Indian Independence & Partition

Key Pointers

Attlee's statement (20 February 1947): Britain would transfer power by June 1948; Lord Mountbatten appointed Viceroy (arrived 24 March 1947).
Mountbatten Plan (3 June 1947):
- Partition into India and Pakistan.
- Punjab and Bengal legislatures to vote on partition (separate voting by Hindu-majority and Muslim-majority districts).
- Referendum in NWFP (July 1947) and Sylhet (Assam).
- Princely states free to join either dominion (or remain independent in theory; paramountcy to lapse).
- Date of transfer advanced to 15 August 1947.
- Boundary Commissions under Cyril Radcliffe; award announced 16–17 August 1947.
Indian Independence Act, 1947 (Royal assent 18 July 1947):
- Created two dominions (India and Pakistan) from 15 August 1947.
- Each Constituent Assembly could frame its own constitution and act as legislature.
- Abolished the office of Secretary of State for India; lapse of paramountcy; British monarch ceased to be Emperor of India.
- Governor-General as constitutional head; GoI Act 1935 remained interim constitution.
First leaders: Mountbatten was the first Governor-General of independent India; Nehru Prime Minister; Jinnah Governor-General of Pakistan; Liaquat Ali Khan Prime Minister of Pakistan. Nehru delivered the 'Tryst with Destiny' speech at midnight (14–15 August).
Consequences of partition:
- Mass migration (about 10–15 million) and communal violence (hundreds of thousands to over a million deaths).
- Division of assets (Partition Council), civil services, army, and railways.
- Refugee rehabilitation challenges in Punjab, Bengal, Delhi.
- Gandhi's fast (January 1948) for communal harmony; assassinated by Nathuram Godse on 30 January 1948.
Why Congress accepted partition: Fear of continuing riots and civil war, deadlock in the Interim Government, desire for quick transfer of power.

MCQs

Q1. The Boundary Commission for the partition of Punjab and Bengal was headed by: (a) Lord Mountbatten (b) Cyril Radcliffe (c) Stafford Cripps (d) Lord Wavell Answer: (b).

Q2. The Indian Independence Act received royal assent on: (a) 3 June 1947 (b) 18 July 1947 (c) 15 August 1947 (d) 26 January 1950 Answer: (b).

Q3. Who was the first Governor-General of independent India? (a) C. Rajagopalachari (b) Lord Mountbatten (c) Lord Wavell (d) Rajendra Prasad Answer: (b). Rajagopalachari succeeded him in June 1948.