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Summary
The chapter details the events leading to the Independence and Partition of India in 1947, focusing on the critical plans and acts that shaped this period.
After World War II, India’s struggle for freedom intensified. The British, weakened by the war, faced pressure to grant independence. In 1946, the British government sent the Cabinet Mission to India, which proposed a federal union with autonomy for provinces, but with central control over defense, foreign affairs, and communications. The mission suggested grouping provinces by religion, creating a framework that laid the groundwork for eventual partition. The Congress accepted the mission’s proposals with some reservations, while the Muslim League initially welcomed the plan, seeing it as a step towards the creation of Pakistan. However, tensions escalated, leading to conflicts between the Congress and the League, especially during the formation of an interim government.
The Muslim League, fearing domination by the Hindu majority, called for the partition of India. The Congress, although initially resistant, eventually accepted the idea, influenced by widespread communal violence and the realization that a united India was no longer feasible. Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, played a key role in finalizing the partition plan. His plan, known as the Mountbatten Plan, was announced on June 3, 1947. It proposed the creation of two independent dominions, India and Pakistan, with the transfer of power scheduled for August 15, 1947. The plan included the division of Punjab and Bengal, and the freedom for princely states to join either dominion or remain independent.
The Indian Independence Act of 1947 legally formalized the partition, marking the end of British rule. On August 15, 1947, India and Pakistan emerged as independent nations. The partition, however, led to large-scale communal violence, displacement, and loss of life, casting a shadow over the joy of independence.
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Textbook (Total History) solutions
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. Which of the following international events forced Britain to consider handing over the governance of India to Indians?
A. End of Fascism
B. Rise of Communism
C. World War II
D. Rise of USA as a superpower
Answer: C. World War II
2. Arrange the following events in chronological order
(i) End of World War
(ii) Attlee’s Announcement
(iii) Mountbatten Plan
(iv) Cabinet Mission
A. (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
B. (i), (iv), (ii), and (iii)
C. (i), (iv), (iii) and (ii)
D. (i), (iii), (ii) and (iv)
Answer: B. (i), (iv), (ii), and (iii)
3. Why was the Cabinet Mission sent to India in 1946?
A. To facilitate transfer of power to Indians
B. To facilitate the Partition of the country
C. To facilitate the division of resources between Provinces and Princely States
D. To facilitate the drawing up of the Constitution for each Dominion
Answer: A. To facilitate transfer of power to Indians
4. Group A: United Provinces :: Group B:
A. Baluchistan
B. Punjab
C. Delhi
D. Bihar
Answer: B. Punjab
5. Why did the Muslim League accept the Cabinet Mission Plan?
A. Its demand for a separate nation was fulfilled.
B. It felt that grouping of Muslim majority Provinces was a step towards a separate dominion.
C. It felt that its claim to nominate Muslim members to the Executive Council was supported.
D. None of the above.
Answer: B. It felt that grouping of Muslim majority Provinces was a step towards a separate dominion.
6. Which of the following is incorrect about the formation of a Constituent Assembly according to the Cabinet Mission Plan?
A. Members to be directly elected by the people of India
B. Members to be elected by Provincial Legislative Assemblies
C. 296 members from the Provinces and 93 from princely states
D. Complete freedom to frame the Constitution of the Indian Union.
Answer: A. Members to be directly elected by the people of India
7. Which of the following forced the British government to send Lord Mountbatten?
A. Communal riots
B. Labour Unrest
C. Congress-League deadlock
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
8. According to Indian Independence Act, a plebiscite would be held in
A. Bihar
B. Sylhet
C. Princely states
D. Central provinces
Answer: B. Sylhet
9. Which of the following provisions regarding the Constituent Assemblies is/are correct?
A. Act as Central Legislatures in each dominion
B. Full powers to make laws for their dominion
C. Act as sovereign bodies for legislative purpose
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
10. Who had the power to bring India Independence Act into operation?
A. The Secretary of State for India
B. The Governor General
C. The British Prime Minister
D. None of the above.
Answer: B. The Governor General
Select the correct relationship
1. (A) The Wavell Plan offered granting of Dominion Status to India in the long run and drafting of their own Constitution by Indians.
