Brief Summary
This lecture discusses India's independence and partition, focusing on the events leading up to it, the key players involved, and the consequences of the partition. It also touches upon the integration of princely states and the reorganization of states post-independence.
- Clement Attlee's declaration on India's independence.
- The Mountbatten Plan and the Indian Independence Act of 1947.
- The integration of princely states and the challenges faced.
- The reorganization of states based on language.
Introduction
The lecture introduces the topic of India's independence and partition, highlighting that the independence was not peaceful and involved significant struggle and sorrow due to the country's division. The discussion will cover various aspects of independence and the accompanying partition.
Declaration of Independence
Following the British elections where the Labour Party came into power, Clement Attlee, the Prime Minister, declared on February 20, 1947, that India would be granted independence. This declaration came after the Cabinet Mission in 1946, which proposed a plan for a constituent assembly. However, the Muslim League rejected this plan after the elections in July 1946, leading to political turmoil.
Direct Action and Increasing Violence
After the Muslim League rejected the Cabinet Mission plan, Jinnah called for Direct Action, leading to widespread Hindu-Muslim riots, particularly in cities like Kolkata, Bombay, Delhi, Madras, and Punjab. Despite the violence, the Congress continued with the sessions of the Constituent Assembly, while the Muslim League refused to participate. The British government, facing increasing criticism for the violence, announced its intention to transfer power to Indians by June 1948, either to a central government or to the provinces if no agreement was reached.
Mountbatten and the Partition Plan
Lord Mountbatten was appointed as the new Viceroy of India to expedite the transfer of power. He quickly assessed the situation and concluded that partition was likely inevitable due to the ongoing violence. The Congress, realizing that an agreement with the Muslim League was impossible and concerned about the escalating violence, agreed to the partition. They requested that Bengal and Punjab be divided based on Muslim and Hindu majority areas. On March 10, 1947, Nehru supported the partition, and in April 1947, Congress President J.B. Kripalani officially moved forward with the partition process.
The Indian Independence Act 1947
Mountbatten presented his plan, which was then passed by the British Parliament as the Indian Independence Act of 1947. This act led to the creation of two independent countries, India and Pakistan. Both countries were granted dominion status, allowing them to govern themselves while remaining under British supervision. The act also established a boundary commission, headed by Radcliffe, to demarcate the borders between the two new nations.
Acceptance of Dominion Status
India accepted dominion status despite having previously demanded full independence in 1929. This was because the dominion status was temporary and allowed for a peaceful transfer of power during a volatile time. It also provided access to British administrative and military support during the transition.
Reasons for Early Transfer of Power
The British government expedited the transfer of power due to Congress's acceptance of dominion status and to avoid responsibility for the escalating communal violence. The Indian Independence Act was quickly implemented, granting India independence on August 15, 1947.
Provisions of the Indian Independence Act
The act included several key provisions: it was the final act of the British Parliament for India, Mountbatten was appointed as the last Governor-General, the Indian subcontinent was divided into the Indian Union and Pakistan, a boundary commission was established, treaties between the British government and princely states were terminated, the title of Emperor of India was abolished, each state was provided with a Governor-General, legislative assemblies were granted the power to make laws, the Government of India Act of 1935 would remain in effect until a new constitution was formed, and the Indian army would be divided between the two countries.
Analysis of the Act
The act marked the end of British rule and granted India and Pakistan the right to frame their own constitutions. However, the partition led to significant problems, including communal violence and long-lasting disputes. The speaker emphasizes that the partition was not solely based on religious grounds, as millions of Muslims remained in India. The hasty decision by the British to leave and the lack of a well-thought-out partition plan contributed to the problems.
Integration of Princely States
After independence, India faced the challenge of integrating over 550 princely states. The Indian Independence Act of 1947 gave these states the option to join India, Pakistan, or remain independent. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played a crucial role in convincing most of these states to join India. However, Hyderabad, Junagadh, and Jammu & Kashmir initially chose to remain independent, leading to conflicts and eventual integration through different means.
Reorganization of States
Following independence, India reorganized its states. Initially, the states were divided into four categories: A, B, C, and D. However, this system led to dissatisfaction, particularly in South India, where linguistic groups demanded separate states. The death of Potti Sreeramulu, who fasted to demand a separate Andhra Pradesh state, led to the formation of the first linguistic state in 1953. The States Reorganisation Committee, headed by Fazal Ali, was formed in 1953 to recommend the reorganization of states based on language. The committee's recommendations led to the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, which reorganized the states and union territories.
Why Congress Accepted Partition
The Congress accepted partition due to the widespread communal violence and the realization that an agreement with the Muslim League was impossible. The Muslim League's demand for a separate Pakistan and the escalating violence made partition seem like the only viable option.
Was Partition Inevitable?
The speaker discusses different perspectives on whether the partition was inevitable. While the Congress viewed it as a great loss, the Muslim League saw it as necessary for the protection and growth of the Muslim community. The British government blamed the Muslim League for the partition. The speaker concludes that while partition may not have been necessary earlier, it became inevitable due to the circumstances in 1947.
Factors Leading to British Departure
Several factors led to the British decision to leave India, including the impact of World War II, the rise of the USSR and the USA as global powers, the pressure from international bodies, the growing strength of the Indian National Movement, and the revolt of the armed forces. The British also realized that the cost of suppressing the Indian population was becoming too high and that they had already exploited India's resources to a great extent.
