Mohandas Gandhi is arrested while leading a march of Indian miners in South Africa.

In India, Mohandas Gandhi is sentenced to six years in prison for civil disobedience. He would serve only 2 years.

A train robbery takes place in Kakori, near Lucknow, India

Mother Teresa arrives in Calcutta to begin her work among India's poorest and sick people.

New Delhi becomes the capital of India.

The British Viceroy of India, Governor-General Edward Frederick Lindley Wood and Mohandas Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi) meet to sign an agreement envisaging the release of political prisoners and allowing salt to be freely used by the poorest members of the population.

Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar are hanged during the Indian struggle for independence. Their request to be executed by firing squad is refused. The day is now remembered in India as Shahidi divas or Martyr's day.

Mohandas Gandhi begins a 21-day fast in protest against British oppression in India.

Orissa formerly known as Kalinga or Utkal becomes a state in India.

In Mumbai, Mohandas Gandhi begins to fast in protest at the autocratic rule in India.

Indian independence leader Subhas Chandra Bose is arrested and detained in Calcutta.

World War II: UK declares war on Bulgaria. Hungary and Romania declare war on the United States. India declares war on Japan.

Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi is arrested in Bombay by British forces, launching the Quit India Movement.

Subhas Chandra Bose raises the flag of Indian independence at Port Blair.

The "Indian Independence Bill" is presented before British House of Commons, suggesting bifurcation of British India into two sovereign countries – India and Pakistan.

The Viceroy of India says the people of the North-West Frontier Province overwhelmingly voted the previous day to join Pakistan rather than India.

India gains Independence from the British Indian Empire and joins the Commonwealth of Nations.

The Maharaja of Kashmir agrees to allow his kingdom to join India.

Indian pacifist and leader Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is assassinated by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist.

United Nations cease-fire takes effect in Kashmir from one minute before midnight. War between India and Pakistan stops accordingly.

The Indian Constituent Assembly adopts India's constitution presented by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

India and Pakistan sign the Liaquat-Nehru Pact.

Srikakulam district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the Indian Untouchable caste leader, converts to Buddhism along with 385,000 of his followers (see Neo-Buddhism).

In India, Communists win the first elections in united Kerala and E.M.S. Namboodiripad is sworn in as the first chief minister.

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, flees Tibet for India.

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, crosses the border into India and is granted political asylum.

Formation of the western Indian states of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

India annexes Daman and Diu, part of Portuguese India.

Hindu-Muslim rioting breaks out in the Indian city of Calcutta – now Kolkata – resulting in the deaths of more than 100 people.

Cold War: Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appeals to the United States and the Soviet Union to end nuclear testing and to start nuclear disarmament, stating that such an action would "save humanity from the ultimate disaster".

Hindi becomes the official language of India.

War of 1965: India retaliates following Pakistan's failed Operation Grand Slam which resulted in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 that is ended following the signing of the Tashkent Declaration.

China announces that it will reinforce its troops on the Indian border.

The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 (also known as the Second Kashmir War) between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, ends after the UN calls for a cease-fire.

Dr. Zakir Hussain becomes the third President of India. He is the first Muslim President of the Indian Union. He holds this position until August 24, 1969.

42 Dalits are burned alive in Kilavenmani village, Tamil Nadu, India, a retaliation for a campaign for higher wages by Dalit labourers.

Himachal Pradesh becomes the 18th Indian state.

Indian troops, partly aided by Mukti Bahini (Bengali guerrillas), defeat the Pakistan army in the Battle of Garibpur.

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: Pakistan launches pre-emptive strike against India and a full scale war begins claiming hundreds of lives.