VisionIAS - Video Classroom Lecture

Modern Indian History Class 01

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS CLASS (01:10 PM)

CR FORMULA (01:20 PM)

The formula was drafted by Raja Ji, called the "inner conscience of Gandhi".
The formula was actually drafted in March 1944.

Provisions of the CR Formula:

It provided for demarcation of Muslim-majority provinces in the east and western part of India.
A plebiscite would be held on the issue of Pakistan in the demarcated Muslim-majority provinces.
If the plebiscite favored Pakistan, there would be no objection from the Congress party in accepting Pakistan.
In the event of Pakistan becoming a reality, there would be joint control between India and Pakistan over defense, currency, and communication systems.
If the plebiscite went against Pakistan, the Muslim League would not raise the issue again.
The Muslim League should give unconditional support for transferring power from England to India.
Jinnah rejected the formula, criticizing it as "moth-eaten, mutilated, and maimed."

Reasons for Jinnah Rejecting the Formula:

Jinnah was not confident of winning the plebiscite.
He knew very well that the majority of Muslims were not for Pakistan, and Pakistan was the demand of only the elite section of Muslim society.
The formula provided for a plebiscite not only for the Muslims but also non-Muslims in the Muslim-majority provinces.
Joint control between India and Pakistan would, in reality, be the control of India only.
For the Muslim League, the idea of Pakistan was a very good bargaining point in the negotiations with the Congress party.
Losing the plebiscite meant the idea of Pakistan would be defeated, and the Muslim League would lose its ideological basis for Pakistan and could not raise the issue again.

GANDHI-JINNAH TALKS (SEPTEMBER 1944) (02:00 PM)

Talks were held between Gandhi and Jinnah.
The talks failed when Jinnah insisted on being recognized as the sole representative of Indian Muslims.

Objections of the Congress Party:

Jinnah was seen as more of a vocal leader than a popular leader.
There were other more popular leaders than Jinnah within the Muslim community.
Accepting Jinnah as the sole representative would undermine the dignity and image of secular-minded nationalist Muslim leaders like Maulana Azad and Ansari within the Congress party.

DESAI-LIAQAT PACT (JANUARY 1945) (02:13 PM)

The Desai-Liaqat Pact was an agreement between Bhula Bhai Desai, leader of the Congress party in the Central Legislative Assembly, and Liaqat Ali Khan, the deputy leader of the Muslim League.

The pact proposed:

I) An interim government at the center with Congress and the Muslim League sharing power equally.
ii) Minority representation of no less than 1/3rd in the provincial legislative assemblies.
However, neither the Congress nor the Muslim League accepted the pact.
World War II had nearly ended on May 8, 1945, when Hitler committed suicide.
The war ended completely when Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan were atom bombed on August 6th and 9th, 1945.

WAVELL PLAN AND SIMLA CONFERENCE (02:20 PM)

On 14th June 1945, Governor-General Wavell announced his plan, and on 25th June, the Simla Conference was held to discuss it.

The Wavell Plan proposed:

Reconstruction of the Executive Council.
Equal representation for all castes, communities, and religions in the Executive Council.
All members of the Executive Council, except the Governor-General, would be Indians.

At the Simla Conference:

Congress was represented by Maulana Azad, the party president.
The Muslim League was represented by Jinnah.
It was proposed to expand the Executive Council with:
5 Hindu members
5 Muslim members
1 Sikh member
1 Untouchable member
1 other minority member
This setup would total 14 members, with the Governor-General as Commander-in-Chief.
The Simla Conference agreed to share portfolios on a parity basis: 5 seats for Congress and 5 seats for the Muslim League.
Congress agreed to divide its 5 portfolios as follows: 2 for Hindus, 1 for Muslims, 1 for backward castes, and 1 for other minorities.
The Muslim League followed a similar division: 2 for Muslims, 1 for Hindus, 1 for backward castes, and 1 for other minorities.
The Muslim League was also granted communal veto power, meaning a bill would not be introduced unless 3/4th of the minority community members gave their consent.
It was agreed that the Muslim League would receive either of the key portfolios: Finance or Home.
The conference failed when Jinnah insisted that Congress should not nominate any Muslim member in its quota of 5 without his consent.

Actual Motives Behind Jinnah’s Stand:

Jinnah reiterated his position that he should be recognized as the sole representative of Muslims.
He aimed to make Congress formally accept this stance.
Jinnah did not want Azad or Ansari to join the cabinet, effectively blocking their entry.
If Congress nominated a Muslim member with Jinnah`s consent, the Muslim League would have 3 members in the Executive Council, leaving Congress with only 2 Muslim members.

AFTER WORLD WAR II (02:50 PM)

After WWII, in July 1945, elections were held in England. Churchill`s Conservative Party lost, and the Labour Party led by Clement Attlee came to power, with Attlee becoming the Prime Minister.
In December 1945, general elections, known as Winter Elections, were held in India.
Congress performed well, forming governments in 8 out of 11 provinces: Assam, UP, Bihar, Odisha, Central Provinces, Madras, Bombay, and NWFP.
At the central level, Congress secured 57 out of 102 seats.
The Muslim League`s performance improved significantly compared to the 1937 elections.
At the provincial level, the Muslim League could form governments in Sindh and Bengal.
The better performance of the Muslim League should not be taken as a mandate for Pakistan, as only 10 percent of the population had the franchise (right to vote).
In January 1946, Prime Minister Attlee announced that an all-party delegation from England`s Parliament would visit India to decide the question of transfer of power.
In February 1946, the all-party delegation visited India and recommended the transfer of power.

BOMBAY NAVAL RATINGS (03:20 PM)

On February 18, 1946, Indian navy officers working in the British Navy went on a riot.
The riots spread to Karachi, Colaba, Kandla, Cochin, and Visakhapatnam.
Reasons for the Riots:
I)After World War II, there was a drastic cut in the salary of Indian military officers, whereas British officers received their salaries without cuts.
ii)Indian military officers faced racial discrimination.
iii)Even after the war, Indian army personnel were stationed in Indonesia without valid reason.
The rioting officers demanded the withdrawal of Indian troops from Indonesia.
The Indian National Army trials inspired emotional nationalism among Indians.
There was a question of national identity for Indians serving in the British army.
The Indian officers refused to obey orders from their superiors.
England’s Union Jack was lowered to half-mast, and the Indian national flag was hoisted.
The rioting officers were appealed to by Sardar Patel, Babu Rajendra Prasad, and Jinnah on February 23.
The riots eventually subsided with the intervention of Indian nationalist leaders on February 23.

Importance of the Bombay Naval Ratings mutiny (03:30 PM)

It was the last instance of protest against colonialism in the freedom struggle.
The event made it clear to the British that their days were numbered in India, as the revolt took place in the army.
Due to the riots, Indian soldiers stationed in Indonesia and Indo-China were withdrawn.

CABINET MISSION PLAN (03:50 PM)

In February 1946, Prime Minister Attlee announced the decision to send a three-member committee called the Cabinet Mission to decide the modalities for transferring power.
The Cabinet Mission consisted of:
Pethick-Lawrence (Secretary of State for India and chairman of the mission)
A.V. Alexander
Sir Stafford Cripps
The Cabinet Mission reached Delhi on March 24, 1946, and announced its recommendations in May 1946.

TOPIC FOR THE NEXT CLASS: CONTINUATION OF THE CABINET MISSION.