Pakistan Resolution/Lahore Resolution (March 24, 1940)
It was 1930 that Iqbal suggested the union of the Frontier Province, Baluchistan, Sindh and Kashmir as Muslim state within the federations. The idealist Chaudhry Rehmat Ali developed this conception at Cambridge, where he inspired a group of young Muslims and invented the term ‘Pakstan’ (later ‘Pakistan’) in 1935. The ideology of Iqbal, the vision of Rehamat Ali, and the fears of Muslims were thus united by the practical genius of Jinnah to blind Muslim together.The Lahore session of the Muslim League, held on March 24, 1940, passed Pakistan Resolution and rejected the Federal scheme an envisaged in the government of India Act, 1935.
The August Offer (1940)
In order to win the public opinion in India, Linlithgow put up an offer to get the support of the nationalist in the World War “II”.
Main Features-
A promise of Dominion Status in an unspecified future
A post war body to be created to enact a constitution, however this was to happen only after the approval from the British Parliament
Immediate expansion in the Viceroy’s executive council.
Formation of a war advisory council.
Individual Satyagraha
The August offer shocked nationalists, and the Congress launched the individual Satyagraha. Vinobha Bhave was the first Satyagrahi while Nehru was second.
The Cripps Mission – 1942:
In Dec. 1941, Japan entered the World War – II and advanced towards Indian borders. By March 7, 1942, Rangoon fell and Japan occupied the entire S E Asia.
The British govt. with a view to getting cooperation from Indians sent Sir Stafford Cripps, leader of the House of Commons to settle terms with the Indian leaders.
He offered a draft which proposed dominion status to be granted after the war
Rejected by the Congress as it didn’t want to rely upon future promises.
Gandhiji termed it as a post dated cheque in a crashing bank.
Quit India Movement
The causes for the launch of Quit India Movement were:
The failure of the Cripp’s Mission was an eye opener for the nationalist.
The news of Allied reverses in World War and British withdrawal from South-East Asia and Burma leaving local people at the mercy of Japanese.
Course of Events
Quit India resolution was passed on 8th August 1942 at Bombay.
The Congress envisaged a “mass struggle on the non-violent lines on the widest possible scale.
It was made clear that if Congress leadership gets removed by arrest, “every Indian who desires freedom and strives for it must be his own guide”.
Gandhi and all the leaders of the Congress working committee were arrested on the early hours of August 9, 1942.
There was a three month strike in Ahmedabad, the Stalinguard of India
Usha Metha ran an illegal radio station
Rajgopalacharya and Communists opposed the Quit India Movement
The three parallel governments were formed at:
1. Ballia under Chittu Pandey
2. Tamkul- Jatia Sarkar of Satish Samant
3. Satara- Prati Sarkar under Nana Patil.
Gandhiji’s Fast (Feb. 10 – March 7, 1943)
Gandhiji undertook a 21-day fast in jail. His condition deteriorated after 13 days and all hopes of his surviving were given up.However, as a result his moral strength and spiritual stamina, he survived and completed the 21-day fast. This was his answer to the government which had been constantly exhorting him to condemn the violence of the people in the Quit India Movement.
C.R. Formula (1944)
In 1944, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (C.R.) proposed to appoint a commission to separate the district in North-West and East where Muslims were in majority.In such areas, a voting to be held on the basis of adult suffrage to decide the issue of separation. They would be given freedom in case they favoured a sovereign state. In case of acceptance of partition, agreement to be made jointly for safeguarding defence, commerce,communications etc.
Muslim League was to endorse Congress demand for independence and cooperate in formation of provisional government. Jinnah objected, as he wanted Congress to accept two-nation theory and wanted only Muslims of the North-West and East of India to vote. Hindu Leaders led by V.D. Savarkar condemned the plan.
