How Delhi, Lahore, Calcutta and Karachi Saw Freedom

A very long time ago, in 1947, a big country called India had been ruled by Britain for many years.

Finally, on August 15, 1947, India became free, but it was also cut into two countries: India and Pakistan.

Some people were very happy and celebrated with flags and lights everywhere.

In Delhi, hundreds of flag ceremonies took place, even though it rained hard during a nighttime speech by a leader named Jawaharlal Nehru.

But many people were also sad because their homes were now in a different country and families were split apart.

In Karachi, which became Pakistan's new capital, there were almost no government offices or furniture ready.

In Calcutta, people from different religions who had been fighting began hugging and celebrating together, and there was no fighting for two weeks.

In Lahore, nobody even knew which country the city would belong to until August 17.

In Hyderabad, a ruler called the Nizam did not want to join India, so many people who wanted freedom were arrested.

So the same day meant different things to different people, a mix of joy, worry, hope and sadness.