TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE (1945-1947)
1. Lesson Learnt By Britain:
- The Quit India Movement gave a lesson to British administration that it had to take the demand of complete independence of India seriously.
- The British Parliament transferred the power to India on August 15, 1947.
- The British Parliament passed through following phases and steps before transferring the power to the Indians.
2. Step one: The Wavell Plan: Failed due to adamant stand of Jinnah of Muslim League:
- Lord Wavell was the Viceroy of India in 1945.
- He framed a plan for the constitutional reforms for India as per the new policy.
- He called the meeting of all parties of India to discuss the plan at Shimla. It is also called the Shimla Conference.
a: Main features of the Wavell Plan:
- The main features of the Wavell Plan were as follows:
i. It proposed to reconstitute the Executive Council of the Viceroy. All the members of the Council except the Viceroy and the Commander-in-Chief were to be Indians.
ii. It proposed that there would be equal numbers of Muslims and Hindus in the proposed new Executive Council of Viceroy.
iii. All the departments except the Home department would be looked after by the Indians.
b: Wavell Plan failed due to adamant stand of Barrister Jinnah of Muslim League:
- The Indian National Congress suggested the name of Mulana Abul Kalam Azad as one of the representative for the Executive Council.
- Barrister Jinnah of Muslim declared that only Muslim League had the right to suggest the names of Muslim members to the Council.
- The Congress being a secular party did not accept the proposal.
- Even Lord Wavell did not accept the claim of Barrister Jinnah.
- The Shimla Conference was not able to reach any solution because Jinnah was adamant on issue of Muslim members.
- The Shimla Conference failed and the Wavell Plan was abandoned.
3. Step two: Independence to India declared by Attlee:
a: Labour Party under Attlee came into power in Britain:
- After the Second World War, the Labour Party came into power in Britain and Attlee became the Prime Minister of Britain.
- The Labour Party changed the policy of Britain towards India.
b: New Policy of Attlee on March 15, 1946:
- On March 15, 1946, the Prime Minister of Britain announced the new policy of Britain towards India.
- He declared that Britain would try to transfer power to India as early as possible and thereby give independence to India.
- He also declared that the issue of minority rights would not permitted to become hindrance in the way of independence to India.
c: Importance Attlee’s declaration of March 15, 1946:
- It was for the first time that the word ‘independence of India’ was used while declaring the policy of Britain in the British Parliament.
- In the declaration it was also accepted that the Indians had the right to write their own constitution.
4. Step three: The Cabinet Mission Plan: Lord Pethic Lawrence, Sir Strafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander:
a: The Commission or the Cabinet Mission:
- In line with the new policy Attlee sent a commission to India to discuss the issue of the writing the constitution by the Indians.
- The members of the members of the Commission were the ministers in the British Cabinet of Attlee.
- The plan which the commission brought for Indians was called Cabinet Mission Plan.
- The members of the commission were Lord Pethic Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander.
b: The Cabinet Mission Plan:
- The main features of the Cabinet Mission Plan were as follows:
i. A Federation of India would be established. All the British India Provinces and the Indian Princely States could be the member of the Federation of India.
ii. The departments(ministries) of Home, Foreign affairs and Communication would be with the Federal government of India and rest of the departments would be with the provinces.
iii. A Constituent Assembly would be formed to write the constitution of India.
iv. The proposed Constituent Assembly would consist of elected members on the basis of the population of provinces.
v. The Indian Federation would be divided into three divisions (or the three lists) for the administrative purposes.
The three divisions as suggested by the Cabinet plan were as follows:
A: It would consist Madras, Bombay, the United Province (U.P.), Bihar, Central Provinces and Orissa. They were identified as the provinces having Hindu majority.
B: It would consist Punjab, North-West Province, Sindh and Baluchistan. They were identified as Muslim majority areas.
C: It would consist Bengal and Assam.
vi. The representatives of the each division would prepare a separate constitution for the regions of their division. They would also prepare the constitution for the Federation of India.
vii. A newly organised and restructured Executive Council of Viceroy would be formed in which the representatives of the leading and important political parties would be included.
viii. The newly restructured Executive Council consisting of Indian representative of political parties of India would work as the Interim government. The Interim government would rule till the new constitution was prepared.
c: Criticism of Cabinet Mission Plan and attitude of Indian Political parties:
- The division of India into three lists were arbitrary and given by Cabinet Mission as per their own ideas.
- The Interim Government at Center did not have any power and was weak.
- There was not mention of Independence of India. It only referred to writing of the constitution and Interim Government.
- The Indian political parties like Indian National Congress found it full of shortcomings.
