History of the Republic of India economists, military analysts and think tanks expect India to become a superpower in the near future. Independent India's first years were marked with turbulent events – a massive exchange of population with Pakistan, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 and the integration of over 500 princely states to form a united nation. Credit for the political integration of India is largely attributed to Vallabhbhai Patel (deputy Prime Minister of India at the time), who post-independence and before the death of Mahatma Gandhi teamed up with Jawaharlal Nehru and the Mahatma to ensure that the constitution of independent India would be secular.
Prime Minister of Orissa the Congress, then claimed the right to form the government, despite the pan-Indian Congress policy of boycotting constitutional governments. The Das ministry lasted until 1939. Sir Gajapati then formed a second government in 1941, which lasted until 1944. Sir Gajapati is regarded as the architect of the modern Indian state of Orissa (now Odisha). During the Indian provincial elections, 1946, the Congress won 47 seats. Congress leader Harekrushna Mahatab became Prime Minister and later the first Chief Minister of Orissa after Indian independence in 1947. Prime Minister of Orissa The Prime Minister of Orissa was the head of government and