On 14th August 1947, Britain's 300-year-old Indian Empire collapsed and mass migration occurred as Muslims fled north and Hindus fled south. This text examines this event, analyzing the rise of India's freedom movement, the growth of Congress and the Muslim League, and the transfer of power into Indian hands. The book examines the disastrous mistakes made by politicians, and the interplay between figures such as Churchill, Mountbatten and Gandhi. The sources used range from newly declassified secret documents to the memories of refugees. The book has been published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of India's independence.