- However, the India National Congress accepted to participate in constitution writing because it declared that it was the first opportunity for the Indians to write their own constitution.
- The Muslim League accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan showed desire to participate in the constitution writing.
d: Election of the Constituent Assembly and Success of Congress: (March 99, 2001)
- The election to the Constituent Assembly was held in July 1946.
- The Congress had not approved the Cabinet Mission Plan but participated in it because the party declared that it was the first opportunity for the Indians to write their own constitution. (March 99)
- The Muslim League, which was quite satisfied with the Cabinet Mission Plan participated in the election.
e: The Results of the Election to the Constitution Assembly and the Role of Muslim League:
- The election to the Constitution Assembly was held in July 1946.
- The Indian National Congress got a thumping majority in the election.
- The Muslim League, which had showed great enthusiasm for the fighting election, discarded the Cabinet Mission Plan after the result of election was declared. It was a shock to the Muslim League that the Indian National Congress had majority in the Constitution Assembly.
5. Step four: Direct Action Day of the Muslim League:
a: Changed Attitude of the Muslims League towards the Cabinet Mission Plan:
- When the Cabinet Mission Plan was announced, the Muslim League had approved it.
- However, latter the Muslim League rejected the plan on the complaint that the plan had not accepted the demand of Pakistan in clear terms.
b: Direct Action day call by Barrister Jinnah – August 16, 1946:
- When Muslim League found that the Cabinet Mission had not accepted their demand for Pakistan, it decided to adopt the path of violence to attain the goal of Pakistan.
- Barrister Jinnah gave the call of Direct Action. He declared August 16, 1946, as the day of Direct Action.
- On August 16, 1946, the workers of Muslim League started violence, arson and looting.
- It started in Bengal and soon spread over whole of India.
- It continued till the day of the partition of India.
- It was able to convey the message to the country that what would happen if the demand of Muslim League for a separate Pakistan was not accepted.
c: Role of Mahatma Gandhi during the riots of Direct Action:
- Mahatma Gandhi tried to the violence.
- He did not care for his life and visited the places of rioting and asked the people to maintain peace.
- However, the violence continued till the day of partition of India.
6. Step five: Provisional government:
- The violence after the announcement of Direct Action day was continuing when Viceroy of India, Lord Wavell announced the installing of the Provisional Government as per the results of the July 1946 election.
- Lord Wavell installed Provisional Government headed by Pandit Jwahar Lal Nehru on September 2, 1946. (March 2001)
- Pandit Jwahar Lal Nehru included Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Parsad, C. Rajgopalachari, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, John Mathai and others in his government.
- The representatives of the Muslim League were also invited but they refused to join.
- However, in October 1946, Muslim League joined the Provisional government headed by Pandit Nehru.
- On joining the government, Muslim League started hindering the working of the government because it did not want that the government should work smoothly.
7. Step Six: Declaration of Attlee of February 28, 1947:
- On February 28, 1947, after the Constitution Assembly had started its work in November 1946 and the Provisional government had taken over with riots still going on, Attlee made the following declaration on February 28, 1947:
i. England would leave India before June 1948.
ii. In case the Indians were not able to decide on their constitution, then British would either hand over the government to Central government or to the provincial governments.
iii. The Princely states would become independent again when the British would leave India after relinquishing the power.
iv. Lord Mountbatten was made the Viceroy of India in place of Lord Wavell. Lord Mountbatten was sent only to execute the transfer of the power to the Indians before leaving India.
8. Step seven: The Mountbatten Plan:
- Lord Mountbatten was made Viceroy of India in place of Lord Wavell by the February 28 declaration of the Prime Minister Attlee of Labour Party.
- He reached India in March 1947.
- He held discussions with the chief political leaders of India after reaching India.
- He drafted a proposal of transfer of power after meeting the Indian leaders.
- He obtained approval for his proposal from the British government.
- On June 3, 1947, he declared his proposal for the transfer of power which is known as Mountbatten Plan. The main items of the proposal were as follows:
i. It was declared that the partition of India was must as there was no unanimity among the Indians on their constitution.
ii. India would be divided in two states – India and Pakistan.
iii. The Muslims and Non-Muslims of members of legislatures of Punjab and Bengal would decide the partition of their respective provinces.
iv. A plebiscite would be held in North West Frontier, British Baluchistan and Silhet district of Assam to decide with which new country they would be joined.
v. The Sindh Assembly would be authorised to decide its amalgamation either with India or Pakistan.
vi. The British administration would leave India in August 1947 after handing over the power to India and Pakistan which would be then independent sovereign countries.
vii. A boarder commission would be decided to mark the borders between India and Pakistan.
viii. The Princely States were made free to decide either to join one of the two countries or they wanted to remain independent.
