English
English
English
Parts of Bengal Celebrated Independence on August 18 (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: India celebrated its Independence on August 15, 1947, but for some parts of Bengal, the question of which country they belonged to was answered only three days later. This is why several regions in West Bengal still observe August 18 as ‘Bharat Bhukti Dibas’ (Day of Inclusion).
On August 14 and 15, 1947, areas like Krishnanagar in Nadia, English Bazar in Malda, and Balurghat in Dinajpur witnessed Pakistan flags being hoisted, as the final boundary decision had not yet been made public.
The partition boundary between India and Pakistan was drawn by British lawyer Sir Cyril Radcliffe, who was given the responsibility of dividing Bengal and Punjab.
While popular stories suggest that Radcliffe made a mistake and the map was later corrected, historical records indicate that the situation was more complicated.
Radcliffe had completed his Bengal partition report on August 12, 1947, but the boundary details were not released immediately. The Radcliffe Award was officially announced on August 17, two days after India’s Independence.
The delay was reportedly a strategic decision. Then Viceroy Lord Mountbatten was advised that revealing the borders before Independence Day could disrupt celebrations in Delhi and Karachi and increase the risk of communal violence.
After the boundary announcement was broadcast on August 17, it became clear that several areas, including Murshidabad and large parts of Nadia, had been awarded to India.
On August 18, 1947, Pakistan flags were removed and the Indian Tricolour was hoisted in these regions.
Since then, communities in places like Nadia’s Shibnibas and Balurghat in South Dinajpur have observed August 18 as the day they became part of India.
The story of August 18 highlights the uncertainty that followed Partition. While August 15 marked India’s Independence, for some regions the question of their national identity was settled only after the Radcliffe Line was revealed.
