India achieved independence from British rule on August 15, 1947.
Jawaharlal Nehru became India's first Prime Minister.
Lord Mountbatten served as the last Viceroy of India, overseeing the transition to independence.
Partition
The British Raj was divided into two sovereign dominions: India, envisioned as a secular state with a Hindu majority, and Pakistan, a Muslim-majority nation.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah became Pakistan's first Governor-General.
The partition led to one of the largest mass migrations in history, involving roughly 10–15 million people, and tragically resulted in widespread communal violence and an estimated 1–2 million deaths.
Impact on Nepal
Although Nepal was never a British colony, it maintained complex diplomatic relations with the British Raj.
Post-1947, India emerged as Nepal's primary regional neighbor and treaty partner, replacing Britain's direct influence.
Gurkha soldiers continued their service in both the Indian and British armies under the terms of the Tripartite Agreement.
Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's non-violent independence movement, was assassinated on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse.