Cabinet Mission Plan: India's Independence Struggle
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Questions and Answers

Who were the three members of the British cabinet that formed the team of the Cabinet Mission?

  • Sir Stafford Cripps, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin
  • Sir Stafford Cripps, Ernest Bevin, and Lord Pethick Lawrence (correct)
  • Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, and Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill
  • Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, and Subhas Chandra Bose
  • What was the key feature of the Cabinet Mission Plan in terms of governance?

  • Handing over governance to the British Parliament
  • Creating territorial groups based on various factors (correct)
  • Implementing direct British rule
  • Establishing a monarchy
  • Who among the following leaders wanted a separate homeland for Muslims?

  • Muhammad Ali Jinnah (correct)
  • Mahatma Gandhi
  • Jawaharlal Nehru
  • Subhas Chandra Bose
  • What was the outcome of the last-minute negotiations between Nehru, Jinnah, and Viceroy Wavell in September 1946?

    <p>Communal riots erupted</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant event happened on August 15, 1947?

    <p>Partition of India into two sovereign states</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main aim of the Cabinet Mission Plan proposed by Great Britain in March 1946?

    <p>To address the demands of the Indian nationalist movement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what way did the Cabinet Mission Plan impact subsequent developments in India's history?

    <p>It set important precedents for future events</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which event led to widespread imprisonments and crackdowns on the opposition in India during World War II?

    <p>The adoption of the Quit India Resolution by Indian National Congress</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who considered it essential to resolve India's constitutional problems before dealing with other postwar concerns?

    <p>Clement Attlee</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why did public opinion shift towards self-government for India during World War II?

    <p>Because of the desire for immediate independence expressed by leaders</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who headed the mission known as the 'Cabinet Mission'?

    <p>Lord Pethick Lawrence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Quit India Resolution declare?

    <p>Desire for immediate independence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    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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    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.

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