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Revision as of 04:06, 25 August 2007 by Sarvagnya (talk | contribs) (f)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)During the first half of the twentieth century, a nationwide struggle for independence was launched by the Indian National Congress and other political organisations. Millions of protesters engaged in mass campaigns of civil disobedience with a commitment to ahimsa, or non-violence, led by Mahatma Gandhi. Finally, on August 15, 1947, India gained independence from British rule, but not before losing its Muslim-majority areas, which were carved out into the separate nation-state of Pakistan. Three years later, on January 26, 1950, India became a republic, and a new constitution came into effect.
Since independence, India has experienced sectarian violence and insurgencies in various parts of the country, but has maintained its unity and democracy. It has unresolved territorial disputes with China, which in 1962 escalated into the brief Sino-Indian War; and with Pakistan, which resulted in wars in 1947, 1965, 1971, and 1999. India is a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations (as part of British India). In 1974, India conducted an underground nuclear test. This was followed by five more tests in 1998. Beginning in 1991, significant economic reforms have transformed India into one of the fastest-growing economies, adding to its global and regional clout.