New Delhi: India won its independence from the British control on August 15, 1947 after years of uprising against the colonial rulers. To commemorate the historic moment, we celebrate this day every year with cultural functions & festivities. Flag-hoisting ceremonies from state level to panchayat level and slew of cultural activities are organised, in honour of the historic day.
However, one may be surprised to know that India isn’t the only country to celebrate Independence Day on August 15th. There are 5 other nations, which share their ‘freedom day’ with India.
Here are 5 nations, who celebrate their independence from colonial domination on this day:
1) South Korea
South Korea got liberated from imperial powers on August 15. The South Koreans celebrate this day, which they called Gwangbokjeol (the day the light returned). This day is commemorative of the yearly anniversary of the August 15, 1945, announcement of Japan’s unconditional surrender. The Imperial Japanese Army was ordered to surrender in its entirety to the Allies. On August 15, 1948, three years after the establishment of independent Korean governments, the Korean War ended.
2) North Korea
On August 15th, North Koreans commemorate National Liberation Day. On this day in 1945, with the support of Allied troops, the Japanese colonial authority over Korea came to an end after 35 years. On this day in 1945, the Japanese were finally driven from the Korean peninsula, and the peninsula was subsequently partitioned into the two nations of South Korea and North Korea.
3) Bahrain
After a ballot conducted by the United Nations among Bahraini nationals, the island nation of Bahrain declared its independence from British rule on August 15, 1971. After that, the previous agreement was replaced by a treaty of friendship between the two groups. The actual day of independence was August 14; however, this is not celebrated.
4) Republic of the Congo
Complete independence from France was achieved in 1960. On August 15, the people of the Republic of the Congo commemorate their nation’s independence. This former French colony is located on Africa’s western coast and goes by the name Congo-Brazzaville. On August 15, 1960, independence from France was officially declared.
5) Liechtenstein
On August 15, since its liberation from German rule in 1866, Liechtenstein celebrated its freedom as the world’s sixth smallest nation. Liechtenstein observed the ‘Assumption of Mary’ on August 15, and the then-ruling prince – Prince Franz Josef II, was born on the 16th of August. Therefore, the Prince’s birthday and the Feast of the Assumption were combined to become Liechtenstein’s national holiday on the 15th.