(B) The Wavell Plan was rejected by both the Congress and the Muslim League.
(a) (B) contradicts (A)
(b) (B) is the reason for (A)
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
(d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Answer: (d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Explanation: The statement in (A) discusses the proposals of the Wavell Plan, which included granting Dominion Status and allowing Indians to draft their own Constitution. On the other hand, statement (B) mentions the rejection of the plan by both Congress and the Muslim League. The rejection of the plan in (B) is related to specific reasons beyond what was offered in (A), such as the desire for full independence or the dissatisfaction of the Muslim League with the proposals. Thus, these two statements are independent of each other.
2. (A) The Cabinet Mission was sent to India in 1946 to facilitate the process of transfer of power.
(B) The Cabinet Mission proposed a two-tier federal plan for India.
(a) (A) contradicts (B)
(b) (B) is the reason for (A)
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
(d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Answer: (d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Explanation: Statement (A) focuses on the primary purpose of the Cabinet Mission, which was to facilitate the transfer of power from British rule to Indian leadership. Statement (B) discusses one of the outcomes of the mission, which was the proposal of a federal structure. While both statements are related to the Cabinet Mission, they refer to different aspects of its work and do not directly cause or contradict each other. Therefore, they are independent of each other.
3. (A) The Muslim League’s demand for Pakistan was rejected by the Cabinet Mission.
(B) The Muslim League accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan as it felt that the grouping of Muslim majority Provinces in a way meant the formation of Pakistan.
(a) (B) contradicts (A)
(b) (B) is the reason for (A)
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
(d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Answer: (d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Explanation: Statement (A) describes the rejection of the demand for Pakistan by the Cabinet Mission, which was a significant political stance. Statement (B) highlights the Muslim League’s acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan because it interpreted the grouping of Muslim-majority provinces as a step towards the eventual creation of Pakistan. These two statements address different aspects of the same historical event, making them independent of each other. The acceptance of the plan by the Muslim League was not the reason for the rejection mentioned in (A), nor do they directly contradict each other.
4. (A) The Congress won an overwhelming majority in the Constituent Assembly, the elections to which were held in 1946.
(B) The Muslim League kept itself out of the Government.
(a) (B) contradicts (A)
(b) (A) is the reason for (B)
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
(d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Answer: (b) (A) is the reason for (B)
Explanation: Statement (A) notes that the Congress won a significant majority in the Constituent Assembly elections of 1946. This dominance in the Assembly likely led to the Muslim League’s decision to abstain from joining the government, as mentioned in statement (B). The fear of being outvoted and sidelined in the decision-making process due to the Congress’s majority can be seen as the reason behind the Muslim League’s non-participation. Hence, (A) explains why (B) occurred.
5. (A) The Muslim League asked Wavell, the Viceroy, to constitute the Interim Government in 1946.
(B) The Muslim League kept itself out of the Interim Government.
(a) (B) contradicts (A)
(b) (B) is the reason for (A)
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
(d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Answer: (a) (B) contradicts (A)
Explanation: Statement (A) suggests that the Muslim League was actively seeking to form an Interim Government by asking Viceroy Wavell to constitute it. However, statement (B) then states that the Muslim League chose not to participate in the very government it sought to establish. These two actions are contradictory because one cannot both ask for the formation of a government and then refuse to join it. Therefore, (B) contradicts (A).
Short Answer Questions
1. State two important reasons that prompted the British to withdraw from India.
Answer:
- The British could no longer rely on Indians for its civil administration or on the armed forces for suppression of the National Movement. The INA had shown that patriotic ideas had entered the ranks of the Indian army, the chief instrument of British rule in India.
- The Government of Britain was economically and militarily shattered after World War II. It would take Britain years to rehabilitate itself.
