9. 1947: PARTITION AND INDEPENDENCE

9. 1947: PARTITION AND INDEPENDENCE

(Note: Detailed narrative of the freedom struggle, Quit India, INA, Cabinet Mission etc. is covered in the dedicated Freedom Movement notes. This section focuses on the final administrative/political transfer-of-power mechanism.)

9.1 Background (Brief)

• Post-WWII Britain, weakened economically and facing rising unrest in India (INA trials 1945–46, RIN Mutiny February 1946, communal violence, Cabinet Mission Plan 1946 failure to secure agreement between Congress and Muslim League), decided to expedite transfer of power.
• Clement Attlee (British PM, Labour govt.) announced on 20 February 1947 that Britain would transfer power to Indian hands by June 1948 at the latest, and appointed Lord Louis Mountbatten as the last Viceroy of India, replacing Lord Wavell (arrived India March 1947).

9.2 Mountbatten Plan (3 June 1947 Plan)

• Mountbatten, after assessing the deteriorating communal situation and failure to keep India united, formulated a plan announced on 3 June 1947 (also called the "3 June Plan" or "Mountbatten Plan"):
  • Partition of India into two independent dominions: India and Pakistan.
  • Bengal and Punjab provinces to be partitioned (if their legislatures so decided) based on Hindu/Muslim majority districts — since both provinces had mixed populations.
  • Referendum in North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Sylhet district of Assam to decide accession to India or Pakistan.
  • Princely states given the choice to accede to either India or Pakistan (technically could remain independent, though this was discouraged/impractical) based on geographical contiguity and population wishes — Governor-General later strongly encouraged accession to one or the other before 15 August 1947.
  • Date of transfer of power advanced to 15 August 1947 (from the earlier June 1948 target).
• Plan accepted by Congress, Muslim League, and (with reservations) other parties/Akali Dal.

9.3 Indian Independence Act, 1947

• Passed by the British Parliament on 18 July 1947; based directly on the Mountbatten Plan.
• Key provisions:
  • Created two independent Dominions: India and Pakistan, effective 15 August 1947.
  • Each Dominion to have its own Governor-General (representing the Crown) — Lord Mountbatten became free India's first Governor-General (till June 1948); Muhammad Ali Jinnah became Pakistan's first Governor-General.
  • British paramountcy over princely states lapsed — each princely state was free to join either Dominion or (theoretically) remain independent.
  • Legislative authority: Until new constitutions were framed, the respective Constituent Assemblies of India and Pakistan would also function as the Dominion legislatures, having full power to make laws (including amending/repealing any British Act, e.g., Government of India Act, 1935, which continued to serve as a working/interim constitution until 26 January 1950 for India).
  • Office of Secretary of State for India abolished.
  • Provided for division of assets, armed forces, and administrative services between the two Dominions.

9.4 Radcliffe Line — Boundary Demarcation

• Boundary between India and Pakistan (in Punjab and Bengal) drawn by the Boundary Commission, chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe (a British lawyer with no prior knowledge of India, chosen for perceived impartiality), assisted by two Hindu/Sikh and two Muslim members nominated by Congress/League respectively for each of the Punjab and Bengal Boundary Commissions.
• Announced on 17 August 1947 (i.e., two days AFTER Independence, 15 August) — the deliberate delay (to avoid British being blamed directly amid the transfer) contributed to confusion, chaos and violence during Partition, as populations did not know which country their locality would fall into until after the transfer of power had already occurred.
• Line divided Punjab (into West Punjab–Pakistan and East Punjab–India) and Bengal (into East Bengal–Pakistan, later Bangladesh in 1971, and West Bengal–India), also determined Sindh (wholly Pakistan) and portions of Assam (Sylhet, via referendum, to Pakistan/East Bengal).
• Resulted in one of the largest mass migrations in human history — estimated ~10–15 million people displaced; widespread communal violence and massacres, especially in Punjab, with death toll estimates ranging widely (commonly cited figures from a few hundred thousand up to 1–2 million).
• "Radcliffe Line" later also became the effective India-Pakistan international border (with subsequent adjustments/disputes, e.g., over Kashmir, Kutch).

9.5 15 August 1947 — Independence

• India became independent on 15 August 1947; Pakistan on 14 August 1947 (Jinnah wanted an earlier/separate date; also linked to avoiding the inauspicious date per some Hindu calendrical calculations for India's ceremony, though explanations vary).
• Jawaharlal Nehru became independent India's first Prime Minister; delivered the famous "Tryst with Destiny" speech at midnight, 14–15 August 1947, in the Constituent Assembly.
• Lord Mountbatten continued as India's first Governor-General (till June 1948), succeeded by C. Rajagopalachari (first and only Indian Governor-General of India, June 1948 – January 1950).
• Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the President of the Constituent Assembly (which doubled as interim legislature).

Key Facts / Quick Revision Points

• Attlee's announcement: 20 February 1947 — transfer of power by June 1948.
• Mountbatten Plan / 3 June Plan (1947): partition of India, referenda in NWFP & Sylhet, provincial partition of Punjab & Bengal.
• Indian Independence Act, 1947: passed 18 July 1947; effective 15 August 1947; created two Dominions.
• Radcliffe Line: Sir Cyril Radcliffe; announced 17 August 1947 (after Independence).
• India independent: 15 August 1947 (Nehru, first PM; Mountbatten, first Governor-General).
• Pakistan independent: 14 August 1947 (Jinnah, first Governor-General).
• C. Rajagopalachari: last Governor-General of India (only Indian to hold the post), 1948–1950.