The Transfer of Power to Indians, 1947

 

The Transfer of Power to Indians, 1947

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The Indian subcontinent's fate was up for grabs when Indian leaders convened at Viceroy Lord Mountbatten's residence in Delhi on June 2, 1947. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Acharya Kripalani, and Vallabh Bhai Patel represented the Indian National Congress in the meeting with the Viceroy, while Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Abdur Rab Nishtar, and Liaquat Ali Khan represented the Muslim League (ML). Sardar 'Baldev Singh represented the Sikhs'. The viceroy presented his proposed division plan to them. These leaders met at the Viceroy's House on the month June 3, 1947, and while the conference went on till the following day, 'the representatives of the Sikhs, Muslim League (ML), and INC' informed Viceroy Lord Mountbatten that their ideas had been accepted. Lord Mountbatten The viceroy declared the June 3, 1947, plan of the British administration.

1. On August 15, 1947, the British would hand over control to one or both of the successor authorities, depending on the situation.

2. There are two assemblies that would be constituted.

3. The Bengal and the Punjab would be split if their legislative assemblies made the decision to do so, and a referendum would be held in the North West Frontier Provinces (NWFP) to determine whether or not those provinces would join the current group of representatives from the region.

On August 15, 1947, we Indians were free at last. But the sorrow of Partition came with independence. It struck at the very core of the populace, dividing the subcontinent's resources, administration, economics, and military in the rivalry between the two halves. Millions of people died in Punjab, severing families, friends, and ties, and shattering houses in the communal bloodbath. The massacres in Punjab had a role in the deterioration of ties between Pakistan and India. The recently formed states quickly turned into 'enemy' states. It is essential to note that the politics of the Province played a major part in the communal spirit that existed among various groups of 'Punjabis'.

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Some Aspects of the Political Developments in Punjab, 1945-47

 

Some Aspects of the Political Developments in Punjab, 1945-47

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The period 1945-47, in the Politics of Punjab witnessed a dramatic change. Punjab was one of the badly affected provinces during this period.  It may be argued that, up until the early 1940s, concepts from the Hindu, Muslim, or Sikh populations were not as important in Punjab as ‘biradari’ and other local identities. However, communalism gained significant traction in the decades before. By 1946, Punjab had undergone a transformation, largely due to the influence of politics in escalating interfaith strife and dividing the region's religious communities. The Muslim League (ML) played a major part in inciting communal unrest in Punjab through its aggressive identification of the Muslim population as a whole, its conviction that Pakistan offered a better alternative, and its preaching that the Muslims will be enslaved under the rule of Hindus. This approach was furthered by the Muslim League's electoral campaign in the year of 1945 to 1946, which focused on the Pakistan issue. The Muslim League (ML) was effective in persuading the populace of Pakistan's unavoidable establishment, without providing a clear description of what Pakistan meant for Muslims. The Pakistan movement first gained traction in the provinces of Uttar Pradesh and other areas where the Muslims have been a numerical minority rather than in the Muslim majority provinces like Punjab or the North West Frontier Provinces, which were supposed to make up the state of Pakistan. Muslims' collective consciousness was further aggravated by the cry of ‘Islam in Danger’ and the call for ‘Direct Action’ in the name of ‘Allah’. The discussions surrounding the Cabinet Mission's plan to establish an interim government and constituent assembly widened the chasm between Punjab's various groups. The changing perspectives on these matters held by Muslims, Sikhs, and Hindus demonstrated the close connections that had been made between public opinion and politics. This process was accelerated by Jinnah's call for ‘Direct Action,’ as well as the progressive formation of "Private Armies" by various political parties and volunteer groups like the ‘Akalis’, the Muslim National Guards, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). It was only a matter of time until Punjab's civil war broke out.

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Formation of the Interim Government in India, 1946

 

