FREEDOM STRUGGLE - QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT (AUG 1942)
The CWC met in Bombay as Aug 6, 1942. Gandhi himself trafted the Quit India Resolution with the Slogan 'Do or Die'. The last struggle in the movement was a leaderless one. the peasant communities founded the parallel govts. called Praja Sarkars. in the Balia district of UP; under the leadership of Chitu Pandey. in Monghut under the leadership of Saratchandra and at Satara under Nana Patil. The CSP leaders, JP Naryan and Axuna Asaf Ali carried out underground activities providing indirect leadership to the movement. The CPI layed a controversial role by supporting the British.
Gandhi was imprisoned in the Yaravada Jail in Pune and was trialled for 1942 August distubances, under the Charges of Sedition. Gandhi observed fast into death as a protest. During the inprisonment, his wife Kasturba, Secy Mahadev desai died in the imprisonment.
In 1944, on health grounds Gandhi was released.
INA :-
Bose escaped form house imprisonment. first went to Russia, from there to Germany. He was invited to japan by PM Toja INA was actually founded by Cap. Mohan Singh consisted of 20,000 Indian war prisoners captured by Japan. Bose took over the commandership of INA, changed its name to Azad Jawahar and Netaji, gave the Slogans. 'Unto Delhi' and Jai Hind The INA Commandership included Cap. Shahnawaz Khan, Prem sehgal, Cap. Dhillion and Cap. Laxmi.
The INA founded the 1st provincial govt of free India at Singapore. It entered Burma and destroyed Mandalay Sail in Burma came upto Kohima in Assam. As Japan withdrew its forces in the WN front, INA was defeated and its commanders were imprisoned in the Red Fort. The INA trlals were held in Red Fort, Congress constituted a Defence Council for the INA officers headed by Asaf Ali & other members being Jawaharlal Nehru and Tej Bahadur Sapru. Bhulaabhai Desai was the Secy. of the Defence Council.
CR FORMULA - (JUNE 1944) :-
- CR or Rajaji drafted the formula providing for -
- CR or Rajaji drafted the formula providing for-
- A plebiscite in the demarcated Muslim majority provinces in the NW & East on the issue of Pakistan. If the plebiscite favours Pakistan. Pakistan would be granted.
- In the event of Pakistan becoming a reality. there would be joint control of India and Pakistan on currency, communications and defence.
- Jinnah rejected the CR Formula as he was not condident of the support of the Muslims for the idea of Pakistan
In Sep. 1944. Gandhi - Jinnah talks were held but they failed & Jinnah insisted on being recognised as the sole leader of the Muslims.
WAVELL PLAN AND SHIMLA CONFERENCE :-
In June 1945, Lord Wavell, the Governor Gereral proposed for tentative arrangement at the Centre with the League and Congress sharing power on the principle of parity. In the Shimla Conference, Congress was represented by Nehru and League by Jinnah. Though Jinnah agreed at the beginning to share power with the Congress, the conference failed when Jinnah insisted on that Congress, the conference failed when Jinnah insisted on the Congress not to dominate any Muslim member without his consent in its share of portfolios.
In 1945, elections were held after World War - II. The conservative party under Churchill lost the elections. Labour Party under Clemant Atlee came to power. In India, Congress formed Govt in 8 provinces and the League in Punjab, Sidh and Bengal.
In Jan, 1945, PM Atlee announced that an All - Party Delegation of the Parliament would visit India to decide the question of transfer of Power. In Feb. 1945. The All - Party Delegation visited India and favoured for transfer of power. In Feb, 1946, the Indian Navy officers in Bombay, Lolaba, Cochin, Karachi and Kandla revolted at a time against the racial discrimination of the British military administration. The riots that followed were called "Bombay Naval Ratings" It was the last act of protest in the freedom struggle. In March, 1946, PM Atlee announced that a Cabinest Mission would visit India to decide the modalities of transfer of power.
CABINET MISSION PLAN :-
The Cabinet Mission consisted of Sir A.V. Alexander, its Chairman, and other member being Pethik Lawrence and Sir Stafford Cripps. Its recommendation were-
- A Union govt. of India to be constituted
- A Centre with limited subjects of power : Defence, currency and communication.
- Provinces with complete autonomy.
- A Constituent Assembly consisted of the members elected by Provincial Legislative Assemblies and members nominated by the Princely States.
- The most controversial recommendation was its 'Grouping Pattern' of dividing the provinces of India into 3 groups.
Group A - except Group B and Group C
Group B - Punjab, Sindh and NWFP
Group C - Bengal and Assam
- The Cabinet Mission outrightly rejected the idea of "Pakistan", as the creation of a small province of Pakistan would result in tremendous dislocation of resources and hence not viable.
- In July. 1946 elections were held for the Constituent Assembly. Congress got 205 members elected and the League 73.
- In Aug. 1946. The muslim League rejected the Cabinet Mission Plan and boycotted the Constituent Assembly.
Aug. 16 1946 was observed by Muslim League as the "Direct Action Day" for Pakistan. Communal riots started first at Noakhali in Calcutta, spreading to different parts of India very soon, Syed Suhrawardy, the Chief Minister of Bengal openly supported Direct Action Day.
On Sep 2, 1946. Governor General Lord Wavell formed Interim govt. with himself as Pesident and jawaharlal Nehru as Vice President. Patel was the Home Minister.
When the League joined the Interim Govt, its candidate, Liaqat Ali was given the key Finance portfolio. Later, the League boycotted the Interim Govt. also in Oct, 1946.
On Dec 9, 1947. PM Atlee announced that power would be transferred to India by not later than June 1948 and for that Lord Mountbatten would be sent as the last Governor General to India.
In March 1947, Mountbatten came to India. In April 1947, he drafted his plan of partitioning India into 2 dominions called India and Pakistan, the plan called April Plan. Balkan Plan. Dickie Bird Plan. The Plan was approved by Parliament with modifications called June 3rd Plan providing for -
- Demarcation committees between India and Pakistan
- Plebiscite in the Muslim Majority provinces in Punjab, NWFP in the West and Sylhet district of Assam on the question of joining either Indian of Pakistan.
- The princely states were given the right of self determination, either to join Indian or Pakistan or to remain independent.
A Bill on the Transfer of Power to India and Pakistan, called the Indian Independence Act was introduced in the Parliament. Approved by Parliament on July 18. 1947, fixing the deadline for transfer of power on Aug 15 and its also provided for the appointment of 2 governor generals each for India and Pakistan.
Rajaji became 1st Indian Governor General and Jinnah, first governor general in Pakistan. Liaqat Ali became the first PM of Pakistan.