India gained independence from British rule on August 15, 1947, after a prolonged struggle for freedom that included both nonviolent resistance and revolutionary activities. The independence movement, led by figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, sought to end British colonial rule and establish a self-governing nation. The partition of India into two separate states, India and Pakistan, resulted in significant demographic changes and communal violence but also marked the beginning of a new era for the country's governance. Independence is celebrated annually as a national holiday, representing the triumph of resilience and unity.