2016-06-25 Sat

The Last viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten, was born on 25th June 1900.

Lord Mountbatten was a British statesman, naval officer, the last Viceroy of India (1947) and the first Governor-General of the independent Dominion of India (1947–48).

In his early years Lord Mountbatten actively participated in the both the World Wars and successfully leading the Royal Navy of England.

He achieved great heights during his life including the diplomatic negotiations for India and Pakistan. Lord Mountbatten assisted in the Britain’s exit from India and helped India with its emergence into the world with the newly acquired independence. It is said that Mountbatten hoped for a unified undivided Independent India. But he was unable to sway Jinnah’s decision for a separate state.

He worked towards setting a fixed date for the transfer of power from British India and at the stroke of midnight on August 14-15, 1947, India and Pakistan gained their independence. Though most of the British officers left India, Mountbatten stayed on and assumed the responsibility of helping the newly independent nation on its feet. Thus he became the first Governor-General of the independent Dominion of India (1947–48).

India Post in 1980 issued an INR 2.80 commemorative stamp in his honour.