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............. George Bernard Shaw
The month August is named after Emperor Augustus to whom it was an eventful month because great, memorable events took pace during that month. As for the Hindus, the month of August has the following auspicious days: Nag Panchami (Aug 07, 2016), Varalakshmi Vratam (Aug 12, 2016), Raksha-Bandhan (Aug 18, 2016) and Krishna Janmashtami - birth of Sri Krishna (Aug 25, 2016). All these annual festivals fall in August. 'Avaniavitam" is an important ceremony during which Brahmins discard the old Sacred Thread and put on the new one across their shoulder, while chanting mantras.This one comes annually in August. Part of August (till the end of Tamil month Aadi, ending in the second week of August), wedding celebrations, opening of a new business etc won't be done by the Hindus. It is a sort of taboo.
When we go deep into the history of India, lots of memorable events took place in August such as Government of India Act (02 August 1858), Indian Independence Act (15 August 1947), Partition of India (15 August 1947) etc. Such events are well etched in time and are relevant to our present. It'll give you just a glimpse how much sufferings and sacrifices our forefathers went through so that the future generation could breathe fresh air. Our leaders of past are really worthy of emulation as they were patriotic to the core and cared for the welfare of the people. Corruption and nepotism were rare. Do our present day politicians emulate those great men in letter and spirit? As for the present political situation, we have become despondent, groping in the dark.
The following are the great events in our country taken place in August before independence:
James Lancaster commanded first East India Co voyage in 1601.en.wikipedia.org |
East India company flag. 1600 en.wikipedia.org |
.. On 24th August 1608, the first representative of the East India landed in Surat for purposes of trade.
..The East India Company, a British joint stock company was founded in 1600 to engage in trade with the East Indies (a term used to refer to South and South East Asia), but primarily ended up carrying out trade with the Indian subcontinent, the North West Frontier provinces and Baluchistan.
.. On 30th August 1659, Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s son Dara Shikoh was put to death by his younger brother Aurangzeb
.. On Aug 15, 1772: The East India Company took the decision for separate civil and criminal courts in districts.
Maharaja Nandakumar en.wikipedia.org |
.. Dwarkanath, related to Rabindranath Tagore was a rich man of character and wisdom. He wanted to start a railroad company on his own. He developed passion for his proposed project. He visited England in March 1845 to prevail upon the bosses of East India Company to grant permission to start construction of the railway line. He was not given permission. He returned to India with a broken heart and died in August.
first train, India.1854: /en.wikipedia.org |
.. On15 August 1854: East India Railway ran its first passenger train from Calcutta (now Kolkata) to Hooghly, Covering a distance of 37 km, the train left Howrah station at 8:30 a.m. and reached Hooghly in 91 minutes.This line was officially inaugurated in 1855- Aug 16. Imported locomotive was used; whereas three first-class and two second-class coaches, three trucks for third-class passengers and a brake van for the guard, all of these were built in India.
The Govt of India Act 1858 Royal assent
2 Aug.1858 en.wikipedia.org |
.. On August 5 1858 The British Crown took control of India from the EIC. soon after Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 that began in Meerut cantonment. Because of poor handling by the EIC officials, it spread like wild fire and engulfed the north.
Sepoy Mutiny.www.slideshare.net |
. On Aug 20 1917 - In the midst of the Kaiserian world war His majesty made the famous announcement on Aug 20, 1917- the goal of the British policy was the progressive realization of responsible government for India as an integral part of the British Empire. The conciliatory efforts by the British govt. were rendered nugatory by the conservatives. Manacled and diluted, the Montague-Chelmsford reforms became a subject of Criticism. Annie Besant said it was unworthy of Britain to offer and India to accept it.
Jallianwalla bagh massacre,Punjab facts-about-india.com |
.. August 01 1920: The Jallianwalla Bagh events and Khilafat movements had aggravated the political situation to a higher level.
The non-cooperation Movement mahatmagandhiji.com |
Above image: The non-cooperation Movement was firmly launched on 1 August, 1920. Tilak passed away in the early hours of 1 August, and the day of mourning and of launching of the movement
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.. On August 20 1920 Gandhi started non cooperation movement. It was almost total civil obedience struggle of 1930 that showed the mass power of the people. There was no iota of violence committed by the patriots. It was simply not cooperating with the ruling government.
Mahatma Gandhi in London facts-about-india.com |
.. On August 21, 1931 Gandhi as a sole rep of the Congress sailed for London to take part in the 2nd round table congress with his loin clothes on. The conference was a failure. As for Churchill, it was a chance for him to call Gandhiji as "Seditious half naked fakir". Gandhiji returned to India disappointed, but personally he won the heart of the British People, in particular, the labor class. There he met people like Bernard Shaw and Charlie Chaplin.
.. In August 1932 Gandhi wrote a strong letter to PM Ramsey Mac Donald protesting against his proposal of Communal Award whereby the Harijans (untouchables in India) should be segregated from the Hindus. Gandhiji went on a fast unto death that finally ended up in Yarawada jail.
www.slideshare.net |
.. In August 1941: Linlitgow, His Majesty's rep made an offer of inviting some Indians to join his cabinet to set a War Advisory council. It was rejected by the Indian leaders. It was a ruse to drag the Indians into war. India had the best and efficient military officers and soldiers.
.. On Aug.08 1942 in Bombay: Quit India moment resolution was passed at the AIC meeting; a flag to be unfurled to declare a new nation was born. Following day Gandhi and others were taken away to unknown place. The Congress and other organizations were declared illegal followed by a spate of arrests. Draconian laws were promulgated. There was strict suppression of political meetings, etc. Violence was let lose on the freedom fighters. There were arrests galore across India and the prisons were full.
Mahadev Desaikashivishvavidyalay.wordpress.com |
Desai and Gandhiji. en.wikipedia.org/w |
Bala Gangadar Tilak. likesuccess.com |
Surendranath Banerrjee alchetron.com |
Tagore . pics.onemusic.tv |
..On 15 August 1947, India after Partition was declared independent of British rule and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was sworn in as the first Prime Minister of independent India.
Independence of India was preceded by the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics.
Indian ind.. day Aug. 15, 1947. PM Nehru Lord Mountbatton, fullyindia.com |
.. August 1, 1838 - Slavery was abolished in Jamaica. It had been introduced by Spanish settlers 300 years earlier in 1509.
.. August 3, 1492 - Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain, with three ships, Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. He wanted to find a westerly route to the Far East, he instead landed on October 12th in the Bahamas, thinking it was an outlying Japanese island.
.. August 5, 1962 - Glamorous movie star Marilyn Monroe died. Cause:An overdose of sleeping pills. She made 29 films during her career and came to symbolize Hollywood glamour and her diamond song was a hit. She was just 36.
.. August 15, 1762 Birthday - Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) France, was born on the island of Corsica. Earlier in his career an officer in King Louis' Army, he rose to become Emperor amid the political chaos that followed the French Revolution.
.. August, 1901 Jazz trumpet player Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) was born in New Orleans,LA.
Ref:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_independence_movement