Freedom and Partition (1939-1947)

● Nationalist Response in the Wake of World War II

● Quit India Movement, Demand for Pakistan, and the INA

● Post-War National Scenario

● Independence with Partition

Chapter 22

Nationalist Response in the Wake of World War II

Congress Crisis on Method of Struggle

In the aftermath of the civil disobedience movement, there was some disarray within the Congress. In Gandhi’s perception there was rising corruption and indiscipline in the organisation. He was also unhappy with the rivalries and petty squabbles among the Congress leaders. There were issues of bogus membership and unethical means employed in trying to getting into the Congress committees and controlling them. Gandhi firmly believed that the Congress should first put its house in order before the movement could again be launched;

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besides, he also felt the masses were not in the mood for a struggle. There were others who felt that the struggle should continue.

Haripura and Tripuri Sessions: Subhash Bose’s Views Haripura 1939: Subhash Wins but Congress Faces Internal Strife Tripuri Means and Ends Form of Government Militarism Ideas on Economy Religion Caste and Untouchability Women Education Second World War and Nationalistic Response Congress Offer to Viceroy CWC Meeting at Wardha Government Attitude and Congress Ministries’ Resignation Government’s Hidden Agenda Congress Ministries Decide to Resign Debate on the Question of Immediate Mass Satyagraha Pakistan Resolution—Lahore (March 1940)August Offer Responses Evaluation Individual Satyagraha Gandhi Designates Nehru as his Successor Cripps Mission Why Cripps Mission was Sent Main Proposals Why Cripps Mission Failed Summary Why Start a Struggle Now The ‘Quit India’ Resolution Gandhi’s General Instructions to Different Sections Spread of the Movement Public on Rampage Underground Activity Parallel Governments Extent of Mass Participation Government Repression Estimate Gandhi Fasts Famine of 1943 Rajagopalachari Formula The Formula Objections Desai-Liaqat Pact Wavell Plan Why the Government was Keen on a Solution Now The Plan Muslim League’s Stand Congress Stand Wavell’s Mistake The Indian National Army and Subhash Bose Origin and First Phase of the Indian National Army Summary Change in Government’s Attitude Congress Election Campaign and INA Trials Congress Support for INA Prisoners The INA Agitation—A Landmark on Many Counts Three Upsurges—Winter of 1945-46 Three-Stage Pattern Stage I. When a Group Defies Authority and is Repressed Stage II. When the City People Join In Stage III. When People in Other Parts of the Country Express Sympathy and Solidarity Evaluation of Potential and Impact of the Three Upsurges Congress Strategy Election Results Performance of the Congress Muslim League’s Performance Significant Features of Elections The Cabinet Mission Why British Withdrawal Seemed Imminent Now On the Eve of Cabinet Mission Plan Cabinet Mission Arrives Cabinet Mission Plan—Main Points Different Interpretations of the Grouping Clause Main Objections Acceptance and Rejection Communal Holocaust and the Interim Government Changed Government Priorities Interim Government 14 Ministers of Interim Government (September 2, 1946–August 15, 1947)14. Jogendra Nath Mandal (Muslim League): Law Birth and Spread of Communalism in India Characteristic Features of Indian Communalism Socio-economic Reasons British Policy of Divide and Rule Communalism in History Writing Side-effects of Militant Nationalism Communal Reaction by Majority Community Evolution of the Two-Nation Theory Summary Main Points of Attlee’s Statement Why a Date Fixed by Government for Withdrawal Congress Stand Independence and Partition Mountbatten as the Viceroy Mountbatten Plan, June 3, 1947 Main Points Why Congress Accepted Dominion Status Rationale for an Early Date (August 15, 1947)Indian Independence Act Problems of Early Withdrawal Integration of States Inevitability of Partition Why Congress Accepted Partition Gandhi’s Helplessness Summary