Before 15th August, 1947, India was under British colonial rule and was commonly referred to as the British Indian Empire. The British Crown governed India through the Viceroy and Governor-General, and India was not recognized as an independent, sovereign state.
This period was marked by significant political and social control exerted by the British over the Indian subcontinent.
The Indian independence movement, led by figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose, and Vallabhbhai Patel, worked tirelessly to end British rule and establish India as a sovereign nation-state.
The formal establishment of the Indian state only occurred after the Indian Independence Act 1947 was passed by the British Parliament, leading to the creation of the independent dominions of India and Pakistan on 15th August, 1947.
India was not called a state before 15th August, 1947 for several key reasons:
Colonial Rule
- British Colonialism: Before 1947, India was under British colonial rule and was referred to as the British Indian Empire or simply British India.
- Control by the British Crown: The country was not sovereign and was governed by the British Crown through the Viceroy and Governor-General of India.
Princely States
- Existence of Princely States: The Indian subcontinent was divided into British-administered territories and over 500 princely states, which were semi-autonomous and ruled by local monarchs under British suzerainty.
- Lack of Unified Political Entity: Due to the presence of numerous princely states, India did not exist as a unified political entity with a single central government.
Lack of Sovereignty
- No International Recognition as a State: India did not have international recognition as an independent state. Diplomatic and international relations were conducted by the British government on behalf of India.
- No Independent Constitution: India did not have its own constitution or framework for governance independent of British laws and regulations.
Independence Movement
- Ongoing Struggle for Independence: The Indian independence movement was actively working towards ending British rule and establishing India as a sovereign nation-state.
- Formation of the Indian State: The formal establishment of the Indian state occurred only after the Indian Independence Act 1947 was passed by the British Parliament, leading to the creation of the independent dominions of India and Pakistan on 15th August, 1947.
Conclusion
Before 15th August, 1947, India was not called a state because it was under British colonial rule, lacked political and administrative unity, did not possess sovereignty, and was not internationally recognized as an independent entity. The transformation into a sovereign state occurred only with the achievement of independence on 15th August, 1947.
