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Questions and Answers
Who were the three members of the British cabinet that formed the team of the Cabinet Mission?
What was the key feature of the Cabinet Mission Plan in terms of governance?
Who among the following leaders wanted a separate homeland for Muslims?
What was the outcome of the last-minute negotiations between Nehru, Jinnah, and Viceroy Wavell in September 1946?
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What significant event happened on August 15, 1947?
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What was the main aim of the Cabinet Mission Plan proposed by Great Britain in March 1946?
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In what way did the Cabinet Mission Plan impact subsequent developments in India's history?
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Which event led to widespread imprisonments and crackdowns on the opposition in India during World War II?
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Who considered it essential to resolve India's constitutional problems before dealing with other postwar concerns?
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Why did public opinion shift towards self-government for India during World War II?
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Who headed the mission known as the 'Cabinet Mission'?
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What did the Quit India Resolution declare?
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Study Notes
Cabinet Mission Plan: A Pivotal Moment in India's Struggle for Independence
In the complex tapestry of events leading up to India’s freedom from British colonial rule, one pivotal moment stands out—the Cabinet Mission Plan proposed by Great Britain in March 1946. This plan aimed to address the demands of the Indian nationalist movement while maintaining the integrity of India as a single nation. To understand its significance fully, let's explore how it related to the broader context of the Indian independence struggle.
Political Climate Prior to the Cabinet Mission
By World War II, public opinion both within and outside of India had shifted dramatically towards self-government for the country. In August 1940, leaders of the Indian National Congress adopted the Quit India Resolution declaring their desire for immediate independence. However, this led to widespread imprisonments and harsh crackdowns on the opposition, with Mahatma Gandhi and many other prominent figures being detained. As World War II drew to a close, pressure mounted for resolving India's political future.
British Prime Minister Clement Attlee formed a Labour government in July 1945. He considered it essential to resolve India's constitutional problems before dealing with other postwar concerns. The newly appointed Secretary of State for India, Lord Pethick Lawrence, headed the mission known as the 'Cabinet Mission'. The team consisted of three members of the British cabinet: Attorney General Sir Stafford Cripps, Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin, and Lord Pethick Lawrence himself.
Composition and Objective of the Cabinet Mission Plan
The Cabinet Mission arrived in New Delhi on March 25th, 1946, to negotiate a solution that would allow India to govern itself while retaining its unity. They presented their proposals on June 16th, 1946. These proposals outlined a new system called grouping: creating territorial groups based upon linguistic, religious, economic, administrative, or geographical considerations. Each grouping would have substantial autonomy yet remain part of the larger Indian union. Additionally, the plan recommended an interim government composed of Indians such as Nehru, Patel, and Jinnah to administer these initial stages until final elections could take place.
Reactions and Consequences
Not all parties were satisfied with the Cabinet Mission Plan. Muslim League leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted Pakistan—a separate homeland for Muslims—while others like Subhas Chandra Bose rejected any compromise arrangement altogether. Despite these objections, the proposal was widely seen as a positive step forward for many Indians who desired some degree of self-rule.
Political tensions escalated further following the failure of last minute negotiations between Jawarhalal Nehru, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, and Viceroy Wavell in September 1946. Violent communal riots erupted across the country during this time, leading to mass killings and displacement. Ultimately, the British Government decided to partition India into two sovereign states, India and Pakistan, in order to end the conflict and grant self-determination to each community, effective August 15, 1947. While the Cabinet Mission Plan did not fulfill its original aim of preserving the whole of undivided India as a united entity, it laid crucial groundwork and set important precedents for subsequent developments in India's history.
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Description
Delve into the significance of the Cabinet Mission Plan in the context of India's fight for independence from British colonial rule. Explore the political climate preceding the plan, its composition and objectives, reactions to it, and the consequential partition of India and Pakistan in 1947.
