15 - minute moment that made India's freedom law

From Times of India Archives
Published in The Times of India, 14 August 2026 

15 - minute moment that made India's freedom law

The Headlines Screamed:

THE KING GIVES ASSENT TO INDIA BILL

INDEPENDENCE ON AUGUST 15

HOUSE OF COMMONS PASSES INDIA BILL

"STATES" DESTINY IS WITH INDIA

Viceroy Urges Princes To Join Dominions

PERILS OF ISOLATION EMPHASISED

On the morning of July 18, 1947, the Royal Commission assembled in the House of Lords to convey King George VI's assent to the Indian Independence Bill. At 10.40 am GMT(4.10 pm IST), in a ceeremony that lasted barely 15 minutes, the legislation formally became law.

The clerk, read out the titles of the bills awaiting approval. Then came the Age-old Norman french formula - " Le Roi Le Veult" (The King wishes it).

With those four words, the Indian Independence Bill became an act of Parliament.

The build up to this historic moment was set in motion on July 4, 1947.

Fewer than 100 members were presnt when the Indian Independence Bill was introduced in the House of Commons in London.

The actual reading of the bill occupied only a second, the speaker calling upon the Prime Minister, Clement Atlee, who half rose and bowed. The Clerk of Parliament, then, read out the title of the Act. The bill was scheduled to be debated on the next Thursday, July 10, 1947.

On July 15, the House of Commons gave the Indian Independence Bill its third reading without a division, clearing its passage to the House of Lords. The tone of farewell was in the air. The Parliamentary journey of the legislation was almost complete. There remained a single hurdle, the King's assent at the final constitutional ceremony,  for the Indian Independence Bill to become an act of Pariliament.

For Britain, it marked the constitutiona end of an empire that had begun with the Crown assuming contol from the East India Company in 1858. In an instant, Britain had divested itself of all responsibility for Indian affairs. In that moment, the great new dominions of India and Pakistan were born. It signified that 400 million people of India had come into their inheritance of full political freedom.

The bill set August 15, 1947 as the date when British India would give way to two independent dominions - India and Pakistan. It was the termination of  nearly two centuries of Colonial rule over almost 400 million people.

The bill addressed the future of the 560 princely states. It regained them their complete freedom. They were left to determine whether they would join India or Pakistan.

In a conference of the Rulers and Ministers of the Indian States on July 25, Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British India, said, "You cannot run away from  the dominion Government which is your neighbour anymore than you can run away from the subjects for whose welfare you are responsible." 

Urging them to accept the Instrument of Accession covering defence, external affairs and communications, he left little room for delay.

"Remember that the day of transfer of power is very close at hand. If you are prepared to come you must come before August 15."

Two days later, on July 27, political circles expressed confidence that an overwhelming majority of the states would accede to one or the other dominions before Independence. 

Even as the British Parliament completed its work and the clock raced towards Aug 5, millions in Punjab and Bengal were waiting anxiously for the Bounadary Commission to decide which side of the new border they were going to be in. 

It was chaos and utter confusion that greeted the two great nations, India and Pakistan, at  the dawn of Independence and its aftershocks rattled them for years together.