Independence and Partition: Key Events and Details | Studento

Independence and Partition: Overview

• The communal riots and the unworkability of the Congress-League coalition compelled many in early 1947 to think in terms of accepting the so far unthinkable idea of partition.
• The most insistent demand came from Hindu and Sikh communal groups in Bengal and Punjab who were alarmed at the prospect of compulsory grouping which might find them in Pakistan.
  • The Hindu Mahasabha in Bengal assessed the feasibility of a separate Hindu province in West Bengal.
• On March 10, 1947, Nehru stated that the Cabinet Mission’s plan was the best solution if carried out, but the only real alternative was the partition of Punjab and Bengal.
• In April 1947, Congress president Kripalani communicated to the viceroy that they would rather let the Muslim League have their Pakistan, provided Bengal and Punjab were partitioned fairly.

Mountbatten as the Viceroy

• Mountbatten proved more firm and quick in decision-making than his predecessors because he was given more powers to decide on the spot.
• He also had the advantage of the British government’s firm decision to quit at the earliest.
• His task was to explore options of unity and division until October 1947 and then advise the British government on the form of transfer of power.
• However, he soon discovered that:
  • The broad contours of the scenario to emerge were already discernible before he came to India.
  • The Cabinet Mission Plan was a dead horse.
  • Jinnah was obstinate about not settling for anything less than a sovereign state.
  • A serious attempt at unity would involve supporting forces that wanted a unified India and countering those who opposed it.
• Mountbatten preferred to woo both sides.

Mountbatten Plan, June 3, 1947

• The freedom-with-partition formula was coming to be widely accepted well before Mountbatten arrived in India.
• One major innovation suggested by V.P. Menon was the immediate transfer of power on the basis of granting dominion status (with a right of secession), thus avoiding the need to wait for an agreement in the constituent assembly on a new political structure.
• Main Points:
  • Punjab and Bengal Legislative Assemblies would meet in two groups (Hindus and Muslims) to vote for partition. If a simple majority of either group voted for partition, then these provinces would be partitioned.
  • In case of partition, two dominions and two constituent assemblies would be created.
  • Sindh would take its own decision.
  • Referendums in NWFP and Sylhet district of Bengal would decide the fate of these areas.
• Mountbatten’s formula was to divide India but retain maximum unity.

Indian Independence Act

• On July 5, 1947, the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act, based on the Mountbatten Plan, which received royal assent on July 18, 1947.
• The Act was implemented on August 15, 1947, and provided for the creation of two independent dominions of India and Pakistan.
• Provisions of the Act:
  • Each dominion was to have a governor-general responsible for the effective operation of the Act.
  • The constituent assembly of each dominion was to exercise the powers of the legislature of that dominion.
  • The existing Central Legislative Assembly and the Council of States were to be automatically dissolved.
  • For the transitional period, the governments of the two dominions were to be carried on in accordance with the Government of India Act, 1935.
• As per the provisions of the Act:
  • Pakistan became independent on August 14, 1947, with M.A. Jinnah as the first Governor-General.
  • India became independent on August 15, 1947, with Lord Mountbatten continuing as the Governor-General of India.

Problems of Early Withdrawal

• The rapid pace of events under Mountbatten caused anomalies in arranging the details of partition and failed to prevent the Punjab massacre.
• Reasons for the failure:
  • There were no transitional institutional structures to tackle partition problems.
  • Mountbatten had hoped to be the common Governor-General of both India and Pakistan, but Jinnah wanted the position for himself in Pakistan.
  • There was a delay in announcing the Boundary Commission Award (under Radcliffe). Though the award was ready by August 12, 1947, Mountbatten decided to make it public after August 15 to escape British responsibility for disturbances.