The Cripps Mission and the Quit India Movement

THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT DURING THE FIRST WORLD WARCh-7

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The Act of 1935

The Cripps Mission of 1942

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The Act of 1935

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INTRODUCTIONThree Round Table Conferences were held in London. The Third Round Table Conference sat from 17 November to 24 December, 1932. After this Conference the Government drew up a set of proposals for the reform of the Indian government. The Government of India Act received the Royal assent on 4 August, 1935.

The Act of 1935 provided for the creation of an All-India Federation consisting of the eleven British provinces and such of the Princely States as acceded to the Federation. Federal provisions of the Act were never put into operation. The most significant aspect of the Act was the provision for Provincial Autonomy. Dyarchy was swept aside to be replaced by a system of Responsible Government in the provinces.

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INTRODUCTIONAs a result of the elections held in 1937 the Congress formed ministries in six provinces, namely Bihar, Orissa, the Central Provinces (Madhya Pradesh), Madras (Tamil Nadu) and Bombay (the Province covered the present territories of Maharashtra and Gujarat). Later Congress ministries were formed in Assam and North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) also. In Bengal a non-Congress coalition ministry under Fazl-ul-Huq was formed and in Punjab the Unionist Party took office under Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan. In Sindh the situation remained fluid because of multiplicity of parties.

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The Cripps Mission of

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Why did Sir Stafford Cripps Come to India? The Cripps Proposals Rejection of the Cripps Proposals

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WHY DID SIR STAFFORD CRIPPS COME TO INDIA?On 7 December, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbour, an American naval base in the Hawaii island. Japan’s entry into the war on the side of Germany was a cause of great worry for Britain, USA and China. Japan overran the Philippines and Malaya (present day Malaysia). They occupied Burma also and then marched towards Assam. The war thus had come to the very border of India. The efficient defence of India demanded the fullest cooperation of the people of the country.

The British Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill was still not showing any eagerness to reach an agreement with the Indian leaders. USA put pressure on Britain as well. Hence, Sir Stafford Cripps, a member of the British War Cabinet, was sent to India to solve the Indian problem. Sir Stafford Cripps arrived at Delhi in March 1942.


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THE CRIPPS PROPOSALS1. After the war India would be given the same Status as the other Dominions

had.

2. Immediately after the War a Constituent Assembly would be set up.

3. The Princely States would be free to choose whether to join the Indian Union or to stay out.

4. The British Government would accept the Constitution so framed subject to the condition that any Province or Provinces which did not accept the New Constitution could frame a Constitution of their own. They, singly or together, would be accorded the same status as the Indian Union had.

5. Until the New Constitution was framed, the government desired effective participation of Indian leaders in the Viceroy’s Executive Council. Only the defence of India would remain under the control of the British Government.



REJECTION OF THE CRIPPS PROPOSALSThe proposals seemed to satisfy both the Muslim League and the Congress. Sir Stafford Cripps declared that the proposals meant “absolute self-government for India”. It provided a concession to the Muslim League and met the demands of the Congress. However:

1. The proposals could divide India into a number of independent states.

2. The people of the Princely States had not been given the right to elect their representatives to the proposed Constitution-making body. Their representatives were to be elected by the rulers.

3. Self-government or Dominion Status was yet very far away. Meanwhile, the Governor-General was to continue with full powers over matters like war and defence. In war times defence covers almost the whole of administration.

Even then the Congress leaders could have joined Viceroy’s Executive Council, provided that they had an assurance that the Viceroy would act as a Constitutional Head. No such assurance was coming forth. This killed the Cripps Offer.



Quit India Movement

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Reasons for and Events Leading to the Movement

Reasons that Led to the Resolution Quit India Resolution Arrest of the Leaders Government’s Repressive Measures Reasons for Failure of Movement Impact and Significance of the Movement

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Quit Ind ia Movement

REASONS FOR AND EVENTS LEADING TO THE MOVEMENTWorld War II broke out in September 1939. It began with Germany’s invasion of Poland. On 3rd September Britain declared war on Germany. The failure of the Cripps Mission (1942) brought about a marked change in the attitude of the Congress leaders. They were till now reluctant to launch a mass movement during the War. But now they were convinced that British Rule must end immediately.

1. Resignation of the Congress Ministries: The Congress Ministries resigned towards the end of October 1939 on War issue. Their objection was that the British Government had involved India in war without consulting the Central Legislature and Provincial Governments. The British also could not satisfy Indians about their war aims. The Congress Working Committee had made it clear that India could not fight for freedom and democracy in Europe unless she herself was free. The Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, could not give any such assurance. The Muslim League rejoiced to see the fall of the Congress Ministries and even celebrated 22nd December as the Day of Deliverance form the Congress Rule. Now it could show its loyalty towards the government. It promised all war help on the condition that no Constitutional scheme would be finalized without its approval.