2. How did the outcome of the Second World War help India’s demand for self-government?
Answer:
- The World War changed the balance of power in the world. The United States of America and the Soviet Union emerged from the War as the two big powers. Both supported India’s demand for freedom.
- There was a change of government in Britain. The Conservatives were replaced by the Labour Party, many of them supported the Congress demands.
3. What was the implication of the Group ‘B’ States proposed by the Cabinet Mission Plan?
Answer: Group B was to include three Muslim majority provinces, viz. (i) Punjab; (ii) North West Frontier Province (NWFP); and (iii) Sind. This was significant because it grouped the Muslim-majority provinces together, which the Muslim League interpreted as a step towards the eventual formation of Pakistan.
4. What was mentioned in the Cabinet Mission Plan regarding Provincial Autonomy?
Answer: The Provinces would enjoy full autonomy for all subjects other than the Union Subjects.
5. What arguments did the Cabinet Mission give to reject Jinnah’s proposal of Pakistan?
Answer:
- The establishment of Pakistan would not solve the problem of communal minorities because the number of Muslims in the remaining part of British India and the number of non-Muslims in Pakistan would be sizeable.
- There was no justification for including within Pakistan, the non-Muslim districts of Bengal, Assam and the Punjab.
- The armed forces, transportation as well as the postal and telegraph system had been built for India as a whole and the partition would create many problems.
- The Princely States would find it difficult to decide which Union to join.
- The two halves of the proposed Pakistan State would be separated by some seven hundred miles and interaction between them would be difficult.
6. What was said in the Cabinet Mission Plan about the division of power between the Federal Government and the Provinces?
Answer: The Union Government (Central Government) should deal with the following subjects: (i) Foreign Affairs; (ii) Defence; and (iii) Communication. The Union Government should have the power to raise the finances required for the above-mentioned subjects. The Provinces would enjoy full autonomy for all subjects other than the Union subjects.
7. What was the reaction of the Congress to the Cabinet Mission Plan?
Answer: The Congress accepted the proposals with reservations. It accepted only that part of the scheme which dealt with the Constitution making. It considered the Constituent Assembly as a sovereign body for drafting the Constitution. The Congress wanted the grouping of the Provinces as optional and not compulsory. This was important in view of the fact that Assam in the proposed Group C had a Congress government at that time.
8. Who was elected as the President of the Constituent Assembly in 1946? Name the last Viceroy of India. State one of his proposals with regard to the Princely States.
Answer: Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected President of the Constituent Assembly in 1946. The last Viceroy of India was Lord Mountbatten. One of his proposals with regard to the Princely States was that the treaties with them would come to an end, and they would be free to associate themselves with either of the Dominions or to remain independent.
9. What was the most important but tragic provision of the Mountbatten Plan? To whom was the power to be transferred according to the Mountbatten Plan?
Answer: The most important but tragic provision of the Mountbatten Plan was the partition of India into two Dominions, India and Pakistan. According to the Mountbatten Plan, the power was to be transferred to the two new Dominions, India and Pakistan.
10. Mention any two reasons why the Congress finally accepted the Partition of India.
Answer:
- The large-scale communal riots that engulfed the whole country convinced all that the only solution to the communal problem lay in the Partition of India.
- The leaders felt that further delay in the transfer of power could find India in the midst of a Civil War.
11. Mention any two provisions of the Indian Independence Act, 1947.
Answer:
- Two independent Dominions, India and Pakistan, were to be created from August 15, 1947.
- The Princely States would become independent, and all the powers exercised by the British authority were to be terminated.
12. What did the Indian Independence Act 1947 state about: (i) Bengal and Punjab; (ii) North West Frontier Province; and (iii) Sylhet District of Assam?
Answer:
- (i) Bengal and Punjab: Both Bengal and Punjab would be divided if so desired by the people. The Provincial Assemblies of the two parts would meet separately, representing Hindu majority districts and Muslim majority districts, and would decide through a majority vote whether they wanted the division of the province or not.
- (ii) North West Frontier Province: A plebiscite would be held in North West Frontier Province to determine whether they would like to join Pakistan or India.
