Independence and the Partition of India Flashcards
(34 cards)
When did PM Attlee make the announcement in the House of Commons about British quitting India?
20th February, 1947
What was the official date on which the British would quit India?
30th June, 1948
Who would be replacing Lord Wavell?
Lord Mountbatten
What did the British say would happen if the Muslim League did not join the Constituent Assembly?
The Government would have to consider to whom the powers of the Central Government should be handed over on due date, whether as a whole to some form of Central Government or in some areas to the existing Provincial Governments
When did Lord Mountbatten assume office as Viceroy?
24 March, 1947
What was the role of Lord Mountbatten?
He had been sent with the definite object of transferring power to India. He was to advise the Government in England as to which of the two Plans should be chosen - the one which preserved the unity of India, but gave the maximum powers to the Provinces, or the other which divided India into two Independent States
What was Lord Mountbatten convinced of?
That India was to be partitioned. Transfer of power to Indians could only be on the basis of partition of the country
When did Mountbatten announce his plan?
3 June
What were the main points of Mountbatten’s plan?
- Partition of Bengal and Punjab
- The existing Constituent Assembly would continue to work, but the Constitution framed by it would not apply to Pakistan
- Sindh
- NWFP
- District of Sylhet
- The Princely States
- A Boundary Commission
- Relations between the two new Dominions
- Transfer of Power before the end of 1947
On what condition would the Partition of Bengal and Punjab take place?
Provided that the Legislative Assemblies of the two Provinces decided in favour of the Partition
What would happen to Sindh?
The Legislative Assembly of Sindh was to take its own decision at a special meeting
What would happen to NWFP?
A referendum was to be held to decide the future of the Province?
What would happen to the District of Sylhet?
The Muslim-majority district of Sylhet was to decide by referendum whether it would join East Bengal or stay in Assam
What would happen to the Princely States?
The treaties with them would come to an end. They would be free to associate themselves with either of the Dominions or to remain independent
What was the Boundary Commission?
The Plan provided for the creation of a Boundary Commission to settle the boundaries of the two dominions in case Partition was decided upon
Relations between the two Dominions?
It was for the two Dominions to decide what relations they would have with the British Commonwealth and with each other
Transfer of power?
Would not take place in June 1948, but much earlier than that
When did the Council of the Muslim League accept the Mountbatten Plan?
10 June
When did the All-India Congress Committee accept the Mountbatten Plan?
15 June, 1947
Why did Congress accept the Mountbatten Plan?
- Communal riots had taken a serious turn as a result of the ‘Direct Action’ of the Muslim League
- The League had joined the Interim Government to obstruct and not to cooperate
- The only alternative to Partition was a Federation with a Weak Centre
- The leaders felt that Partition would rid the Constitution of Separate Electorates and other undemocratic procedures
- The leaders felt that further delay in the transfer of power could find India in the midst of a Civil War
Which act was passed by the British Parliament on 15 July 1947?
Indian Independence Bill
When did the Indian Independence Bill receive Royal Assent?
July 18
What did the Indian IndependenceAct consist of?
Less than 20 Sections and 3 Schedules
Name the main provisions of the Indian Independence Act.
- Two New Dominions
- Each Dominion to have a Governor-General
- Constituent Assemblies would serve as Central Legislatures
- Princely States would become Independent
- The Abolition of the Office of the Secretary of State
- Division of the Indian Army and the Sharing of Assets
- Safeguarding the Interests of Existing Officers
