Freedom and Partition of India

FREEDOM & PARTITION OF INDIA

Attlee's Announcement: (Setting the time limit for British Withdrawl)

• Year: 20th February 1947

• As per the announcement, the British would withdraw from India by 30th June 1948.

• Wavell would be replaced by Lord Mountbatten as Viceroy.

• The power could be transferred to more than one authority if the Constituent Assembly did not become fully representative, i.e. if the Muslim majority provinces did not join the constituent assembly.

Mountbatten Plan:

• Year: 3rd June 1947

• It declared that the transfer of power would take place by 15th August on the basis of dominion status to two successor states, India & Pakistan if the Legislative Assemblies of Bengal & Punjab voted in favor of partition.

• It also provided for a referendum in the NWFP & Sylhet (Assam), and for setting up of a Boundary Commission.

• The Indian States would be free to join any dominion they liked, India or Pakistan.

Indian Independence Act, 1947:

• Year: 18th July 1947

• The Act was passed by the Labour government of Clement Attlee after the Indian leaders agreed on the Mountbatten Plan, the last Plan for Independence.

• The Bill was introduced with the objective of transferring power to the people of India & received Royal assent on 18th July 1947.

Among other things, the Act stated the following:

• Pending of the adoption of a new constitution.

• As from 15th August 1947, two independent Dominions shall be set up in India, to be known respectively as India & Pakistan.

• The boundaries between the two dominions shall be determined by Boundary Commission headed by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, hence also known as Radcliffe Commissions. 

• The existing Constituent Assembly of each Dominion would function as Dominion Legislature.

• Each Dominion shall be governed by the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935.

• For each of the new dominion, a new Governor-General was to be appointed by the British-Crown. Further, the same person could be Governor-General of both (Mountbatten became the first Governor-General of free India & Jinnah the first Governor-General of Pakistan).

• The Office of the Secretary of State was abolished & his work was to be taken over by the Secretary of Commonwealth Affairs. 

• The words 'Emperor of India' & 'Indian Emperor' were dropped from the Royal style & titles.

Independence Day:

• Year: 15th August 1947

• India woke up to the dual reality of Independence & Partition.

• Jawaharlal Nehru was sworn in as the first Prime Minister of free India.

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel became the Home Minister.

• Thus, was a born a new nation, ending nearly 200 years of British rule in India.

Fig: Map of Partition of India