MASS PHASE OF THE

NATIONAL MOVEMENT-1915-1947

Independence & the Partition of India – I

Contents in the Module

▪ Cabinet Mission Plan (clauses only)

▪ Mountbatten Plan (clauses and its acceptance)

▪ Indian Independence Act of 1947 (clauses only).

In Europe, Bose sought the support of Nazi Germany against British.

Independence League mobilized the Indians in Japan and Southeast Asia.

Created the Indian National Army, whose leadership was later assumed by Bose.

INA achieved success with Japanese help, by capturing parts of Northeast India from the British.

Due to Japanese reversals, British recaptured these parts.

Bose apparently died while boarding a bomber which would take him to Japan.

The British government in India tried some INA officials and held them guilty

But had to later free them due to public opinion.

Till now …

1. Who is known as the political guru of

Subhash Chandra Bose?

(a) Chittaranjan Das

(b) Gopal Krishna Gokhle

(c) Mahatma Gandhi

(d) Vivekananda

2. Women’s wing was called

(a)Women of East Regiment

(b)Rani of Jhansi Regiment

(c)Rani of Hind Regiment

Blast from Last Class

3. Andaman and Nicobar Islands were

renamed by Netaji to

(a) Fauj and Swaraj

(b) Hind and Azaad

(c) Mahatma and Nehru

(d) Shaheed and Swaraj

2. Women’s wing was called

(a)Women of East Regiment

(b)Rani of Jhansi Regiment

(c)Rani of Hind Regiment

The 1940s was a monumental time in the history of Indian

independence.

Thousands of Indian people arose together in one of the largest patriotic upsurges of

the world.

It was this time when the country had

entered its last leg of the freedom struggle.

The 1940s saw a large upsurge

of communal violence in

different parts of the country.

The years also saw strenuous relationship

between the Congress and the Muslim League

on discussions about the formation of a new

government.

Prime Minister Atlee made an

announcement in the House of Commons on 15 March, 1946

that

Nationalism had surged very high in

India.

A Cabinet Mission was to be sent to take

care of the critical situation.

Cabinet Mission Plan

Aim of the Cabinet Mission

To help in the transfer of power in India.

Formulate a right form of government which

would suit the interests of the nation.

Both minority and majority opinion to be

taken into consideration

Clauses of the Cabinet Mission Plan

Cabinet Mission Plan submitted on 16 May, 1946 proposed the following:

Union or Federation of India

British Provinces Indian States

The Union Government had following departments within its purview:

Dominion of the Union Government

Foreign Affairs Defense Communications

Members to be elected by the Provinces

Structure of the Union Government

Executive

Legislative

Hindus 50%

Muslims 50%

India was to be divided into three groups of provinces

Minorities would have a larger role to play

Provinces could draft their own Constitution

Provinces could change their grouping according to their elected legislature

Cabinet Mission Provinces

Division of Provinces

Group A

Group B

Group C

Three

Groups of

Provinces

Group A

Madras

Bombay

Central Provinces

Bihar

Orissa

Uttar Pradesh

Group B

Punjab

NWFP

Sind

Group C

Bengal

Assam

The Proposed Constituent Assembly

389 Members

British Provinces

292 members

Chief Commissioner’s

Provinces

4 members

Indian States

93 members

Supposed to frame the new Constitution of the Union of

India

Meet in New Delhi after

election and elect Chairman

All members to be divided into

three groups (A, B and C)

These groups to form their

own Constitution

Role of the Constituent Assembly

Efforts Towards Maintaining Unity

Cabinet Mission tried to bring Congress and Muslim League together

Groupings of Muslim States in Group B meant to cater to the demand of separate Muslim State

Group B was to have its own Constitution and autonomy.

Group B and C were to represent East and West Pakistan

Nehru and Jinnah with Cabinet Mission

Responses to the Plan

The Congress

• (i) Accepted only the scheme which dealt with the Constitution making.

• (ii) It considered the Constituent Assembly as a sovereign body for drafting the Constitution.

• (iii) They wanted the grouping of provinces as optional – not compulsory.

• (iv) Rejected the offer to form an interim government due to its limited status and powers.

Muslim League

• Cabinet Mission rejected the demand for the creation of a Muslim majority Pakistan State.

• Muslim League readily accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan in its entirety.

Conflict point:

• While the Muslim League agreed to the proposals and did not wish any changes, the Congress party did not agree to all the proposals. It was against the idea of grouping provinces on the basis of religion. It also argued for a stronger centre.

3rd June 1947 CE – Lord Mountbatten announced his plan for partition of India.

Mountbatten Plan

The country would be divided into two dominions –

• India

• Pakistan

Referendum for the North Western Frontier Province.

India and Pakistan

Existing treaties would come to an end.

Princely states would have the option of joining either of the two dominions or to remain independent.

Provinces of Assam, Bengal

and Punjab to be divided.

Boundary commission

would determine the boundaries of

these states.

Existing Constituent

Assembly would continue to work.

Draft the Constitution of

free India.

Pakistan would have a separate

Assembly.

Date of British withdrawal from India

advanced to 15th August 1947.

This day was of symbolic significance for the Britishers as this was when

Japan announced the surrender to the Allies on 15th August 1946.

British Parliament would pass an act for the transfer of power.

British leaving India

10th June 1947 CE - Muslim

League accepted the

Plan.

League complained of truncated and moth-eaten Pakistan.

Reacted to the division of Punjab and

Bengal.

Sikh leaders accepted and welcomed the

Plan.

M.A.Jinnah

Results – Acceptance of Plan

Congress was upset about the Partition of India.

Nehru counted Partition as the ‘necessary evil’.

Gandhi opposed the Partition and the Plan.

Persuaded by leaders to accept the Plan.

15th June 1947 CE – Congress formally accepted the Mountbatten Plan.

Led to the Partition of India.

Gandhi and Nehru

Nehru announced the formation of an Interim government on 24th August 1946.

Interim Government assumed office on 2 September 1946.

The Muslim League observed the day as the ‘Day of Mourning’.

British PM Attlee made an announcement on 20th February 1947 that Britain would leave India by 30th June 1948.

On 3rd June 1947, Lord Mountbatten announced his Plan for the Partition of India.

The Dominions of India and Pakistan came into existence on 15th August 1947.

Summery

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