Wavell Plan & Shimla Conference (June 14 – July 14, 1945)
After consultations with the British Government on the Indian problem, Lord Wavell, the Viceroy of India, issued a statement known as Wavell Plan. The Plan,
which chiefly concerned Viceroy’s Executive Council, proposed certain changes in the structure of the council. One of the main proposals was that the Executive Council would be constituted giving a balanced representation to main communities in it, including equal representation to Muslims and Hindus. Soon after the Wavell Plan was issued the members of the Congress Working Committee were released from jails. A conference of 22 prominent Indian leaders called at Shimla to consider the Wavell Plan, reached no decision. What scutted the conference was Mr. Jinnah’s unflinching stand that Muslim approved only by the Muslim League should be included in the Executive Council. Communalism thus again became a stumbling block. For the Britishers, however, the dissension between the Congress and the Muslim League was a source of happiness.
INA Trials
The first trial of INA prisoners took place at Red Fort.
P.K. Seghal, Shah Nawaz and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon were made accused.
The counsels for defense were Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bhadur Sapru, K.N. Kataju, J.L. Nehru and Asaf Ali. Even though the Court Martial held the INA prisoners guilty, the Government felt it expedient to set them free. The question of guilt was not the issue, however it was Britain’s right to decide the matter concerning Indians.
The revolt of Royal Indian Navy (RIN)
In Feb. 1946, Bombay Ratings of HMIS Talwar revolted against British and struck work.
The racial discrimination and bad food was the immediate cause of the revolt.
B.C Dutta scrawled Quit India on the ships
The HMIS Hindustan in Karachi also mutinied.
By the end of February the strike had spread to naval bases all over the country involving about 20000 ratings.
The Cabinet Mission Plan (1946):
The struggle for freedom entered a decisive phase in the year 1945–46. The new Labour Party PM.Lord Attlee, made a declaration on March 15, 1946, that British Cabinet Mission (comprising of Lord Pethick Lawrence as Chairman, Sir Stafford Cripps and A.V. Alexander) will visit India.
The mission held talks with the INC and ML to bring about acceptance of their proposals.
On May 16, 1946, the mission put towards its proposals. It rejected the demand for separate Pakistan and instead a federal union consisting of British India and the Princely States was suggested.
Both Congress and Muslims League accepted it.
Direct Action Campaign (Aug, 16, 1946):
Provoked by the success of the Congress (in the voting for Constituent Assembly), the Muslim League launched a ‘direct action’ campaign on Aug. 16, 1946, which resulted in heavy communal riots in the country.
Interim Government (Sept, 2, 1946):
On Sept. 2, 1946, an interim government was formed. Congress members led by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru joined it but the Muslim League did not as it withdrew its earlier acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan.
Formation of Constituent Assembly (Dec. 9, 1946):
This Constituent Assembly met on Dec. 9, 1946, and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected its President. The Muslim League did not join the
Assembly.
Attlee’s Announcement (Feb. 20, 1947): On Feb. 20, 1947, British Prime Minister Attlee announced that the British would withdraw from India by June 30, 1948 and that Lord Mountbatten would replace Wavell.
Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947):
On June 3, 1947, Lord Mountbatten put forward his plan which outlined the steps for the solution of India’s political problem.
The outlines of the Plan were:
India to be divided into India and Pakistan.
Bengal and Punjab will be partitioned and a referendum in NEFP and Sylhet district of Assam would be held.
There would be a separate constitutional assembly for Pakistan to frame its constitution.
The Princely states would enjoy the liberty to join either India or Pakistan or even remain independent.
Aug.15, 1947 was the date fixed for handing over power to India and Pakistan.
The British govt. passed the Indian Independence Act of 1947 in July 1947, which contained the major provisions put forward by the Mountbatten plan.
Partition and Independence (Aug 1947):
All political parties accepted the Mountbatten plan.
At the time of independence, there were 562 small and big Princely States in India.
Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, the first home minister, used iron hand in this regard.
By August 15, 1947, all the States, with a few exceptions like Kashmir, Hyderabad and Junagarh had signed the Instrument of Accession. Goa was with the Portuguese and Pondicherry with the French.
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