Readers write headlines for HT announcing India’s independence on Aug 15, 1947

What headline would our readers write to break the news of the end of the country’s decades-long campaign against the British rule?

On August 14, 1947, British flags were lowered, marking a symbolic end of the empire in India and the birth of a new nation. ‘India Independent: British rule ends’ - this was the lead headline of Hindustan Times on August 15, 1947. The newspaper’s edition that day reported about a range of events -- from governors being sworn in to ‘homage to Mahatma Gandhi’.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru addressing the midnight session of the Constituent Assembly of India.

As India celebrates 70 years of independence, we asked our readers to imagine it was August 14, 1947. What headline would they use to break the news of the end of the country’s decades-long campaign against the British rule?

Editors at HT picked the best five headlines sent in by the readers:

Correction: India independent at* the cost of partition