Independence and the Partition of India Flashcards
When did PM Attlee make the announcement in the House of Commons about British quitting India?
20th February, 1947
What was the official date on which the British would quit India?
30th June, 1948
Who would be replacing Lord Wavell?
Lord Mountbatten
What did the British say would happen if the Muslim League did not join the Constituent Assembly?
The Government would have to consider to whom the powers of the Central Government should be handed over on due date, whether as a whole to some form of Central Government or in some areas to the existing Provincial Governments
When did Lord Mountbatten assume office as Viceroy?
24 March, 1947
What was the role of Lord Mountbatten?
He had been sent with the definite object of transferring power to India. He was to advise the Government in England as to which of the two Plans should be chosen - the one which preserved the unity of India, but gave the maximum powers to the Provinces, or the other which divided India into two Independent States
What was Lord Mountbatten convinced of?
That India was to be partitioned. Transfer of power to Indians could only be on the basis of partition of the country
When did Mountbatten announce his plan?
3 June
What were the main points of Mountbatten’s plan?
- Partition of Bengal and Punjab
- The existing Constituent Assembly would continue to work, but the Constitution framed by it would not apply to Pakistan
- Sindh
- NWFP
- District of Sylhet
- The Princely States
- A Boundary Commission
- Relations between the two new Dominions
- Transfer of Power before the end of 1947
On what condition would the Partition of Bengal and Punjab take place?
Provided that the Legislative Assemblies of the two Provinces decided in favour of the Partition
What would happen to Sindh?
The Legislative Assembly of Sindh was to take its own decision at a special meeting
What would happen to NWFP?
A referendum was to be held to decide the future of the Province?
What would happen to the District of Sylhet?
The Muslim-majority district of Sylhet was to decide by referendum whether it would join East Bengal or stay in Assam
What would happen to the Princely States?
The treaties with them would come to an end. They would be free to associate themselves with either of the Dominions or to remain independent
What was the Boundary Commission?
The Plan provided for the creation of a Boundary Commission to settle the boundaries of the two dominions in case Partition was decided upon