Happy Independence Day 2023: Will 2023 mark 76th or 77th anniversary; deets inside
Happy Independence Day 2023: As India strides forward on its path of progress and growth, a pertinent question looms regarding the forthcoming Independence Day 2023 observance. With the passage of each year, the nation pays tribute to its arduously won liberation from colonial dominion, an event celebrated annually on August 15.
Yet, a deliberation has surfaced regarding whether 2023 signifies the 76th or 77th year since India's independence, sparking conversations concerning historical occurrences and the calendar employed to ascertain this momentous juncture.
Gregorian Calendar
India's quest for independence culminated on August 15, 1947, when the nation finally broke free from British colonial rule. For years, this date has been celebrated as the anniversary of India's hard-won freedom. However, a closer look at the calendar presents an intriguing conundrum.
The calendar used at the time of independence was the Gregorian calendar, which follows the Common Era (CE). Therefore, according to the Gregorian calendar, the year 2023 would indeed mark the 76th year of India's independence.
Saka Calendar
Meanwhile, India also follows the Saka calendar, which is an official civil calendar used alongside the Gregorian calendar. The Saka calendar is used by the Government of India for official purposes and is based on the traditional Hindu lunar calendar.
According to the Saka calendar, India's independence was declared in the year 1900 of the Saka Era, which translates to 1947 CE. Following this logic, 2023 would be considered the 77th year of independence, in alignment with the Gregorian calendar.
Gregorian Calendar Perspective
Declaration of Independence: India officially gained independence from British colonial rule on August 15, 1947, according to the Gregorian calendar.
Year Calculation: To calculate the number of years, we simply subtract the year of independence from the current year (2023 - 1947).
Calculation: 2023 - 1947 = 76
Therefore, based on the Gregorian calendar, 2023 would be counted as the 76th year of India's independence.
Saka Calendar Perspective
Saka Calendar is a traditional Hindu lunar calendar. The Saka Era started in 78 CE, which means the year 2023 in the Saka calendar corresponds to the year 2001 CE in the Gregorian calendar (2023 - 78 1).
Year Calculation: In the Saka calendar, the year of independence is 1900, as it corresponds to the Gregorian year 1947 (1900 78 - 1).
Calculation: 2023 (Saka) - 1900 (Saka) = 123 Saka years (equivalent to 1947 - 78 1 = 1901 CE)
Therefore, based on the Saka calendar, 2023 would be counted as the 77th year of India's independence.
The determination of whether 2023 is the 76th or 77th year of India's independence depends on the calendar system being used. While the Gregorian calendar calculates 2023 as the 76th year, the Saka calendar interprets it as the 77th year.
- With inputs from agencies
