War, Indian freedom struggle had become
more extensive. The demand for
independence of India was gaining its
strength. The British rulers realised that it
was necessary to take a serious note of
it. Accordingly, the British government
started preparing various plans for granting
Independence to India.
The Indian National Congress was
founded on the principle of secularism.
People of all caste and religion had taken
part in the national struggle. To weaken
this movement the British adopted the
policy of ‘divide and rule’. Its consequence
was the establishment of ‘Muslim League’.
In 1930, Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, a well
known poet, put forth the thought of an
independent Muslim state. Later Chaudhary
Rahmat Ali put up the idea of Pakistan.
Barrister Muhammad Ali Jinnah put forth
the two Nation theory and demanded a
seperate Muslim nation named Pakistan.
Indian National Congress was only a
Hindu organisation, the muslims have no
benefit of it; such kind of propaganda was
started by Barrister Jinnah and the Muslim
League.
Wavell Plan : In June 1945, Lord
Wavell, the Viceroy of India drew up a
plan. There were different provisions in
this plan. Accordingly some of its provisions
were that in central and provincial
legislatures Muslims, Dalits and minorities
should be given proper representation and
there will be equal number of Hindu and
Muslim members in Viceroy’s Executive
Council. A meeting of all major political
parties in India was organised at Simla to
consider the Wavell Plan. Barrister Jinnah
insisted that only the Muslim League
should have the right to suggest the names
of muslim representatives to the Viceroy's
Executive Council. But the Congress
opposed it. Therefore the Wavell plan
could not be successful.
Cabinet Mission : After the end of
Second World War the British rulers were
in favour of granting freedom to India. In
the Parliament, British Prime Minister
Attlee clarified the British policy regarding
India. According to it, the right of Indian
people to draft their own Constitution was
recognised. It was also made clear that
the issue of minorities will not come in
the way of India's Independence. In March
1946, a delegation of British ministers
namely Pethick Lawrence, Stafford Cripps
and A.V. Alexander put forth England’s
plan regarding India in front of the Indian
leaders. This is called ‘Cabinet Mission’.
Some of the provision in the plan were
not acceptable to the Congress. Similarly,
there was no provision of independent state
for the muslims, so the Muslim League
was unsatisfied. Therefore Cabinet Mission
was not fully accepted.
Direct Action Day : Since the demand
fo Pakistan was not being fulfilled, the
Muslim League decided for direct action.
Accordingly, 16 August 1946, was declared
to be observed as ‘Direct Action Day’ by
the Muslim League. The followers of
Muslim League resorted to violent ways.
There were Hindu-Muslim riots in various
parts of the country. There were massacres
in the Noakhali region in the province of
Bengal. To stop this violence Gandhiji went
there without giving any thought to his
own life. He tried his best to establish
peace there.
Establishment of Interim
Government : While the blaze of violence
had arisen in the country, Viceroy Wavellestablished the Interim Government. Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru was the head of this
government. The Muslim League initially
denied to participate in the Interim
Government, but later, participated in it.
But since the leaders of Muslim League
adopted the policy of obstruction, hence
the Interim Government could not work
smoothly.
Mountbatten Plan : England's Prime
Minister Atlee had announced that England
would leave its dominion on India before
June 1948. On the background of transfer
of power in India, Lord Mountbatten was
appointed as Viceroy of India. Mountbatten
held discussions with prominent leaders of
India. Thereafter, he prepared a plan of
creation of India and Pakistan as two
independent nations. Indian National
Congress opposed the plan of partition.
Unity of the nation, was the basic stand
of Indian National Congress, but the
Muslim League remained adamant on the
creation of Pakistan. National Congress
was left with no option but to accept the
decision of partition with complete
helplessness.
Indian Independence Act : On 18
July 1947, on the basis of Mountbatten
Plan, the Indian Independence Act was
passed in British Parliament. On 15 August
1947, the two independent nations India
and Pakistan will come into existence.
Thereafter the British Parliament will not
have any control over them. The British
supremacy over the princely states will
also come to an end. The Act provided
them the right to either join India or
Pakistan or remain independent.
India gains Independence : As per
the Indian Independence Act, India was
granted independence on 15 August 1947.
A meeting of the Constituent Assembly
was going on in the hall of Parliament
House in Delhi in the midnight of 14
August 1947. At the stroke of midnight
hour, India's dependence came to an end.
The Union Jack of Britain was lowered
and in its place the Indian tricolour flag
was unfurled. India attained Independence
from the 150 years of slavery.
The joy of attainment of freedom was
not untinted. Indian people were grieved
due to the partition of the country and the
terrible violence during that period. Instead
of joining the celebration of Independence,
Gandhiji was striving hard in Bengal.
Within six months of attainment of
freedom of India, Gandhiji was brutally
assassinated by Nathuram Godse on 30
January 1948. Gandhiji strove day and
night to preserve Hindu Muslim unity and
laid down his life for the same.
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