Jawaharlal Nehru's Midnight Flag Hoisting: Turning Point in India's Independence Struggle

As midnight approached, Jawaharlal Nehru, the leader of the Indian struggle for independence, stood on the banks of the Ravi River in Lahore. This occasion was not just symbolic but marked a crucial turn in India’s fight against British colonization. Nehru hoisted the tricolour flag, signifying India's concrete pledge toward complete independence from British rule. The moment came after decades of struggle, led by figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, who advocated for non-violent resistance and civil disobedience. The Indian National Congress, under Nehru's presidency, had begun to push more assertively for Purna Swaraj, or complete self-rule. The All India Congress Committee had passed a resolution earlier, demanding full independence. Nehru's act of hoisting the flag was witnessed by a large gathering of Indian freedom fighters and supporters. It underscored the resolve of the Indian people to attain sovereignty and marked a shift from demanding dominion status within the British Empire to seeking full independence. Observers from different walks of life, from peasants to intellectuals, were energized by this bold declaration. The move was a unifying action in India's fragmented socio-political landscape, drawing attention both locally and internationally. It set the stage for escalating activities against British rule, producing a ripple effect in the mobilization of the masses. The direct-action campaigns, civil disobedience movements, and mass protests that followed were galvanized by this midnight act of defiance. Nehru's unfurling of the tricolour on the banks of the Ravi thus became an emblematic moment in India's long struggle for freedom. It brought together millions in a communal pledge for a future free of colonial oppression. The flag, symbolizing courage (saffron), peace (white), and faith (green), with the Ashoka Chakra at its center, began to be seen not only as a national emblem but a beacon of hope and resistance. #IndianIndependence #PurnaSwaraj #JawaharlalNehru #TricolourHoisting #FreedomStruggle #MoofLife