Britain granted India independence on August 15, 1947, marking the end of nearly two centuries of British colonial rule. This transition was the result of a long struggle led by various nationalist movements, notably the Indian National Congress and figures like Mahatma Gandhi, who advocated for nonviolent resistance. The independence was accompanied by the partition of India into two sovereign states, India and Pakistan, leading to significant communal violence and mass migrations. The event marked a significant moment in the decolonization wave post-World War II and set the stage for India’s emergence as the world’s largest democracy.