Wavell Plan, Cabinet Mission, Direct Action Day and Interim Government
If two friends keep arguing about the rules of a game, the game never begins. As freedom came near, differences between the Congress and the Muslim League grew over how India’s future should be.
In this phase the British government placed plans for the transfer of power, differences grew and in 1946 an Interim Government was formed.
Key idea 1 : Background and the Wavell Plan — The British used the policy of ‘divide and rule’, making use of religious differences among Indians; the decisions on separate electorates in 1909 and 1932 are examples. In 1945 Viceroy Wavell called a conference at Simla and placed a plan for governing with Indian leaders, but the Congress and the Muslim League could not agree.
Key idea 2 : The Cabinet Mission — In 1946 the British cabinet sent three ministers, Pethick-Lawrence, Stafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander, to India. They proposed keeping India as a federation, grouping provinces and forming a Constituent Assembly. Both the Congress and the Muslim League accepted it in principle, but a dispute arose over compulsory groups and the League withdrew its consent.
Key idea 3 : Direct Action Day and the Interim Government — The Muslim League called a general strike as ‘Direct Action Day’ on 16 August 1946. On that day a major communal riot took place in Calcutta and thousands of people died. In September 1946 an Interim Government was formed under Jawaharlal Nehru and later the Muslim League also joined it.
- Easy : What did the Cabinet Mission suggest? — A federation, groups of provinces and a Constituent Assembly.
- Medium : On which day was Direct Action Day? — 16 August 1946.
- Exam-type : Who headed the Interim Government? — Jawaharlal Nehru.
In the figure: Wavell Plan, Cabinet Mission, 16 August 1946 and the Interim Government — steps before independence.
What happened before Direct Action Day? Both the Congress and the League had accepted the Cabinet Mission plan in principle. But after one speech of Nehru it seemed that the groups of provinces would not be compulsory, and on 29 July 1946 the Muslim League withdrew its consent. It called a general strike for 16 August.
What happened after Direct Action Day? Riots followed in Calcutta over the next few days. Within three days thousands died and about a hundred thousand were left homeless; historians differ on the number who died. After this event distrust between the two communities grew and the possibility of partition came closer.
1945 = Wavell; 1946 = Cabinet Mission, 16 August, Interim Government (September).
The loss in the Calcutta riots was suffered by both communities; it is wrong to blame one community and the number of deaths is not certain.
Memory clue: Remember ‘45-46’ — Wavell once, Cabinet Mission and Interim Government the next year. Memory clue: Wavell = 45, all the rest = 46.
Spot the difference
| Plan / event | Year | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| Wavell Plan | 1945 | Simla Conference |
| Cabinet Mission | 1946 | Federation, Constituent Assembly |
| Interim Government | 1946 | Under Nehru |
Practice questions
- 1What is ‘divide and rule’?
- 2Which conference was held in the Wavell Plan?
- 3Which three ministers were in the Cabinet Mission?
- 4On which point was there a dispute in the Cabinet Mission plan?
- 5What happened on 16 August 1946?
- 6When and under whose leadership was the Interim Government formed?
- 7What was the result of the Muslim League withdrawing its consent?
- 8What changed in the country after the Calcutta riots?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The policy of ruling by creating splits among people, using religious differences.
- 2The Simla Conference.
- 3Pethick-Lawrence, Stafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander.
- 4On compulsory groups of provinces.
- 5The Muslim League called a general strike and a major communal riot took place in Calcutta.
- 6In September 1946 under Jawaharlal Nehru.
- 7A general strike was called for 16 August.
- 8Distrust between the two communities grew and the possibility of partition came closer.
Mountbatten Plan, Indian Independence Act and 15 August 1947
If an exam date suddenly comes close there is little time to prepare and mistakes can happen. The British gave very little time to divide India, and the consequences were very large.
In 1947 the British government placed a plan for the transfer of power; under it two independent countries, India and Pakistan, came into being on 15 August 1947.
