22. POST-WAR UPSURGE (1945–1947)

22. POST-WAR UPSURGE (1945–1947)

22.1 Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Mutiny (18–23 February 1946)

• Began among Indian ratings (sailors) of the HMIS Talwar in Bombay, over issues of poor food, racial discrimination, and inspired by INA trials/nationalist sentiment; spread to 20,000+ sailors across 78 ships and shore establishments in Bombay, Karachi, Calcutta, Vizag, Madras.
• Ratings hoisted the Congress tricolour, Muslim League flag, and Communist Party flag together on ships — symbolising unity.
• Called off after intervention by Congress (Vallabhbhai Patel) and Muslim League leaders, who feared uncontrolled violence; mutiny suppressed by 23 February 1946.
• Significant as it showed disaffection had spread even to the armed forces, reinforcing the British realisation that continued control over India via the loyalty of Indian forces (Army, Navy) could no longer be assured.

22.2 Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)

• British Cabinet sent a three-member mission (Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, A.V. Alexander) to India (March–June 1946) to negotiate the transfer of power.
• Proposed a three-tier federal structure (Union Centre with limited powers over defence, foreign affairs, communications; Provincial groupings; Provinces), and rejected the demand for a full separate state of Pakistan, but allowed provincial groupings that could have given Muslim-majority provinces significant autonomy.
• Proposed formation of an interim government and election of a Constituent Assembly to frame India's constitution.
• Initially accepted by both Congress and the Muslim League with reservations, but disagreements over interpretation (Nehru's press statement suggesting Congress could modify the plan later) caused the League to withdraw acceptance.

22.3 Direct Action Day and Communal Violence (1946)

• Muslim League, frustrated at not achieving a separate Pakistan through the Cabinet Mission, called for "Direct Action Day" on 16 August 1946 to press its demand.
• Resulted in the "Great Calcutta Killings" — massive communal riots in Calcutta, followed by further violence in Noakhali (Bengal), Bihar, and elsewhere — thousands killed; marked the beginning of the horrific communal violence that would culminate around Partition.
• Gandhi personally toured riot-affected areas (notably Noakhali, late 1946 – early 1947) to restore peace, at great personal risk.

22.4 Interim Government (September 1946)

• Formed under Viceroy Lord Wavell, with Jawaharlal Nehru as Vice-President of the Executive Council (de facto Prime Minister); Muslim League joined later (October 1946) under Liaquat Ali Khan, but functioned largely as an obstructive opposition within government, deepening the impasse.

Key Facts / Quick Revision Points — Post-War Upsurge

• RIN Mutiny — 18-23 Feb 1946, began on HMIS Talwar, Bombay.
• Cabinet Mission — 1946: Pethick-Lawrence, Cripps, Alexander; proposed 3-tier federal structure.
• Direct Action Day — 16 August 1946; "Great Calcutta Killings."
• Interim Government — Sept 1946, Nehru as Vice-President of Executive Council.