made in the twilight hours of August 1947, as the Indian subcontinent saw the dawn of freedom, giving birth to two new nations—India and Pakistan. The Indian Independence Act of 1947, a pivotal moment in the struggle against British colonial rule, officially established these independent dominions.

The Act declared, "As from the fifteenth day of August, nineteen hundred and forty-seven, two independent Dominions shall be set up in India, to be known respectively as India and Pakistan."

While the Act designated August 15 as the date for independence for both nations, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan, highlighted in his historic radio address that “August 15 is the birthday of the independent and sovereign state of Pakistan. It marks the fulfilment of the destiny of the Muslim nation which made great sacrifices in the past few years to have its homeland.” This statement indicates that Pakistan's independence was linked to the same night as India’s.

Ramzan Factor

One notable theory links the date to the religious month of Ramzan. Proponents suggest that August 14, 1947, coincided with the 27th day of Ramzan, which is considered particularly auspicious. Consequently, August 14 was chosen for the independence celebration. Additionally, August 15 that year fell on the last Friday of Ramzan, making August 14 a more significant date for Muslims in Pakistan. This alignment with a special day in the Islamic calendar may have contributed to the decision to mark the country's independence a day earlier. Many in Pakistan still regard August 14 as significant due to its proximity to the end of Ramzan in 1947.

Mountbatten's Schedule

Initially, the British plan was to transfer power to India and Pakistan by June 1948. However, Lord Mountbatten, the last British viceroy, advanced the independence date to August 15, 1947, hastening the transition. Mountbatten was scheduled to formally transfer power to Indian leaders at midnight on August 14-15 in New Delhi. For Pakistan, the announcement of independence was to occur in Karachi, its first capital.

Due to the logistical challenge of being in two places at once, Mountbatten’s visit to Karachi was moved up. He arrived on August 13 and addressed Pakistan's constituent assembly on August 14, stating, "Tomorrow the government of the new Dominion of Pakistan will rest in your hands."

This scheduling led to Pakistan celebrating Independence Day on August 14, a day earlier than the official transfer of power, which some attribute to Mountbatten's busy schedule and the accelerated independence plans.

Pakistan Cabinet Decision

Another version suggests that a faction within Pakistan's leadership aimed to celebrate Independence Day before India. In June 1948, a meeting of Pakistan's first cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan, proposed advancing the date. The plan was to present the proposal to Muhammad Ali Jinnah for approval. Once Jinnah agreed, Pakistan's Independence Day was officially moved to August 14. This decision, although not reflected in historical records, was made to allow Pakistan to celebrate before India.

Other Theories

The 30-minute time difference between Indian Standard Time (IST) and Pakistan Standard Time (PST) is another reason cited for Pakistan's August 14 Independence Day celebration. India gained independence at midnight on August 15 IST, which was 11:30 pm PST on August 14.

Initially, commemorative stamps issued by Pakistan listed August 15, but the date was later moved to August 14. The reasons for this shift remain unclear.

Partition's Legacy: Violence and Displacement

The 1947 Partition of India led to massive violence and displacement, with around 10 million Muslims moving from India and a similar number of Hindus relocating to India.

This upheaval resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and left enduring hostility and distrust between India and Pakistan, with its effects still felt today.