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Source: The post is based on the article “PM Modi in France: What is Bastille Day, whose celebrations he will attend” published in Indian Express on 13th July 2023
What is the News?
The Indian Prime Minister will be attending the French National Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour.
The National Day of France is celebrated on July 14 also known as Bastille Day and is marked by a long military parade, along with dancing and other merriment.
Note: Before the present PM Modi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had attended Bastille Day celebrations in 2009.
What is Bastille Day?
Bastille Day is the name given to the National Day of France, which is celebrated on 14 July each year.
The day signifies the start of the French Revolution, more than 200 years ago.
What happened on Bastille Day?
In 1789, people were unhappy with King Louis XVI’s reign, which had been dominated by food shortages and high taxes.
After outbreaks of violence on the streets of Paris, an armed mob surrounded Bastille on the morning of 14 July.
They stormed the Bastille prison and as word spread, the French Revolution was born.
The mob chose Bastille because people were imprisoned here simply because the King said so, without trial and without publicly stated causes.
The monarchy was eventually overthrown and Louis XVI and his wife Queen were executed.
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