Independence and Partition of India — Question 2
Back to all questionsThe attempt of the British to pacify the Congress and the Muslim League was clearly visible in the Cabinet Mission proposals but in reality neither could be pleased. With reference to this, explain:
(a) Any three proposals of the Cabinet Mission.
(b) The reasons for the Muslim League's acceptance and later rejection of the Cabinet Mission Plan.
(c) Why did the Congress refuse to participate in the formation of the Interim Government under the Cabinet Mission Plan?
(a) Three proposals of the Cabinet Mission were-
Formation of a Constituent Assembly — A Constituent Assembly would be set up to frame the new Constitution of the Indian Union. The composition of the 389 member Constituent Assembly would be as under:
(i) 296 members to be elected from the British Provinces.
(ii) 93 members to be elected from the Princely States.
The members of the Constituent Assembly would be elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies.Representation of Minorities — Separate representation was to be given to Muslims and Sikhs.
Formation of an Interim Government — An Interim Government would be formed at the Centre with 14 members. For the time being, the Viceroy would reconstitute his Executive Council consisting of representatives of all communities.
(b) The Muslim League accepted the Cabinet Mission proposals in its entirety in June 1946 because it felt that the grouping of Muslim majority Provinces in a way meant the formation of Pakistan. The League asked Wavell, the Viceroy, to constitute an Interim Government.
The Muslim League rejected the Cabinet Mission Plan as-
- Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in July 1946, in which the Congress obtained two-third majority.
- The League feared that it would be out-voted in the Assembly. It also feared that the British withdrawal from India would mean transfer of power to Hindus, who were in a majority in India.
- The League's nominees were not prepared to work under Nehru's leadership. They openly rejected the idea of collective responsibility.
(c) The Congress rejected the Viceroy's offer to form an Interim Government because of its limited status and powers and also because the principle of parity with Muslim League was not acceptable to it. It was also opposed to the League's claim that it alone had the right to nominate all the Muslim members to the Executive Council.
Chapter Overview: Independence and Partition
The last phase of the freedom struggle (1944–1947) saw rapid developments leading to Indian independence on 15 August 1947, accompanied by the traumatic Partition of India into India and Pakistan. Multiple factors converged: the weakened British economy after World War II, the Quit India Movement’s impact, the INA trials, the Royal Indian Navy mutiny (1946), and growing international pressure for decolonisation.
Key milestones include the Simla Conference (1945), the Cabinet Mission (1946), the Direct Action Day (16 August 1946), and the Mountbatten Plan (3 June 1947). The Indian Independence Act was passed by the British Parliament in July 1947. Partition resulted in massive communal violence, displacement of millions, and one of the largest mass migrations in history. The integration of princely states under Sardar Patel completed the political unification of India.
Board Exam Weightage: 6-7 marks | Difficulty: High
Key Events Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1945 | Simla Conference; Wavell Plan fails due to Jinnah’s demands |
| March 1946 | Cabinet Mission proposes united India with grouped provinces |
| 16 Aug 1946 | Direct Action Day; communal riots in Calcutta |
| Feb 1947 | Attlee announces British departure by June 1948; Mountbatten becomes Viceroy |
| 3 June 1947 | Mountbatten Plan announces partition |
| 18 July 1947 | Indian Independence Act passed by British Parliament |
| 15 Aug 1947 | India and Pakistan become independent nations |
Must-Know Concepts
- Cabinet Mission Plan: Proposed a three-tier federal structure (provinces, groups, centre) to keep India united; rejected by both Congress and Muslim League eventually
- Two-Nation Theory: Jinnah argued Hindus and Muslims were separate nations; basis for Pakistan demand
- Mountbatten Plan: Proposed partition into India and Pakistan; Punjab and Bengal divided along communal lines; Radcliffe Line
- Integration of Princely States: Sardar Patel and V.P. Menon integrated 562 princely states into India using diplomacy and, in some cases, military action (Hyderabad)
- Consequences of Partition: Communal violence, 15 million displaced, approximately 1-2 million deaths, refugee crisis
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing the Cabinet Mission Plan (united India) with the Mountbatten Plan (partition)
- Not mentioning the Radcliffe Line when discussing the partition boundary
- Forgetting that the RIN mutiny (1946) was a significant factor in the British decision to leave
- Writing that Gandhi supported partition — he opposed it but accepted it to prevent further bloodshed
Scoring Tips
- Clearly differentiate between the various plans: Wavell, Cabinet Mission, Mountbatten
- For partition consequences, mention both human costs and political implications
- Credit Sardar Patel’s role in integrating princely states — often asked in short-answer questions
- Use chronological order when narrating events from 1945 to 1947
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was India partitioned?
The Muslim League under Jinnah demanded a separate nation for Muslims based on the Two-Nation Theory. Communal riots, especially after Direct Action Day, made a united India increasingly difficult. The Mountbatten Plan accepted partition as the only workable solution.
What was the Cabinet Mission Plan?
A 1946 British plan proposing a united Indian federation with provinces grouped into three sections (Hindu-majority, Muslim-majority east, Muslim-majority west) with a weak centre handling only defence, foreign affairs, and communications.
What role did Sardar Patel play after independence?
As India’s first Home Minister, Patel integrated 562 princely states into the Indian Union through persuasion, negotiation, and when necessary, military action (as in the case of Hyderabad’s annexation through Operation Polo).