- (iii) Sylhet District of Assam: A plebiscite would be held in Sylhet district (a Muslim majority area) in East Bengal to determine whether it would join Pakistan or remain in Assam.
13. Name the first Governor-General of independent India and the first Indian Governor-General of India.
Answer: The first Governor-General of independent India was Lord Mountbatten. The first Indian Governor-General of India was C. Rajagopalachari.
Structured Questions
1. The Cabinet Mission Plan proposed a two-tiered federal union of British Provinces and Princely States. With reference to this describe the following:
(a) Name the persons who constituted the Cabinet Mission. What was the purpose of sending the Cabinet Mission to India in 1946?
Answer: The persons who constituted the Cabinet Mission were Pethic Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander. The purpose of sending the Cabinet Mission to India in 1946 was to facilitate the process of transfer of power from the British government to Indian leadership and to help the Indian leaders decide the form of government that would suit them after the transfer of power.
(b) The federal structure proposed by the Cabinet Mission Plan.
Answer: The Cabinet Mission proposed a federal union consisting of British Provinces and Princely States. The Union Government would deal with three central subjects: Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Communications. The Provinces would enjoy full autonomy for all subjects other than the Union Subjects. The Provinces were grouped into three sections: Group A (Hindu majority provinces), Group B (Muslim majority provinces), and Group C (a mix of Hindu and Muslim majority provinces).
(c) The option given to the Princely States.
Answer: The Princely States were given the option to either join the new Indian Union or remain independent. They could decide their future association based on their preferences.
2. The 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.
Answer: The three proposals of the Cabinet Mission were:
- The creation of a federal union consisting of British Provinces and Princely States, where the Union Government would handle foreign affairs, defence, and communications.
- The grouping of provinces into three sections (Group A, Group B, and Group C) based on religious majorities.
- The establishment of a Constituent Assembly to frame the new Constitution of India.
(b) The reasons for the Muslim League’s acceptance and later rejection of the Cabinet Mission Plan.
Answer: The Muslim League initially accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan because it felt that the grouping of Muslim majority provinces in Group B would eventually lead to the creation of Pakistan. However, it later rejected the plan when the Congress party insisted on making the grouping of provinces optional rather than mandatory, which the League feared would undermine its goal of achieving a separate Muslim state.
(c) Why did the Congress refuse to participate in the formation of the Interim Government under the Cabinet Mission Plan?
Answer: The Congress refused to participate in the formation of the Interim Government under the Cabinet Mission Plan because it was dissatisfied with the limited powers granted to the Interim Government and the principle of parity with the Muslim League, which they found unacceptable. The Congress also objected to the League’s claim that it alone had the right to nominate all the Muslim members to the Executive Council.
3. Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:
“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny and now the time comes, when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom… It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still large cause of humanity.” —Tryst with Destiny Speech by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
(a) What happened at the stroke of midnight hour? Which unending quest is Jawaharlal Nehru talking about in the excerpt? Who all strived to end this quest?
Answer: At the stroke of midnight hour, India gained independence from British rule on August 15, 1947. Jawaharlal Nehru is talking about the unending quest for freedom and the struggle for independence from colonial rule. The leaders and people of India, including freedom fighters and nationalists, strived to end this quest.
(b) Where and when did Jawaharlal Nehru make this historic speech? Name any two famous dignitaries present there?
Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru made this historic speech in the Constituent Assembly in New Delhi on the midnight of August 14-15, 1947. Two famous dignitaries present there were Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Lord Mountbatten.
(c) Name the British Act that led to Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech. State three features of this Act.
Answer: The British Act that led to Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech was the Indian Independence Act of 1947. Three features of this Act were:
- The Act provided for the partition of India and the creation of two independent Dominions, India and Pakistan, from August 15, 1947.
- The Act terminated British rule in India and ended the jurisdiction of the British Parliament over Indian affairs.
- The Princely States were given the option to join either of the two new Dominions or remain independent.
