15) Attempts at political settlement, 1945–46

Question 1

How many Indians were demobilised from the Indian Army due to the end of the war?

Answer 1

7 million

Question 2

Which area was threatened by drought in 1945?

Answer 2

Southern India

Question 3

How many soldiers of Indian Army mutinied in February 1946 in Bombay, Calcutta and Karachi?

Answer 3

20,000

Question 4

What percentage of available seats were won by Congress in the 1945 elections?

Answer 4

90%

Question 5

What percentage of all seats reserved for Muslims were taken by the Muslim League in the 1945 elections?

Answer 5

90%

Question 6

What percentage of the Muslim vote did the Muslim League receive in the 1945 election?

Answer 6

75%

Question 7

How many seats were the Muslim League able to secure in the Central Assembly?

Answer 7

30

Question 8

In which provinces were the Muslim League able to form governments?

Answer 8

Bengal and Sind

Question 9

What government took control in the Punjab?

Answer 9

A non-muslim coalition (despite voting majority)

Question 10

Who was on the Cabinet Mission sent by Atlee?

Answer 10

Lord Pethwick-Lawrence; A.V. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty) and Stafford Cripps

Question 11

When did the Cabinet mission arrive in India?

Answer 11

24 March 1946

Question 12

Which minorities did the Cabinet mission ignore?

Answer 12

The Sikhs and the Princely states

Question 13

What was the goal of the Cabinet Mission?

Answer 13

Maintain a United India and a positive desire of a speedy transfer of power

Question 14

When was the Second Simla Conference?

Answer 14

May 1946

Question 15

What was proposed at the Second Simla Conference as a result of the Cabinet Mission?

Answer 15

1. There would be an All-India Union (defense, foreign policy and internal communication and elected from each province) governed by executive and legislature; three clusters of Provincial governments each with its own government for provincial affairs; each cluster could become independent states 2. Independent states of Hindustan and Pakistan

Question 16

What was the May statement?

Answer 16

A constituent assembly would formed from the 11 provinces who will draft a constitution for a single Indian state with regional groupings.

Question 17

What was said in the June Statement?

Answer 17

The Viceroy will select its own members for the Interim Government

Question 18

What was the reaction of Congress at the Second Simla Conference?

Answer 18

Initially decline, however later accepted upon the acknowledgment that individual states, and not groups of states, could opt out.

Question 19

When was Direct Action Day?

Answer 19

16 August 1946

Question 20

How many people died in Bombay during Direct Action Day?

Answer 20

5,000 died (20,000 seriously injured, 100,000 made homeless)

Question 21

When was the Interim Government sworn in?

Answer 21

2 September 1946

Question 22

What was the role of Nehru in the Interim Government?

Answer 22

Foreign affairs

Question 23

Who was the interim government’s general secretary?

Answer 23

Sardar Patel

Question 24

Who did Jinnah send to be part of the Viceroy’s Executive Council?

Answer 24

Liaquat Ali Khan

Question 25

What role did Jinnah have in the Interim Government?

Answer 25

Finance minister

Question 26

When was the goal set by Atlee to hand over British power of India to Indian hands?

Answer 26

30 June 1948