Cartographic error makes West Bengal villages mark August 18 as Independence Day

While whole country celebrates Independence Day on August 15, this Banglesh-jacent vill marks joyous occasion on August 18. Yes, located in Nia district of West Bengal, Shibnibas vill is a quaint town of people who celebrate Independence Day three days after entire India does due to a cartographic error in Sir Cyril Rcliffe's map.

residents of Shibnibas celebrate Independence Day three days after official date because of ir late inclusion into Indian territory. When Viceroy Louis Mountbatten signed papers of Indian Independence to be declared on August 15, 1947, Bengal remained in fit of tyranny following trisection of subcontinent. demarcations drawn by Cyril Rcliffe left out several districts with Hindu faith populations like Malda, Nia in Banglesh (former East Pakistan).

When All India Rio anunced Nia's expulsion from Indian statehood as per Mountbatten's decision, several uprisings in Indo-Banglesh border vills left British in a pit of woes. protests against exiting British government, launched on August 15, 1947, were heed by 38th Maharaja of Nia's Royal family and political leers like Shayama Pras Mukherjee. Maharaja met Mountbatten, who directed him to meet he of Boundary Commission, Sir Cyril Rcliffe. demonstrations and appeals by bereft villrs and Maharaja forced hot-footed Mountbatten to redraw Rcliffe's Line that later included protesting Hindu-dominated vills into India and pushed Muslim majority to Banglesh. protests stopped on August 17 following revised declaration.

This event was logged in history of residents of vills along Indo-Banglesh border. Pakistani flag was brought down, and Indian flag was furled in Krishnanagar State Library, Anjan Sukul, a resident and grandson of revolutionary Pramanath Sukul told IndianExpress. history since n has been passed down over generations, following which, vills commemorate August 18 as ir Independence Day from British and East Pakistan.

Bongaon follows Nia's footsteps

lesser-kwn history could have been long forgotten, but for Anjan Sukul, who discovered moth-eaten p from 'Niar Swhita' that aunticates story of Shibnibas' hard-won freedom. Meanwhile, t just Nia vills, some Indo-Banglesh border vills in West Bengal rth 24 Pargana District's Bongaon area also celebrates Independence Day on August 18 along with August 15. villrs generally mark August 15 to comply with official rules and separately mark August 18 for more personal and emotional satisfaction.

Im Credit: PTI/ representative