After Independence, Who Became The First Governor General Of India?

India, a major part of the Indian Sub-continent that is also named after the country, was a colony of the British Empire till 1947. The consequences of the Second World War and especially the fact that England was no more as powerful as she was before the war, was instrumental in the heightened struggle put up by the Indians and other Asian nations for independence. Till 1947, the post of Governor General was practically equivalent to Colonial Head and subservient only to the Monarch.

In 1947, with the British withdrawal, India was declared a sovereign nation. The office of Governor General was only temporary thereafter, since the office did not fit into the designed Indian political system. However, the Indian National Congress requested Lord Mountbatten to continue as Governor General for a while post-independence, which he did. This was due to the fact that there was political upheaval in the country owing to the growing demand for the Muslim territory of Pakistan. The Indians identified in Lord Mountbatten a friend and well-wisher and pursued him to remain in office a little longer. After Lord Mountbatten, C.Rajgopalachari, a Congressman, became the first and only Indian Governor General, post-independence.  

When the Constitution of India was drafted, approved and came into effect, the office of Governor General ceased to exist and instead, that of an elected President came into force. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected first President of India.