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REASONS FOR AND EVENTS LEADING TO THE MOVEMENT2. The August Offer: The Congress was prepared to lend support to Britain in its

war on the condition that India was declared an independent nation. In the meantime, war situation in Europe worsened. Therefore an attempt was made to end the political deadlock. On 8th August Lord Linlithgow made a new offer known as the August Offer. After the War a representative Indian body would be set up to frame a Constitution for India. Viceroy’s Executive Council will be expanded without delay The Minorities were assured that the Government would not transfer power to any system of

government whose authority is directly denied by the large and powerful elements of Indian life.

Rejection: The Offer failed to satisfy the Congress leaders, as there was no time limit within which the Constitution making body was to be set up. On the issue of expansion of Viceroy’s Executive Council also no agreement could be reached. The Muslim League welcomed the part of the Offer which assured the Minorities. But its overall reaction was that Partition of India was the only possible solution to the Indian problem at that point of time.


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REASONS FOR AND EVENTS LEADING TO THE MOVEMENT3. Individual Satyagraha (1940): In 1940 Gandhi launched Individual

Satyagraha. The Movement continued throughout 1941.


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REASONS THAT LED TO THE RESOLUTION1. Failure of the Cripps Mission: The failure of the Cripps Mission created a

deep disquiet in the country. The feeling was that the government was unwilling to concede India to the right of self-government. Our Indian leaders wanted that until new Constitution be framed, the Viceroy should be Constitutional Head. This was also not acceptable to the Government. The Congress could no longer remain inactive.

2. Worsening of Communal Situation: The Muslim League in its Lahore Session in 1940 had set Pakistan as its official target. It was at this Session that a definite demand for Pakistan was made. Mr. Jinnah proclaimed that Muslims could not expect any justice at the hands of the Congress. To make it worse, the Government had been pampering the Muslim League.

3. Japan Posed a Serious Threat to India: Nothing could be done if Japan invaded India. The feeling of helplessness irritated many people, especially Jawaharlal Nehru, who even advised people to resort to guerrilla warfare in case of an attack.



QUIT INDIA RESOLUTIONThe Congress Working Committee met at Wardha in July 1942. It adopted a long Resolution that came to be known as the Quit India Resolution. It demanded that British Rule in India must end immediately. The All-India Congress Committee met at Mumbai to consider the Resolution. After a lengthy discussion it was passed on 8 August, 1942. If this demand was not conceded, the Congress declared its resolve to start a mass struggle on non-violent lines under Gandhi's leadership. In his speech Gandhi said, “We shall do or die. We will either free India or die in the attempt.” Gandhi had stated that he would start the movement after having met the Viceroy.



ARREST OF THE LEADERSIn the early hours of the morning of August 9 Gandhi, Azad and other prominent leaders were arrested. The Government alleged that destruction of the means of communications formed a part of the Congress programme. As there was none to provide leadership to the people, violent riots began on a large scale throughout India. Mob violence was directed mostly against means of communication and government buildings.



GOVERNMENT’S REPRESSIVE MEASURESThe Government replied the movement by repression which assumed the form of a War against the people. According to official figures, 60,000 people were arrested, 940 killed and 1,630 injured. But these were gross underestimates.



ARREST OF THE LEADERSIn the early hours of the morning of August 9 Gandhi, Azad and other prominent leaders were arrested. The Government alleged that destruction of the means of communications formed a part of the Congress programme. As there was none to provide leadership to the people, violent riots began on a large scale throughout India. Mob violence was directed mostly against means of communication and government buildings.



REASONS FOR FAILURE OF MOVEMENTThe Movement was short –lived but intense. The reasons for its failure are:

1. Jayaprakash Narayan assigned its failure to lack of coordination and lack of a clear-cut programme of action.

2. Some sections of society, including many known politicians, remained loyal to the government.

3. The government punished the resistance ruthlessly.



IMPACT AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MOVEMENT1. The 1942 movement was an important landmark in India’s struggle for

freedom.

2. The Movement was symbolic of a new confidence the people had attained. It aroused in the people a spirit of total sacrifice. It warned the British that they were not wanted in India.

3. It sent out a message that there was nothing to stop Indians from attaining their freedom. The Movement hastened the British decision to quit India.

4. In the history of British rule, no such revolt had occurred earlier. The young and the old joined in the struggle for Independence. In the Quit India Movement the Indian Revolution reached its climax.



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The Cripps Mission and the Quit India Movement