<P> The Royal Indian Navy Mutiny encompasses a total strike and subsequent mutiny by Indian sailors of the Royal Indian revolt on board ship and shore establishments at Bombay (Mumbai) harbour on 18 February 1946 . From the initial flashpoint in Bombay, the mutiny spread and found support throughout British India, from Karachi to Calcutta and ultimately came to involve 78 ships, 20 shore establishments and 20,000 sailors . </P> <P> The agitations, mass strikes, demonstrations and consequently support for the mutineers, therefore continued several days even after the mutiny had been called off . Along with this, the assessment may be made that it described in crystal clear terms to the government that the British Indian Armed forces could no longer be universally relied upon for support in crisis, and even more it was more likely itself to be the source of the sparks that would ignite trouble in a country fast slipping out of the scenario of political settlement . </P> <P> On 3 June 1947, Viscount Louis Mountbatten, the last British Governor - General of India, announced the partitioning of British India into India and Pakistan . With the speedy passage through the British Parliament of the Indian Independence Act 1947, at 11: 57 on 14 August 1947 Pakistan was declared a separate nation, and at 12: 02, just after midnight, on 15 August 1947, India also became a sovereign and democratic nation . Eventually, 15 August became the Independence Day for India, due to the ending of British rule over India . On that 15 August, both Pakistan and India had the right to remain in or remove themselves from the British Commonwealth . In 1949, India decided to remain in the commonwealth . </P> <P> Violent clashes between Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims followed . Prime Minister Nehru and deputy prime minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel invited Mountbatten to continue as Governor General of India . He was replaced in June 1948 by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari . Patel took on the responsibility of bringing into the Indian Union 565 princely states, steering efforts by his "iron fist in a velvet glove" policies, exemplified by the use of military force to integrate Junagadh and Hyderabad State into India (Operation Polo). On the other hand, Nehru kept the issue of Kashmir in his hands . </P>

When did india gain independence from british rule