In December 1929, Jawaharlal Nehru was elected President of the Indian National Congress during its annual session in Lahore. It was here, on December 19, that the historic Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) resolution was adopted. This pivotal moment marked a turning point in India's struggle for freedom, as the Congress formally rejected Britain's vague promise of dominion status in the Irwin Declaration and demanded full independence. Frustrated by stalled negotiations and colonial exploitation, the resolution fueled a nationwide movement, culminating in the declaration of independence on January 26, 1930—later celebrated as India’s first Independence Day.
A lasting tribute to this event exists in Lahore's Krishan Nagar: Nehru Park, where Nehru raised the Indian flag to mark the call for freedom. Remarkably, the park's name has remained unchanged for 94 years, a quiet reminder of this historic milestone, now in the heart of Pakistan.
Lahore, steeped in history, also hosted the landmark Lahore Resolution at Iqbal Park on March 23, 1940. This resolution called for the creation of an independent state for Muslims in British India, ultimately leading to the establishment of Pakistan in 1947.
Despite its significance, Nehru Park is often overlooked in the collective memory of the city. Eleven years before the Lahore Resolution, it was the site where the Indian National Congress boldly shifted its stance, demanding complete independence from British rule—a moment deeply embedded in the subcontinent’s shared history.
