Identifying the First Indian Governor General

The question asks us to identify the first Indian individual who served as the Governor General of independent India.

After India gained independence in 1947, the position of Governor General continued for a brief period. Initially, Lord Mountbatten served as the first Governor General of independent India. However, the question specifically asks for the first Indian Governor General.

The Role of Governor General in Independent India

The Governor General was the constitutional head of state during the transition period before India became a republic with a President. This role was crucial in the initial years after independence.

Analyzing the Options

• C. Rajagopalachari: Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari, popularly known as "Rajaji," was a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress. After Lord Mountbatten's term ended in June 1948, Rajagopalachari was appointed as the Governor General. He was the first and only Indian to hold this high office.
• Annie Besant: Annie Besant was a British socialist, theosophist, women's rights activist, writer, orator, and supporter of self-rule for India. She was a significant figure in the Indian independence movement but did not serve as Governor General.
• M.N. Prasad: This name does not correspond to a well-known figure who held a significant political office like Governor General during India's independence era.
• C.V. Raman: Sir C.V. Raman was a renowned Indian physicist who won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1930 for his work on the scattering of light (the Raman Effect). He was a scientist, not a political figure who served as Governor General.

Conclusion

Based on historical facts, C. Rajagopalachari was the first and only Indian national to hold the office of Governor General of independent India, serving from 1948 until India became a republic on January 26, 1950.

Revision Table: Key Figures in India's Early Governance

Additional Information on Governor General of Independent India

The office of the Governor General of India was created in 1773 under the Regulating Act. It evolved significantly over time, becoming the head of the British administration in India.

After the Indian Independence Act, 1947, the title was still used, but the holder was to be appointed by the British monarch based on the recommendation of the government of the new Dominion. The role became largely ceremonial, acting on the advice of the Indian Council of Ministers.

Lord Mountbatten continued as the first Governor General after independence at the request of Indian leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. His tenure was from August 15, 1947, to June 21, 1948.

Succeeding him, C. Rajagopalachari took office on June 21, 1948. He served until India adopted its Constitution and became a republic on January 26, 1950. At this point, the office of Governor General was abolished and replaced by the office of the President of India, with Dr. Rajendra Prasad becoming the first President.