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Celebrating India’s Independence on Google Arts & Culture
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Celebrating India’s Independence on Google Arts & Culture

Aug 05, 2022

Simon Rein.jpg
Simon Rein
Senior Program Manager, Google Arts & Culture
Samit Malkani
Group Marketing Creative Manager, India & Southeast Asia
Black and white photo of a large crowd of people in a room watching two men standing in the center with a microphone stand.

The photo shows Jawaharlal Nehru being sworn in as First Prime Minister of Independent India on August 15, 1947.
Illustration of a bald man wearing gold wire rimmed glasses and white clothing with his palms pressed together in prayer position, against a blue background.

Mahatma Gandhi is perhaps the most celebrated Indian public figure in the world. His ideas and words have influenced many of the world's most powerful political leaders, freedom fighters, social activists, thinkers, and artists alike: from Martin Luther King to Nelson Mandela to John Lennon.
Black and white photo of a circular room with windows, with rows of people sitting on benches and looking at loose papers.

The Constitution of India was adopted on January 26, 1950. The 299 member Constituent Assembly drafted the Constitution of India over three years. The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly was attended by 205 members, including 9 women.
Illustration of a person wearing traditional pink and green Indian clothing, colorful earrings, red painted nails, palms pressed together in prayer position, against a pink, purple, magenta patterned background.

On January 4, 2015, Madhu Bai Kinnar made history when she became India’s first transgender Mayor in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh Municipal Corporation.
Illustration of a person wearing a large rainbow skirt in front of a crowd of people holding rainbow flags and looking happy, outdoors.

On September 6, 2018, the Supreme Court of India decriminalized homosexuality. A five-judge constitutional bench struck down the 1861 colonial-era law, which remained in force for 157 years.
Illustration of an octagonal prism structure with a purple, red, orange grid patterned and labeled “Aryabhata” floating in outer space between stars and two planets.

Named after a prominent Indian astronomer and mathematician of the 5th century CE, the Aryabhata was India's first satellite. It carried scientific instruments to explore conditions in Earth’s ionosphere, measure neutrons and gamma rays from the Sun, and perform investigations in X-ray astronomy.
Illustration of an astronaut in a space suit with the helmet down, against a backdrop of outer space, a rocket, a satellite, and three planets.

Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, an Indian Air Force pilot, is the first Indian citizen to have traveled to outer space. Sharma spent 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes aboard the Salyut 7 during which his team conducted scientific and technical studies.
Illustration of a boxer dressed in orange long sleeve shirt with the flag of India on it, hands up in green boxing gloves, against a dark blue background of a boxing ring, flowers, and stars.

Nikhat Zareen won the gold medal at the 2022 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, in Istanbul.
Illustration of a runner mid-run in a racetrack wearing tan colored tanktop with “India 16” on it, shorts, and shoes. A crowd watches from the bleachers labeled “Asian Games”.

Milkha Singh, known as the Flying Sikh, is the only athlete to win gold at 400 meters at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, in 1958.
Illustration of a group of 5 people with their hands up, holding a large golden medal labeled “XIV OLYMPIAD LONDON 1948”, against an orange and yellow striped background.

India’s Olympic gold in field hockey in 1948 was the newly sovereign nation’s first major sporting triumph.
Illustration of a person in a suit holding a silver cup medal, against a colorful background of athletes, sports equipment, flowers, confetti, and traditional Indian patterns.

In 1983, the India cricket team defeated the West Indies by 43 runs at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London, winning its first World Cup.
Color photograph of a person painting a pattern onto a leather shoe, surrounded by a pile of leather shoes.

Discover the story behind jutti - a type of leather shoe decorated with extensive embroidery.
Painting of a person holding a small round fruit in one hand, dressed in traditional Indian clothing and jewelry, looking off to the side, against a grey background.

In this soft, naturalistic painting of a young woman, the aristocratic Raja Varma introduced a new visual language to Indian art. This sensuous portrait remains one of his most affecting works.
Close up color photograph of a hand painting with blue paint a black and white illustration of the Indian god Ganesh on leather.

Test your knowledge of India’s art forms with Guess That Craft and see how India's unique craftsmanship helps define this nation.
Black and white photograph of a large outdoor stone structure with rounded roofs, surrounded by trees, towers, and a large pool of water in the forefront.

The Taj Mahal needs no introduction. Built by emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the marble mausoleum is one of the crowning achievements of the Mughal Empire and one of the seven Wonders of the World. Experience this great monument through a virtual tour.
Black and white photograph of a large outdoor mound of earth, with tall stone edifices in front of it.

Sanchi Stupa, a Buddhist complex, is one of the oldest stone structures in India and an important monument of Indian Architecture. It’s famous for its Great Stupa – which translates roughly as “heap” from Sanskrit. You can also explore it in 3D.
Color photograph of an intricate exterior of a tan, white, grey building with archways, pillars, and ornate carvings.

Though millions use this train station every day, the majesty of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus never goes unnoticed. You can explore it in 360 degrees at Google Arts & Culture.
Color photograph of a glass bowl of honey, mortar and pestle with green leaves, a vial of yellow clear liquid, and various loose spices against a white background.

Āyurveda, the ‘Science of Life’, originated in ancient India and is thought to be one of the earliest medical sciences in the world. Discover the various ingredients used in Āyurveda medicine.
Intricate woven cloth split into three visual sections, each one with a border of red and yellow pattern, depicting an abstract vase of flowers against a red background.

As the Mughal kings traveled around their kingdom, they slept in adorned tents called Kanat. This lavish tent hanging of the early 18th century is befitting of the royal entourage.
Color photograph of a dark grey statue of a person in a robe with their eyes closed, standing barefoot with a flat circle behind their head, against a white background.

Standing Buddha is an aesthetically stunning example of Gupta art. The Buddha’s following grew even further in the years after his passing, and he became a frequent subject of Indian art. Follow the stages of his life depicted through sculpture.
Faded illustration of a person with four arms holding a piece of jewelry, plants, a cloth, and papers, dressed in an orange robe and standing barefoot among white lotus flowers.

This painting of a divine woman robed in saffron is an early depiction of Bharat Mata, or ‘Mother India’ – a personification of India as a mother goddess. You can study Abanindranath Tagore’s painting also in augmented reality on your smartphone.
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