Some of the Important informations before the Partition of India

Some of the Important informations before the Partition of India

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Keeping in mind the aspirants of competitive examinations of various levels in the subject of history, Some of the important informations related to the 'Partition of India', are available here without any charge/ free of cost. 

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Shimla Conference 

Viceroy, Lord Wavell held the Shimla Conference on June 25 - July 14, 1945. He invited Indian political leaders to take council with him at Shimla. He wanted to establish an Executive Council of the leaders of the main political parties in India during  the second World War so that smooth functioning of the Government and peaceful Transfer of Power could be achieved. Based on the principles of Cripps Proposal, he wanted to set up an Interim Government and to assure the Indians that the British Government intended to grant them freedom after the second world War. This conference was attended by 22 leaders representing a broad spectrum of Indian political opinion including the Congress and the Muslim League. The Shimla Conference highlighted the importance of Punjab for Jinnah since this was the Province which defied his claim to represent the entire Muslim community. The Muslim League Unionists controversy during the conference focused on the issue of the nomination of the Muslim League and the Unionist Muslims to the Viceroys Executive Council. The ruling, Unionist Party of the Punjab could not secure positions on the proposed Executive Council of India which put Wavell in a difficult position. He could neither ignore Punjab as a Province nor bypass the Unionist in his proposed plan. Punjab factor affected the whole scheme. 

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Elections in Punjab in 1946 

Provincial elections in Punjab in 1946 were political disaster for the Muslim League. According to Jinnah, Punjab was the key to Pakistan. Muslim League needed to get control of Punjab for Creation of Pakistan. The Muslim League could not win overall majority but it was single largest party in the Punjab Assembly. It won 75 seats out of an assembly of 175 (Congress-51, Unionists-21, Sikhs-21, Muslim League-75, Communists-0, Others-7 Independents). But Muslim League was unable to form the ministry. Sir Bertrand Glancy, The Governor of Punjab, invited Khizir Hyat Khan Tiwana to form the ministry. So a Coalition Government was formed comprising of the Unionists, the Sikhs and the Congress. The Muslim League now declared its determination to establish undiluted Muslim rule in Punjab and directed its energies towards overthrowing the new coalition.

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Cabinet Mission Plan (March 24 - June 1946) 

On March 15, 1946, Lord Attlee made a historic announcement in the House of People where the India’s right to self-determination and training of a constitution were conceded. Three Members of the British Cabinet (Sir Pathic Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and AV Alexander) were sent to India, as Cabinet Mission. As per Cabinet Mission Plan, First a provision was made for three groups of provinces to possess their separate constitutions, which it was hoped would retain the political unity of India, Comprising both the British India and the princely states, which would remain incharge only foreign affairs, defence and communication leaving the residuary powers to vested in the Provinces. Secondly, till the new constitution was adopted , there would be an Interim Government of all major political parties.

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