Key Points

India gained independence at midnight on 14-15 August 1947. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru delivered his famous 'tryst with destiny' speech to the Constituent Assembly.

Independent India faced three immediate challenges: shaping a united nation that accommodated diversity, establishing democratic practices, and ensuring development and well-being for the entire society.

The partition of British India into India and Pakistan was the result of the 'two-nation theory' advanced by the Muslim League, which claimed that Hindus and Muslims were two separate nations.

Partition was based on the principle of religious majorities, leading to the division of Punjab and Bengal. This process was difficult due to non-contiguous majority areas and large non-Muslim populations in the divided provinces.

The year 1947 saw one of the largest and most violent transfers of population in history. It resulted in communal riots, the death of 5 to 10 lakh people, and the displacement of about 80 lakh people across the new border.

With the end of British rule, 565 princely states became legally independent and were given the choice to join India, Pakistan, or remain independent, posing a serious threat to national unity.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, as India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, played a historic role in negotiating with the rulers of the princely states, persuading most of them to join the Indian Union.

The 'Instrument of Accession' was the legal document signed by the rulers of princely states, through which they agreed to become a part of the Union of India.

The Nizam of Hyderabad initially wanted independence. After the atrocities by his paramilitary force, the Razakars, the Indian army intervened in September 1948, leading to Hyderabad's accession to India.

The Maharaja of Manipur signed the Instrument of Accession before independence. Following elections and differences in the legislative assembly, he signed a Merger Agreement with India in September 1949.

The national movement had promised to redraw internal boundaries on a linguistic basis. However, after independence, leaders feared this might lead to disintegration and postponed the decision.

A movement for a separate state for Telugu-speaking people, called the Vishalandhra movement, gained momentum in the Madras province. The death of Congress leader Potti Sriramulu after a 56-day fast led to the creation of Andhra state in December 1952.

In 1953, the central government appointed the States Reorganisation Commission to redraw state boundaries. The Commission recommended that the boundaries of states should reflect the boundaries of different languages.

Based on the SRC's report, the States Reorganisation Act was passed in 1956. This led to the creation of 14 states and 6 union territories, largely on linguistic lines.

Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948 by Nathuram Godse. His sacrifice and his efforts to stop communal violence strengthened India's resolve to be a secular nation where all religions are treated equally.

The process of state creation continued after 1956. Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed in 1960, Punjab was reorganized in 1966, and states like Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand were created in 2000 on cultural and developmental grounds.