9. Step eight: Acceptance of Partition: (March 97) (Oct. 96; 01)
- The Indian National Congress was not in favour of partition.
- The Muslim League was bent upon having a separate country.
- When the Indian National Congress accepted to settle the problem by accepting the partition, the partition took place.
- The Muslim League formed Pakistan on the basis of religion.
- The Indian National Congress formed India on the basis of its secular policy.
10. Step Nine: The Indian Independence Act:
- On the basis of the Mountbatten Plan, the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act on July 18, 1947.
- The main features of the Indian Independence Act of July 18, 1947, which came into force in India on August 15, 1947 were as follows: (March 96; 97; 00, 01) (Oct. 01)
i. On August 15, 1947, two independent and sovereign countries – India and Pakistan will come into existence.
ii. From August 15, 1947, the King of England will not call himself as the Emperor of India.
iii. The Constituent Assemblies of India and Pakistan will prepare their respective constitutions.
iv. Both India and Pakistan will have their separate Governor-Generals who will rule the respective states till their own constitution come into force.
v. The British rule also end its control over the Indian Princely States from August 15, 1947 onwards.
vi. After August 15, 1947, the Princely states will be independent. They will have the right to decide in favour of amalgamation with either of the two countries. They have the right to remain independent if they decide so.
vii. The British Parliament will cease to have the right to make laws for India after August 15, 1947.
11. Step Ten: The Arrival of Independence:
a: August 15, 1947:
- At the midnight of August 14, 1947, that is August 15, India became Independent.
- The celebration of independence of India was made in Delhi.
- The Indian Tricolour was unfurled after dismantling the Union Jack, the flag of British nation.
- Pandit Jwahar Lal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India.
- The independence was the result of the collective efforts of the Indians which had continued for 150 years.
- 1947 was the culmination of the independence war which had started in 1857.
b: “Tryst with Destiny” the first speech of first Prime Minister of independent Republic of India:
- The following lines were the opening part of the speech of the first Prime Minister Jwahar Lal Nehru of the independent Republic of India. It was delivered at the midnight of August 14, 1947 in the Parliament House of independent India.
- “Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.”
1. Lesson Learnt By Britain:
- The Quit India Movement gave a lesson to British administration that it had to take the demand of complete independence of India seriously.
- The British Parliament transferred the power to India on August 15, 1947.
- The British Parliament passed through following phases and steps before transferring the power to the Indians.
2. Step one: The Wavell Plan: Failed due to adamant stand of Jinnah of Muslim League:
- Lord Wavell was the Viceroy of India in 1945.
- He framed a plan for the constitutional reforms for India as per the new policy.
- He called the meeting of all parties of India to discuss the plan at Shimla. It is also called the Shimla Conference.
a: Main features of the Wavell Plan:
- The main features of the Wavell Plan were as follows:
i. It proposed to reconstitute the Executive Council of the Viceroy. All the members of the Council except the Viceroy and the Commander-in-Chief were to be Indians.
ii. It proposed that there would be equal numbers of Muslims and Hindus in the proposed new Executive Council of Viceroy.
iii. All the departments except the Home department would be looked after by the Indians.
b: Wavell Plan failed due to adamant stand of Barrister Jinnah of Muslim League:
- The Indian National Congress suggested the name of Mulana Abul Kalam Azad as one of the representative for the Executive Council.
- Barrister Jinnah of Muslim declared that only Muslim League had the right to suggest the names of Muslim members to the Council.
- The Congress being a secular party did not accept the proposal.
- Even Lord Wavell did not accept the claim of Barrister Jinnah.
- The Shimla Conference was not able to reach any solution because Jinnah was adamant on issue of Muslim members.
- The Shimla Conference failed and the Wavell Plan was abandoned.
3. Step two: Independence to India declared by Attlee:
a: Labour Party under Attlee came into power in Britain:
- After the Second World War, the Labour Party came into power in Britain and Attlee became the Prime Minister of Britain.
- The Labour Party changed the policy of Britain towards India.
b: New Policy of Attlee on March 15, 1946:
- On March 15, 1946, the Prime Minister of Britain announced the new policy of Britain towards India.
- He declared that Britain would try to transfer power to India as early as possible and thereby give independence to India.
- He also declared that the issue of minority rights would not permitted to become hindrance in the way of independence to India.
c: Importance Attlee’s declaration of March 15, 1946:
- It was for the first time that the word ‘independence of India’ was used while declaring the policy of Britain in the British Parliament.
