Brief - Indian Independence 1885 - 1947

 The first meeting of the Indian National Congress, Bombay 

1905

 The first partition of Bengal 

1906 

Formation of the Muslim League 

1920 

Mahatma Gandhi leads the Congress; Non-cooperation Movement 

1922

 Civil Disobedience Movement 1925 Reforms Enquiry Committee Report 

1928 

Simon Commission comes to India: Boycott by all parties 

1929

 Lord Irwin promises Dominion Status for India 

1930

 Civil Disobedience Movement continues; Salt Satyagraha: Gandhi's Dandi March; First Round Table Conference

 1931 

Second Round Table Conference; Irwin-Gandhi Pact; Census of India 

1932

 Suppression of the Congress movement; Third Round Table Conference 

1934 

Civil Disobedience Movement called off 

1935

 The Government of India Act receives Royal Assent

 1937 

Elections held for provincial assemblies 

1938

 July Gandhi-Jinnah negotiations for the settlement of the communal problem, which began in February, fail Dec The Muslim League forms a committee of enquiry into alleged Congress persecution of Muslims.

 1939 3 Sep 

Viceroy Linlithgow announces that India is at war with Germany 18 Oct Viceroy's Statement on War Aims and the War Effort: reiterates that goal of British policy is Dominion status for India.

1935

 Act is open to modification at the end of the war, in the light of Indian opinion. Offers association of Indian opinion in war effort through consultative group representing the major political parties in British India and the princes. Oct Resignation of Congress Ministries 22 Dec Observed as 'Deliverance Day' from Congress rule by the Muslim League. 

1940 23 Mar 

Lahore Resolution of the Muslim League demands for a separate state for the Muslims of India May Churchill becomes Prime Minister in Britain 

1940 7 Aug

 Aug Viceroy makes a statement on India's constitutional development - the August Offer - and announces that more places would be open to representative Indians in an expanded Executive Council and on a new War Advisory Council Sep Congress and League reject the August Offer.

1940 17 Oct

 Congress launches civil disobedience 

1941 Dec

 Congress civil disobedience prisoners set free 

1942

 Subhas Chandra Bose forms the Indian National Army 

1942 11 Mar 

British Government announces its decision to send Sir Stafford Cripps to India.

1942  30 Mar 

Cripps proposals published 

1942 2 Apr 

Congress and League reject the Cripps proposals .

1942 8-9 Aug

 Congress launches 'Quit India movement' and is declared an unlawful organisation; Gandhi and all members of the Congress Working Committee are arrested 

1943 Oct

 Wavell succeeds Linlithgow as Viceroy 

1944 9-27 Sep

 Gandhi-Jinnah talks end in failure 

1945 

First trial of the Indian National Army men opened

1945 7 May 

Germany surrenders 

1945 15 Jun 

Imprisoned Congress leaders released

1945 26 Jul

 Labour Government comes into power in Britain 

1945 14 Aug

 Japan surrenders

1945 Jan

 General Elections in India 

1946 23 Mar-29 Jun

 Cabinet Mission visits India 

1946 16 May 

Cabinet Mission announces its constitutional scheme 

1946 6 Jun

Muslim League accepts Cabinet Mission's constitutional scheme

1946 16 Jun 

Cabinet Mission presents scheme for the formation of an interim government at the center Congress rejects. 

1946 16

 June proposals for an interim government but accepts.

1946 16 May

 scheme, agreeing thereby to join the proposed Constituent Assembly. Muslim League accepts the 1946 16 June scheme and agrees to join the interim government. 

1946 29 Jul 

Muslim League passes resolutions retracting its acceptance of the Cabinet Mission plan and calling upon Muslims to observe

1946 16 August

 as 'Direct Action Day' 

1946 16-18 Aug 

The 'Great Calcutta Killing' 

1946 2 Sept

 Congress forms the interim government with Nehru as the Vice President 

1946 13 Oct 

Muslim League decides to join the interim government 

1946 25 Oct 

Interim Government reconstituted 

1946 3-6 Dec 

Aborted London conference of major Indian leaders 

1946 9 Dec 

Constituent Assembly meets without Muslim League members

 1947 29 Jan

 Muslim League demands dissolution of Constituent Assembly. 

1947 1 Feb

 Communal rioting in Punjab 

1947 20 Feb

 Prime Minister Attlee announces the British intention of leaving India by June, and Mountbatten to succeed as Viceroy.

1947 23 Feb 

Jinnah declares that the Muslim League will not yield an inch in their demand for Pakistan 

1947 4-5 March 

Outbreak of communal disturbances in Lahore, Multan and other Pujabi towns.

1947 12 March 

begins a tour of the riot-affected areas of Bihar 

1947 18 March

 Prime Minister's letter sent to Viceroy-designate on the policy and principles in accordance with which power should be transferred.

1947 24  March

 Mountbatten sworn in as Viceroy and governor-General.

1947 31 March

 Viceroy holds the first of five interviews with Gandhi 

1947 5 April 

Viceroy holds the first of six interviews with Jinnah.

1947 15-16 April 

Conference of Governors; approval for draft proposals for the transfer of power

1947 15 April 

Issue of joint Gandhi-Jinna appeal for abstention from acts of violence and disorder 

1947 1 May 

Nehru acquaints Mountbatten with Congress Working Committee's reactions to recent developments

1947 18 May 

Mountbatten leaves for London for talks with Cabinet

1947 28 May

 Cabinet India and Burma Committee: concluding meeting with Mountbatten 

1947 30 May 

Mountbatten arrives back in Delhi.

1947 2 

June Mountbatten meets Indian leaders and gives them Partition Plan 

1947 3 June 

Mountbatten, Nehru, Jinnah and Baldev Singh give a broadcast on the Plan over All India Radio.

1947 4 June 

Mountbatten gives a Press Conference on the Plan .

1947 5-7 June

Mountbatten discusses partition machinery with Indian leaders and Indian Cabinet

1947 12 June 

First meeting of Partition Committee 

1947 20 June 

Votes in Bengal Legislative Assembly result in decision that Province should be partitioned 

1947 25 June 

Indian Cabinet agrees to establish States Department 

1947 4 July

Indian Independence Bill is published 

1947 9 July 

Mountbatten advises Attlee of his decision to accept the GovernorGeneralship of India .

1947 16 July

Last meeting of the Interim Government .

1947 18 July 

Indian Independence Bill receives Royal Assent

1947 19 July 

The Executive Council (Transitional Provisions) Order, reconstituting the Interim Government into two separate groups representing the two successor governments of India and Pakistan, published .

1947 11 August 

Jinnah elected President of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.

1947 14 August 

Pakistan Independence Celebrations in Karachi; Viceroy addresses Pakistan Consituent Assembly 

1947 14 - 15 August 

midnight Power transferred

1947 15 August 

Jinnah sworn in as Governor-General of Pakistan; Mountbatten sworn in as Governor-General of India; Independence Day Celebrations in Delhi.