Louis Mountbatten's return to India as Viceroy occurs amidst escalating unrest and a growing sentiment against British rule, prompting him to demand plenipotentiary powers. Initially, June 1948 is proposed as the target date for India's independence. While Mountbatten develops a close rapport with both Gandhi and Nehru, he finds Jinnah to be less accessible. With tensions rising in regions such as Bengal and Punjab, he ultimately makes the difficult decision to support the partition of India. The plan is finalized, and the timeline for independence is advanced to 15 August 1947.
Mountbatten's team works diligently to finalize the necessary arrangements, successfully persuading many of the Princes to accede to the new order. On 13 August, despite facing a bomb threat, Mountbatten and his wife travel to Karachi to join Jinnah at the assembly. As the clock nears midnight on 14 August, Nehru addresses the assembly in Delhi, marking a significant moment in India's transition to independence.
