Introduction: The decolonisation of Asia was the gradual growth of independence movements in Asia, leading ultimately to the retreat of foreign powers and the creation of a number of nation-states in the region. A number of events were catalysts for this shift, most importantly the Second World War.

The freedom struggle of some of the countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives is mentioned in the textbook. The countries of Asia and Africa which got independence from British rule are as follows:

1. British colonies in Asia:

Hong Kong:

• Hong Kong is a coastal city and major port in southern China.
• It was returned to the United Kingdom following its war. It was controlled directly by a British governor until the expiry of the 99-year lease of the New Territories which occurred in 1997. From that date, the territories were called as a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

2. Singapore:

• Singapore officially known as the Republic of Singapore is a sovereign island city-state in maritime Southeast Asia.
• In 1819, Sir Thomas Raffles negotiated a treaty whereby King Johor allowed the British to locate a trading port on the island, leading to the establishment of the British crown colony of Singapore.
• After the end of World War II British granted self-government culminating in Singapore’s merger with Malaysia.
• On 9th August 1965, Singapore separated from Malaysia to become an independent and sovereign state.

3. India:

• India is situated in South East Asia surrounded by the Bay of Bengal on the southeast, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Indian Ocean on the south.
• India got independence from British rule on 15^th August 1947. Indian National Movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi played an important role in the freedom of the country.

4. Pakistan:

• Pakistan is in Asia, the neighbouring country of India.
• As the United Kingdom agreed to the partitioning of India in 1947, the modern state of Pakistan was established on 14th August 1947.

5. Cyprus:

• Cyprus is an island in the Eastern Basin of the Mediterranean Sea in Western Asia.
• In 1914 it was annexed by U.K Between 1945 and 1959 EOKA was created that fought a campaign for the end of British rule in Cyprus.
• An independent ‘The Republic of Cyprus’ was created in 1960.

6. British colonies in Africa:

• On 31st May 1910, Britain gave South Africa nominal independence.
• This union was a dominion that included the former colonies of the Cape and Natal.
• This union only became fully sovereign in 1931 when all powers Britain had over the country were abolished.

7. Egypt:

• Egypt has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea, the River Nile, and the Red Sea.
• The Egyptian Revolution of 1919 was a countrywide revolution against the British occupation of Egypt.
• The revolution led to Great Britain’s later recognition of Egyptian independence in 1922.

8. Nigeria:

• Lagos was invaded by British forces in 1851 and annexed in 1865.
• It became a British protectorate in 1901 while her colonization lasted until 1960 when an independence movement succeeded in gaining independence and Nigeria became an independent republic in 1979.

9. Ghana: Got independence on 6 March 1957.

10. Kenya: Became independent on 12 December 1963.