- In the declaration it was also accepted that the Indians had the right to write their own constitution.
4. Step three: The Cabinet Mission Plan: Lord Pethic Lawrence, Sir Strafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander:
a: The Commission or the Cabinet Mission:
- In line with the new policy Attlee sent a commission to India to discuss the issue of the writing the constitution by the Indians.
- The members of the members of the Commission were the ministers in the British Cabinet of Attlee.
- The plan which the commission brought for Indians was called Cabinet Mission Plan.
- The members of the commission were Lord Pethic Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander.
b: The Cabinet Mission Plan:
- The main features of the Cabinet Mission Plan were as follows:
i. A Federation of India would be established. All the British India Provinces and the Indian Princely States could be the member of the Federation of India.
ii. The departments(ministries) of Home, Foreign affairs and Communication would be with the Federal government of India and rest of the departments would be with the provinces.
iii. A Constituent Assembly would be formed to write the constitution of India.
iv. The proposed Constituent Assembly would consist of elected members on the basis of the population of provinces.
v. The Indian Federation would be divided into three divisions (or the three lists) for the administrative purposes.
The three divisions as suggested by the Cabinet plan were as follows:
A: It would consist Madras, Bombay, the United Province (U.P.), Bihar, Central Provinces and Orissa. They were identified as the provinces having Hindu majority.
B: It would consist Punjab, North-West Province, Sindh and Baluchistan. They were identified as Muslim majority areas.
C: It would consist Bengal and Assam.
vi. The representatives of the each division would prepare a separate constitution for the regions of their division. They would also prepare the constitution for the Federation of India.
vii. A newly organised and restructured Executive Council of Viceroy would be formed in which the representatives of the leading and important political parties would be included.
viii. The newly restructured Executive Council consisting of Indian representative of political parties of India would work as the Interim government. The Interim government would rule till the new constitution was prepared.
c: Criticism of Cabinet Mission Plan and attitude of Indian Political parties:
- The division of India into three lists were arbitrary and given by Cabinet Mission as per their own ideas.
- The Interim Government at Center did not have any power and was weak.
- There was not mention of Independence of India. It only referred to writing of the constitution and Interim Government.
- The Indian political parties like Indian National Congress found it full of shortcomings.
- However, the India National Congress accepted to participate in constitution writing because it declared that it was the first opportunity for the Indians to write their own constitution.
- The Muslim League accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan showed desire to participate in the constitution writing.
d: Election of the Constituent Assembly and Success of Congress: (March 99, 2001)
- The election to the Constituent Assembly was held in July 1946.
- The Congress had not approved the Cabinet Mission Plan but participated in it because the party declared that it was the first opportunity for the Indians to write their own constitution. (March 99)
- The Muslim League, which was quite satisfied with the Cabinet Mission Plan participated in the election.
e: The Results of the Election to the Constitution Assembly and the Role of Muslim League:
- The election to the Constitution Assembly was held in July 1946.
- The Indian National Congress got a thumping majority in the election.
- The Muslim League, which had showed great enthusiasm for the fighting election, discarded the Cabinet Mission Plan after the result of election was declared. It was a shock to the Muslim League that the Indian National Congress had majority in the Constitution Assembly.
5. Step four: Direct Action Day of the Muslim League:
a: Changed Attitude of the Muslims League towards the Cabinet Mission Plan:
- When the Cabinet Mission Plan was announced, the Muslim League had approved it.
- However, latter the Muslim League rejected the plan on the complaint that the plan had not accepted the demand of Pakistan in clear terms.
b: Direct Action day call by Barrister Jinnah – August 16, 1946:
- When Muslim League found that the Cabinet Mission had not accepted their demand for Pakistan, it decided to adopt the path of violence to attain the goal of Pakistan.
- Barrister Jinnah gave the call of Direct Action. He declared August 16, 1946, as the day of Direct Action.
- On August 16, 1946, the workers of Muslim League started violence, arson and looting.
- It started in Bengal and soon spread over whole of India.
- It continued till the day of the partition of India.
- It was able to convey the message to the country that what would happen if the demand of Muslim League for a separate Pakistan was not accepted.
c: Role of Mahatma Gandhi during the riots of Direct Action:
- Mahatma Gandhi tried to the violence.
- He did not care for his life and visited the places of rioting and asked the people to maintain peace.
- However, the violence continued till the day of partition of India.
6. Step five: Provisional government:
- The violence after the announcement of Direct Action day was continuing when Viceroy of India, Lord Wavell announced the installing of the Provisional Government as per the results of the July 1946 election.