Key idea 1 : The Mountbatten Plan — On 20 February 1947 British Prime Minister Attlee announced that power would be handed over to India by June 1948 and sent Lord Mountbatten as Viceroy. On 3 June 1947 Mountbatten announced his plan; under it the country would be partitioned and the date of transfer was brought forward to 15 August 1947.
Key idea 2 : The Indian Independence Act and 15 August — On 18 July 1947 the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act. Under it India and Pakistan became two independent countries; Pakistan on 14 August and India on 15 August 1947. Jawaharlal Nehru became India’s first Prime Minister and the princely states were free to decide which country to join.
Key idea 3 : Effects of partition and the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi — Partition forced millions of people to leave their homes and riots took place in many places. Mahatma Gandhi travelled through riot-hit areas for peace. On 30 January 1948, while going for prayers at Birla House in Delhi, he was shot by Nathuram Godse and died.
- Easy : Which date was fixed for the transfer of power? — 15 August 1947.
- Medium : When was the Indian Independence Act passed? — On 18 July 1947.
- Exam-type : When was Gandhiji assassinated? — On 30 January 1948.
In the figure: Attlee’s announcement, Mountbatten Plan, Independence Act and 15 August 1947 — the chain leading to independence.
What happened before the drawing of the boundary? On 20 February 1947 Attlee said power would be handed over by June 1948. But Mountbatten brought the date forward and after his plan of 3 June 1947 the date of 15 August 1947 was fixed. A lawyer, Cyril Radcliffe, was appointed to draw the boundary lines; he had never been to India before and arrived on 8 July 1947, so he had about five weeks.
What happened after the drawing of the boundary? Radcliffe’s awards were ready around 12 August but were published on 17 August 1947 — two days after independence. He refused to take his fee and left India on 18 August.
What happened before the midnight of independence? From 13 August 1947 Gandhiji stayed in Hydari Manzil in the Beliaghata area of Calcutta. On 14 August he fasted for 24 hours and appealed for peace at a prayer meeting.
What happened after the midnight of independence? At the midnight when Nehru gave his ‘tryst with destiny’ speech in Delhi, Gandhiji was not in Delhi but in Calcutta. On 15 August he did not take part in the celebrations; he continued visiting riot-hit areas and holding prayer meetings.
20 Feb 1947 = Attlee’s announcement; 3 June = Mountbatten Plan; 18 July = the Act; 15 August = independence; 30 Jan 1948 = Gandhiji’s assassination.
Pakistan came into being on 14 August and India on 15 August; both dates should be remembered.
Memory clue: Remember ‘3-18-15’ — 3 June plan, 18 July Act, 15 August independence. Memory clue: June-July-August in order.
Spot the difference
| Event | Date | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| Mountbatten Plan | 3 June 1947 | Plan of partition |
| Indian Independence Act | 18 July 1947 | Two countries |
| India’s independence | 15 August 1947 | Nehru first Prime Minister |
Mountbatten Plan, Indian Independence Act and 15 August 1947
In the app you can move this figure with your finger.
Open in the appPractice questions
- 1On which day did India gain independence?
- 2When was the Mountbatten Plan announced?
- 3Who was India’s first Prime Minister?
- 4What happened under the Indian Independence Act?
- 5Who was appointed to draw the boundary lines?
- 6Where and when was Gandhiji assassinated?
- 7Why might Mountbatten have brought the date forward and what was the result?
- 8Where was Gandhiji on 15 August 1947 and why?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1On 15 August 1947.
- 2On 3 June 1947.
- 3Jawaharlal Nehru.
- 4India and Pakistan became two independent countries.
- 5Cyril Radcliffe.
- 6At Birla House in Delhi, on 30 January 1948.
- 7To hand over power quickly; as a result very little time was left to draw boundaries and for migration.
- 8In Calcutta; he was working for peace in riot-hit areas and did not take part in the celebrations.