Formation of the Interim Government in India, 1946

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On the month of September 2, 1946, Jawahar Lal Nehru became the leader of the Interim Government following the Muslim League's decision to withdraw from it. The Punjab Coalition Government's Minister of Development, Sardar Baldev Singh, assumed responsibility for defense. On October 26, 1946, the Muslim League became a part of the Interim Government. At Jinnah's suggestion, Abdur Rab Nishtar, Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Liaqat Ali Khan, Ismail Ibrahim Chundrigar, and Joginder Nath Mandal were inaugurated as the Interim Government members and assigned the respective ministries of finance, trade, air, health, and post. The plan for an Interim Government was judged unfeasible. It became evident that the Muslim League (ML) and no other government could operate, and that the division of India would be the only viable option. The Muslim and Hindu populations stood against one another outside the government. The nation was in danger of breaking out into civil war. In the meantime, things in Punjab had significantly gotten worse. This could be attributed in large part to the communal instability in other regions of the nation. On November 14, 1946, Jinnah stated in Delhi that the partition of British India into Pakistan & Hindustan, with separate constituent bodies drafting their respective constitutions, was the best way to resolve the Indian issue. Following Jinnah's proclamation, Punjab saw a sharp deterioration in conditions between communities. When Lord Attlee announced on Feb 20, 1947, that he “intended to ‘transfer authority’ to responsible Indian hands by the month of June 1948, the Muslim League” felt more empowered to press for the recognition of its demand for Pakistan.

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Importance of the Shimla Conference

 

Importance of the Shimla Conference

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Lord Wavell, the Viceroy of India (October 1943 to March 1947) held the Shimla Conference on June 25 - July 14, 1945. He extended an invitation to prominent Indian politicians to confer with him in Shimla. In order to ensure the smooth operation of the government and a peaceful "Transfer of Power," he sought to form an Executive Council of the leaders of India's major political parties at the time of Second World War. He sought to establish an Interim Government and reassure the Indians that the British government planned to offer them freedom following Second World War, based on the ideas of the 'Cripps Proposal.' 22 leaders from various political organizations in India, like the INC (Indian National Congress) and the Muslim League, attended this summit. Muhammad Ali Jinnah's claim to represent the entire Muslim community was challenged by Punjab, a fact that the Shimla Conference brought to light. The nomination of the Muslim League and Unionist Muslims to the Viceroy's Executive Council was the main topic of contention among the Muslim League Unionists during the conference. Lord Wavell found himself in a tough situation when the ruling Unionist Party of the Punjab has been unable to obtain seats on the projected Executive Council of India. In his suggested approach, he could not avoid the unionists or disregard Punjab as a province. The whole plan was impacted by the Punjab factor. Disagreement between the communities grew even more as an outcome of the British and Muslim League's inability to reach an agreement on an interim government as well as constituent assembly. Because of its geographical, economic, political, social, and religious importance, the province of Punjab had a major influence on the direction that the Central Government of India would take.

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Significance of Provincial Elections in Punjab (1946)

 

Significance of Provincial Elections in Punjab (1946)

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The Muslim League's performance in the 1946 Punjab provincial elections was disastrous politically. Punjab, in Muhammad Ali Jinnah's opinion, held the secret to Pakistan. Pakistan could not have been created until the Muslim League took control of Punjab. Though the Muslim League has been the only significant party in the Punjab legislature, it has been unable to secure an overall majority. It won 75 seats out of an assembly of 175 (Congress-51, Unionists-21, Sikhs-21, Muslim League-75, Communists-0, Others-7 Independents). However, the ministry could not be formed by the Muslim League. Khizr Hyat Khan Tiwana has been invited by Punjab Governor Sir Bertrand Glancy to establish the ministry. Thus, the Indian National Congress, the Sikhs, and the Unionists of Punjab formed a "Coalition Government." The Muslim League now promised to bring complete Muslim authority to Punjab and focused its efforts on overthrowing the newly formed coalition government. The Muslim League's political demand for Pakistan was one of the revolutionary effects of the 1946 elections on the Punjabi communities, which tried to survive by supporting their separate political parties based on religious affiliations. The political landscape sought a significant change in the political attitudes of Muslim and non Muslim parties as a result of these elections, but the political protagonist was unable to make concessions to these shifting interests.

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Direct Action Day or 1946 Calcutta Killings (August 16, 1946)

Direct Action Day or 1946 Calcutta Killings

(August 16, 1946)

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On the month of “July 29, 1946, the Muslim League in Bombay voted a resolution retracting its support for the Cabinet Mission Plan”. In order to achieve Pakistan and end current British servitude, Muhammad Ali Jinnah declared that the Muslim League must abandon constitutional tactics and engage in ‘Direct Action.’ He also hinted at the possibility of future caste Hindu domination. The Muslim League demanded that Muslims return the titles that the British government had conferred upon them in protest of ‘their deep hatred of the attitude of the British.’ On August 16, 1946, the Muslim League issued an order for "Direct Action," or widespread agitation, in Calcutta. This terrible deed claimed the lives of thousands of people. Large-scale massacres of Hindus occurred. Numerous people were executed while the police watched in silence as thousands of people fled their towns in search of safety.

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Some of the sources dealing with Partition of India

 

Some of the sources dealing with Partition of India

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