Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, known as Mahatma (meaning ‘Great Soul’), was a great Indian nationalist leader and an important spiritual guide for the country. Gandhi played a major role in the struggle against British domination; he called the Indian people to engage in civil disobedience and was highly instrumental in India gaining independence in 1947.
Sukarno was the first President of the Republic of Indonesia (1945–1967), whose independence he proclaimed on on 17 August 1945 with Mohammad Hatta, the first Vice President.
Francisco Macías Nguema, Deputy Prime Minister of the autonomous government of Equatorial Guinea (1964–1968) then first President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea (1968–1979), at the ceremony for the independence of Equatorial Guinea on 12 October 1968.
After the proclamation of independence of Ceylon on 4 February 1948, the new parliament is inaugurated on 10 February 1948. The photo shows the Duke of Gloucester presiding over the ceremony (in the centre) and Don Stephen Senanayake, Prime Minister of an independent Ceylon (on the left).
On 21 March 1960, General de Gaulle chairs the seventh session of the Executive Committee of the French Community at the Élysée Palace. From left to right: Modibo Keita (President of the Federal Assembly of the Mali Federation), Louis Jacquinot (Minister of State), Auguste Denise (Minister from Côte d’Ivoire), Charles de Gaulle (President of the French Republic), Félix Houphouët-Boigny (Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire) and Jacques Chastenet (former adviser to the French Union).
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, leader of the Muslim League from 1913 until Pakistan’s independence on 14 August 1947 then first Governor-General of Pakistan (1947–1948).
On 3 January 1960, Ahmadou Ahidjo, Prime Minister then first President of the Republic of Cameroon (1960–1982), presides over one of the many ceremonies held to mark the country’s independence, which was proclaimed on 1 January 1960.
