Explore the events of the communal riots, the formation of the Interim Government, and the political dynamics between Congress and the Muslim League during the critical 1946-1947 period in India. Understand the impacts, key figures, and the partition's role in shaping modern India.
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Communal Holocaust and the Interim Government
Communal Riots
From August 16, 1946, the Indian scene rapidly transformed with communal riots on an unprecedented scale.
These riots left several thousands dead.
The worst-hit areas were Calcutta, Bombay, Noakhali, Bihar, and Garhmukteshwar (United Provinces).
Changed Government Priorities
Wavell was now eager to get the Congress into the Interim Government, even if the League stayed out.
This was a departure from Wavell’s stand during the Shimla conference.
This attitude was against the League’s insistence that all settlements be acceptable to it and also against earlier government postures of encouraging communal forces, denying the legitimacy of nationalism, and denying the representative nature of Congress.
Thus, the continuance of British rule had demanded one stance from Britain, and the withdrawal and post-imperial links dictated a contrary posture.
Interim Government Formation
Fearing mass action by the Congress, a Congress-dominated Interim Government headed by Nehru was sworn in on September 2, 1946.
Nehru continued to insist on his party’s opposition to the compulsory grouping.
Despite the title, the Interim Government was little more than a continuation of the old executive of the viceroy.
Wavell overruled the ministers on the issue of the release of INA prisoners in his very last cabinet meeting in March 1947.
Wavell quietly brought the Muslim League into the Interim Government on October 26, 1946.
The League was allowed to join:
without giving up the ‘direct action’;
despite its rejection of the Cabinet Mission’s long-term and short-term plans; and
despite insistence on compulsory grouping with decisions being taken by a majority vote by a section as a whole, which would reduce the opponents of Pakistan in Assam and NWFP to a position of helpless minority.
14 Ministers of Interim Government (September 2, 1946 – August 15, 1947)
Jawaharlal Nehru: Vice President of Executive Council, External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations
Vallabhbhai Patel: Home, Information and Broadcasting
Baldev Singh: Defence
Dr. John Mathai: Industries and Supplies
C. Rajagopalachari: Education
C.H. Bhabha: Works, Mines and Power
Rajendra Prasad: Agriculture and Food
Jagjivan Ram: Labour
Asaf Ali: Railway
Liaquat Ali Khan (Muslim League): Finance
Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar (Muslim League): Commerce
Abdur Rab Nishtar (Muslim League): Communications
Ghazanfar Ali Khan (Muslim League): Health
Jogendra Nath Mandal (Muslim League): Law
Obstructionist Approach and Ulterior Motives of the League
The League did not attend the Constituent Assembly’s first meeting on December 9, 1946.
Consequently, the Assembly had to confine itself to passing a general ‘Objectives Resolution’ drafted by Jawaharlal Nehru.
The League refused to attend informal meetings of the cabinet to take decisions.
The League questioned the decisions and appointments made by the Congress members.
Liaqat Ali Khan, as the finance minister, restricted and encumbered the efficient functioning of other ministries.
The League had only sought a foothold in the government to fight for Pakistan.
For the League, it was a continuation of the civil war by other means.
The Congress demand that the British get the League to change its attitude in the Interim Government or quit was voiced ever since the League joined the Interim Government.
In February 1947, nine Congress members of the cabinet wrote to the viceroy demanding the resignation of League members and threatening the withdrawal of their own nominees.
The last straw came with the League demanding the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly. A crisis seemed to be developing rapidly.
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