Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India on August 15, 1947, when India gained independence. He served from 1947 to 1964 and is a key figure in Indian history, having led the country through its formative years. Indira Gandhi was his daughter and became PM later, while Mahatma Gandhi was never PM (he led the independence movement), and Rajendra Prasad was India's first President.