Picture Study
(a) Identify the person in the picture. State any two features of the Plan devised by him.
Answer: The person in the picture is Lord Mountbatten. The two features of the Plan devised by him are:
- The country would be divided into two Dominions, i.e. India and Pakistan.
- The Princely States would be free to associate themselves with either of the Dominions or to remain independent.
(b) How did he plan to solve the communal problem existing in India?
Answer: He planned to solve the communal problem by proposing the partition of India into two separate Dominions, India and Pakistan, to address the demands of the Muslim League for a separate nation and to alleviate communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims.
(c) Why did the Congress accept the Plan? State three reasons to justify its acceptance.
Answer: The Congress accepted the Plan for the following reasons:
- The large-scale communal riots convinced all that the only solution to the communal problem lay in the Partition of India.
- The League had joined the Interim Government to obstruct and not to cooperate, and the Congress realized it could not have a joint administration with the League.
- Any further continuation of British rule would mean a greater calamity for India, as the British were instigating the rulers of the Indian States to remain independent. Hence, partition was the price for immediate independence.
Thinking Skills
1. A number of Acts were passed by the British to pacify the demands of the Indians relating to the Government of India. But the Indian Independence Act, 1947 is considered as a unique piece of legislation. Why is it so? Give reasons to support your answer.
Answer: The Indian Independence Act, 1947 is considered a unique piece of legislation because it marked the formal end of British rule in India and led to the creation of two independent Dominions—India and Pakistan—on August 15, 1947. Unlike other acts passed by the British Parliament, this act transferred full legislative powers to the newly formed governments of India and Pakistan. It also marked the abolition of the title “Emperor of India” used by the British monarch and ended all British legal authority over India. This act was unique in that it was a peaceful transfer of power through legislation, as opposed to a violent struggle or war for independence.
2. Do you think that the Congress had no alternative but to accept the Mountbatten Plan? Support your answer with examples.
Answer: Yes, the Congress had no alternative but to accept the Mountbatten Plan due to several compelling reasons. The large-scale communal riots that engulfed the whole country convinced the Congress leaders that the only solution to the communal problem lay in the partition of India. Sardar Patel famously remarked that refusal of the demand for Pakistan would amount to dividing the country into multiple Pakistans. The experience of working with the Muslim League in the Interim Government had also convinced the Congress that it could not have a joint administration with the League, which had joined the government to obstruct rather than to cooperate. Additionally, the British were instigating the rulers of the Indian States to remain independent, and any further delay in the transfer of power could have resulted in a civil war. Therefore, the Congress leaders felt that partition, though tragic, was the price for immediate independence and a strong central authority in India.
Extra/additional MCQs
1. When did the Second World War end?
A. April 1945
B. October 1943
C. February 1946
D. July 1946
Answer: A. April 1945
28. Who was the British Prime Minister who announced the transfer of power to India?
A. Winston Churchill
B. Clement Attlee
C. Neville Chamberlain
D. Harold Macmillan
Answer: B. Clement Attlee
Extra/additional questions and answers
1. Who succeeded Lord Linlithgow as Viceroy in 1943?
Answer: Lord Wavell.
29. How did the Indian leaders respond to the Mountbatten Plan, and what were their reasons for accepting it?
Answer: The Indian leaders had mixed reactions to the Mountbatten Plan. The nationalists deplored the partition, but the Congress ultimately accepted the plan because they felt they had no other alternative. Several reasons contributed to their acceptance: the large-scale communal riots convinced them that partition was the only solution to the communal problem; the Muslim League’s participation in the Interim Government was seen as obstructive; a smaller India with a strong central authority was deemed preferable to a larger, more fragmented state; and any delay in the transfer of power could have led to civil war. Additionally, partition was seen as a way to rid the future Constitution of separate electorates and undemocratic procedures, paving the way for a truly secular and democratic India.
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger. He manages Online Free Notes and reads Victorian literature. His favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and he hopes to travel the world. Get in touch with him by sending him a friend request.
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