WHEN India's first Independent Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehur uttered the immortal words "At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom" in his speech 'Tryst with Destiny' on August 14, 1947, a nation was born.
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It was 73 years ago that those words were spoken and Ballarat's Dulari Hatwal remembers them like it was yesterday.
Now aged 83, and having lived in Ballarat for the past 15 years, Ms Hatwal was one of many to look on in pride as the Indian flag was raised in the centre of Ballarat as part of Indian Independence Day.
"Today is very important for us because this day we got our Independence after many many years," Ms Hatwal said.
"Now I'm very happy in Australia and I've become Aussie-Indian."
Ms Hatwal lived in the relatively small Indian city of Dehradun at the foothills of the Himalayas in the north of the country. Today that city boasts a population of just over 500,000.
She said she remembered everything from the celebrations she witnessed as a 10 year old.
"That day all people were very very happy, they were all wearing the flag," she said. "The whole country, and our city was decorated with flags. I remember everything. It was wonderful for all people," she said.
"I'm very happy here in Ballarat. The people are so generous, so kind and anyone who meets me, they become my friend."
Ballarat is now home to a growing Indian community which also helps to support a number of students who study at Federation University.
Vice President of the Ballarat Indian Association Elan Govan said Ballarat had become a home for many Indian people looking to create a new life in Australia.
"People feel that they don't have to go to Melbourne or any big city, because we can have a celebration in our home town, which can connect everyone," Mr Govan said.
"So we absolutely wish to thank the City of Ballarat who have made this day so special for us today.
"A few years back if you saw another Indian down the street you would say hello straight away, because the numbers were so small, now we have more than 150 families here.
"We also have about 400 students at Federation University so it's wonderful they can all come and feel as one."
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