New Delhi. Even though India and Pakistan got independence at the same time, both the countries celebrate their Independence Day on different days. While Pakistan celebrates independence on 14th August, India celebrates its independence on 15th August. Often the question arises in people's mind that why is this so? The real reason behind this is related to the choice of the then Viceroy Lord Mountbatten and some religious beliefs.
Why did Mountbatten choose 15 August?
When Lord Mountbatten came to India as the last Viceroy in March 1947, Britain gave him time till June 1948 to transfer power. That means he had more than sixteen months. But the deteriorating condition of the country—the weak interim government, rapidly spreading communal riots and the growing demands of Pakistan—forced him to take a hasty decision.
He himself chose the date of August 15, because this day was emotionally special for him. In fact, on 15 August 1945, during the Second World War, the Japanese army in Singapore surrendered to the Allies and Mountbatten was the Supreme Allied Commander in South East Asia at that time. This was the reason why he fixed the same date for India's independence.
The law was made within two weeks
After Mountbatten's decision, the process of transfer of power went very fast. On July 4, 1947, a law was introduced in the British House of Commons to create two separate Dominions of India and Pakistan and it was passed within just two weeks. In this law, the date of India's independence was fixed as 15 August 1947.
Then how did Pakistan become independent on 14th August?
Two big reasons are given behind this. First, Mountbatten could not attend the independence celebrations in both India and Pakistan on the same day, so Pakistan's event was organized a day earlier i.e. on 14 August 1947 in Karachi. The second reason is also considered religious. It is said that August 14, 1947 was the 27th day of Ramadan, which is considered extremely holy for Muslims. For these reasons, Pakistan has been celebrating its Independence Day on 14 August.