- Lord Wavell installed Provisional Government headed by Pandit Jwahar Lal Nehru on September 2, 1946. (March 2001)
- Pandit Jwahar Lal Nehru included Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Parsad, C. Rajgopalachari, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, John Mathai and others in his government.
- The representatives of the Muslim League were also invited but they refused to join.
- However, in October 1946, Muslim League joined the Provisional government headed by Pandit Nehru.
- On joining the government, Muslim League started hindering the working of the government because it did not want that the government should work smoothly.
7. Step Six: Declaration of Attlee of February 28, 1947:
- On February 28, 1947, after the Constitution Assembly had started its work in November 1946 and the Provisional government had taken over with riots still going on, Attlee made the following declaration on February 28, 1947:
i. England would leave India before June 1948.
ii. In case the Indians were not able to decide on their constitution, then British would either hand over the government to Central government or to the provincial governments.
iii. The Princely states would become independent again when the British would leave India after relinquishing the power.
iv. Lord Mountbatten was made the Viceroy of India in place of Lord Wavell. Lord Mountbatten was sent only to execute the transfer of the power to the Indians before leaving India.
8. Step seven: The Mountbatten Plan:
- Lord Mountbatten was made Viceroy of India in place of Lord Wavell by the February 28 declaration of the Prime Minister Attlee of Labour Party.
- He reached India in March 1947.
- He held discussions with the chief political leaders of India after reaching India.
- He drafted a proposal of transfer of power after meeting the Indian leaders.
- He obtained approval for his proposal from the British government.
- On June 3, 1947, he declared his proposal for the transfer of power which is known as Mountbatten Plan. The main items of the proposal were as follows:
i. It was declared that the partition of India was must as there was no unanimity among the Indians on their constitution.
ii. India would be divided in two states – India and Pakistan.
iii. The Muslims and Non-Muslims of members of legislatures of Punjab and Bengal would decide the partition of their respective provinces.
iv. A plebiscite would be held in North West Frontier, British Baluchistan and Silhet district of Assam to decide with which new country they would be joined.
v. The Sindh Assembly would be authorised to decide its amalgamation either with India or Pakistan.
vi. The British administration would leave India in August 1947 after handing over the power to India and Pakistan which would be then independent sovereign countries.
vii. A boarder commission would be decided to mark the borders between India and Pakistan.
viii. The Princely States were made free to decide either to join one of the two countries or they wanted to remain independent.
9. Step eight: Acceptance of Partition: (March 97) (Oct. 96; 01)
- The Indian National Congress was not in favour of partition.
- The Muslim League was bent upon having a separate country.
- When the Indian National Congress accepted to settle the problem by accepting the partition, the partition took place.
- The Muslim League formed Pakistan on the basis of religion.
- The Indian National Congress formed India on the basis of its secular policy.
10. Step Nine: The Indian Independence Act:
- On the basis of the Mountbatten Plan, the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act on July 18, 1947.
- The main features of the Indian Independence Act of July 18, 1947, which came into force in India on August 15, 1947 were as follows: (March 96; 97; 00, 01) (Oct. 01)
i. On August 15, 1947, two independent and sovereign countries – India and Pakistan will come into existence.
ii. From August 15, 1947, the King of England will not call himself as the Emperor of India.
iii. The Constituent Assemblies of India and Pakistan will prepare their respective constitutions.
iv. Both India and Pakistan will have their separate Governor-Generals who will rule the respective states till their own constitution come into force.
v. The British rule also end its control over the Indian Princely States from August 15, 1947 onwards.
vi. After August 15, 1947, the Princely states will be independent. They will have the right to decide in favour of amalgamation with either of the two countries. They have the right to remain independent if they decide so.
vii. The British Parliament will cease to have the right to make laws for India after August 15, 1947.
11. Step Ten: The Arrival of Independence:
a: August 15, 1947:
- At the midnight of August 14, 1947, that is August 15, India became Independent.
- The celebration of independence of India was made in Delhi.
- The Indian Tricolour was unfurled after dismantling the Union Jack, the flag of British nation.
- Pandit Jwahar Lal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India.
- The independence was the result of the collective efforts of the Indians which had continued for 150 years.
- 1947 was the culmination of the independence war which had started in 1857.
b: “Tryst with Destiny” the first speech of first Prime Minister of independent Republic of India:
- The following lines were the opening part of the speech of the first Prime Minister Jwahar Lal Nehru of the independent Republic of India. It was delivered at the midnight of August 14, 1947 in the Parliament House of independent India.
- “Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.”
No comments:
Post a Comment