First Indian Governor-General of Independent India

Many of you know about Lord William Bentinck, the first Governor-General of India. But do you know who the first Indian Governor-General of Independent India was?

It was C. Rajagopalachari, who was the first Indian governor-general of Independent India and also the last Governor-General of India.

So, let’s explore him, his role in the pre-independence era, and the post-independence era.

Who was the first Indian Governor-General of Independent India?

C. Rajagopalachari was the first Indian Governor-General of Independent India. With this, he was also the last Governor-General of India.

He was known as "Rajaji" and played an important role in modern India. He was a freedom fighter, lawyer, administrator, writer, social reformer, and the first Indian Governor-General of Independent India.

C. Rajagopalachari Biography

C. Rajagopalachari was born on 10 December, 1878, at Thorapalli in Tamil Nadu. He belongs to a Brahmin family. He completed his law degree at the Presidency College, Madras.

He attended the 1906 Calcutta and 1907 Surat sessions of the Indian National Congress. In 1916, he also founded the Tamil Scientific Term Society. He met with Gandhi ji in 1919; he came closer to different movements, non-violence, and commitment toward the independence of India.

Role of C. Rajagopalachari in the Pre-Independence Era

In the pre-independence era, C. Rajagopalachari had emerged in an important role. Here are some of his important contributions given below:

1. Non-Cooperation Movement: Rajaji actively participated in NCM with Gandhi ji and made his profitable contribution toward his legal profession.

2. Vaikom Satyagraha Participation: He participated in the Vaikom Satyagraha movement in Kerala to support the caste discrimination and restriction on the lower caste.

3. Vedaranyam Salt March: During the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930, he led the salt march from Trichy to Vedaranyam in southern India.

4. Stand during the Quit India Movement: He also played an important role in Quit India Movement.

Role of C. Rajagopalachari in the Post-Independence Era

C. Rajagopalachari played an important role in the post-independence era in shaping the governance, economic, administrative and democratic political stability.

Here are some of his important contributions given below:

1. Home Affairs Minister: After the death of Sardar Patel in 1950, he became the Home Affairs Minister of India.

2. Chief Minister of Madras: Rajaji also became the Chief Minister of Madras, presently Tamil Nadu, in April 1952.

3. Hindi Language Policy: He also introduced the Hindi Language Policy for classes 6 to 8 in the Madras Presidency.

4. Founded Swatantra Party: In 1959, he also founded the Swatantra Party as a liberal political party to oppose the licence permit system and Soviet-style economic policies, which were adopted during the First Five-Year Plan of India.

So, this article was about the C. Rajagopalachari, the First Indian Governor-General of Independent India, who played an important role in the Pre, and Post Independence Era.