th January is one of the important symbols of the struggle for Indian Independence. On 26th January 1930, Indians celebrated their first Independence Day. After the Purna Swaraj Resolution was passed in the Lahore Congress in 1929, it was finally promulgated on this day. Indians all over the country gathered peacefully to take the ‘Pledge of Indian Independence’. From here on till 1947, the day was widely celebrated as Independence Day and stood as a symbol of resistance to foreign rule.
Purna Swaraj Declared on 26th January:
- During the Lahore Congress held in the December of 1929, Jawaharlal Nehru was chosen as the President. At 41 he was the youngest President of Indian National Congress so far.
- Under his Presidency, on 26th December 1929, the ‘Purna Swaraj Resolution’ was passed. It was drafted by Jawaharlal Nehru himself.
- The last Sunday of January was chosen to be the day of promulgation of the Declaration.
- Hence 26th January 1930 was celebrated as the ‘Purna Swaraj’ or Independence Day all over India.
- People assembled to iterate the ‘Pledge of Indian Independence’ or ‘Declaration of Indian Independence’ which was drafted by Mahatma Gandhi.
- It was written on the lines of the American Declaration of independence.
- The Pledge or Declaration iterated the oppression and exploitation of the Indian people in their own land. It described the political, economic, cultural and spiritual ruin of India and that it would be unworthy to bear it anymore.
Dandi March
- Gandhiji describes it as a crime against God and humanity. He also urged the masses to prepare for Civil Disobedience and talked of the unjust salt law.
- Soon after this, on 12th March 1930, Mahatma Gandhi and 78 Congress volunteers began the historic Dandi March. They marched for 24 days and reached Dandi on 6th April 1930. He contravened the salt law by making salt here and launched the Civil Disobedience Movement.
- On 26th January 1950, the new Constitution of the country prepared by the Constituent Assembly was enforced.