India - Theme 4

Question 1

Describe the Cripps Mission

Answer 1

March 1942
Sent to India to bring the INC back onside of the war effort

Agenda:
- Put a stop to nationalism in India
- Secure Hindu support for the war effort
- Appease FDR who has been critical of British Indian policy

Proposed an interim government for war years - Hindu/Muslim/British tripod government

Question 2

What was Cripp’s relation to India?

Answer 2

Stafford Cripps - Deputy PM for Labour under coalition

Previous ambassador roles in India - genuine ally of the INC and believer of Purna Swaraj - not the same message as the Simon Commission

Good relations with Gandhi and Nehru and the best change of succeeding with a truce

Question 3

How did the INC respond to the Cripps Mission?

Answer 3

Somewhat willing to accept the proposals as long as they were granted control of Defence, something the British would definitely not give due to their military inexperience and the Japanese threat on India

The INC rejected the mission as they felt they were not given enough power and felt it was another attempt of British divide and rule

Question 4

What did Gandhi retort about Cripps?

Answer 4

He should take the first plane home

Question 5

What is the overall impact of the Cripps Mission?

Answer 5

Major blow to the war effort and Indian stability as the INC would soon launch a major Satyagraha, spurred on the frustration Britain has caused
Direct link to the Quit India campaign - in retaliation to the Cripps Mission - seen as Churchill attempting to exploit Indians further

Question 6

What Satyagraha does Gandhi Launch 8th August 1942?

Answer 6

The Quit India Campaign

Question 7

What was the INC’s initial response to the Quit India campaign?

Answer 7

Wary - took time to sanction fully as it was a serious crime against the Raj at an incredibly precarious moment

Question 8

Explain the Quit India Campaign

Answer 8

Gandhi launches & is immediately arrested
Demanded Britain Quit India for good and proclaimed that his followers should ‘Make India ungovernable’ - astonishing

Pledge Indian Army stop fighting for the British (they don’t as Burma would have fallen)
3 months of anarchy
Thousands of miles and railway and telegraph wires destroyed, government buildings torched and signal posts and border fences destroyed (concerning due to the immenent Japanese threat)
1000 deaths, 3000 serious injuries - no hunger strike

Much of the violence ended in November and both Gandhi and Nehru remained in prison for the rest of the war

Question 9

What is the British perspective on Quit India?

Answer 9

France essentially fallen, Blitz, Germany winning the battle of the Atlantic, Dunkirk evacuation - precarious timing

Significant threat posed to the British as they had no major war resources to spare and redirecting troops would be extremely difficult

Question 10

How did Britain quell Quit India?

Answer 10

Sent 35,000 soldiers to restore order - significant struggle
Violence ends in November

Question 11

What is the overall impact of Quit India?

Answer 11

Campaign did not achieve its objective
- Britain remain in charge
- Indian Army remained loyal to the British
- Key leaders of congress including Gandhi and Nehru spend the rest of the war in prison

Impactful in terms of pressure, timing and fear factor of rebellion even though it doesn’t work out - show of Gandhi’s power and prompting of further serious nationalist considerations after the War from Churchill

Question 12

When is Wavell appointed as Viceroy?

Answer 12

October 1943

Question 13

Why is Wavell appointed as Viceroy?

Answer 13

• Catastrophe of Quit India is a key reason
• Esteemed career and was well known to the continent of Asia - Former Supreme Commander of the Indian Army
• Chosen by Churchill due to the growing threat from the Japanese and the social discontent in India perhaps needing a more military minded leader

Question 14

How was Wavell initially perceived?

Answer 14

Many fairly alarmed that a Viceroy could be appointed with no former political skill or experience in such a role
However, Wavell turned out to be one of the fairest Viceroys of all

Question 15

What did Wavell do soon after his appointment?

Answer 15

Toured India and spoke to as many stakeholders in the various provinces as possible
Often travelled 1500km weekly and particularly focused on the areas of trouble such as Punjab and Bengal
One of his best moves was to install regular meetings between the 11 provincial governors with the hope of bringing more unity to the vast nation

Question 16

Describe the circumstances of the Bengal Famine

Answer 16

1943-44
Combination of natural disaster, poor crop management and British war time greed decimated Bengal’s crop yield - natural disaster but it was exacerbated by human action
Due to partition, food was Burma did not each Bengal across the border
3-5 million people die - mainly muslim

Destroyed morale and hope in Eastern India
Province begged for British assistance in time of need

Question 17

What was the British response to the Bengal Famine? (British Government)

Answer 17

Britain and Wavell are in a dilemma as the war was not going well and Britain had scarce resources themselves

No guarantee that any aid sent to India would actually arrive due to the Japanese presence in the area

Churchill refused to directly assist the crisis and it was down to Wavell to scavenge what he could

Question 18

What was the British response to the Bengal Famine? (Viceroy)

Answer 18

Wavell managed to pull together and pester Churchill/the government for 450,000 tonnes of grain and rice
Did not solve the famine but most certainly saved hundreds of thousands of lives
Organises food from other provinces sent to Bengal and food diverted from Australia - lessens crisis
Inherits difficult situation he administrates and organises well even though his only job as Viceroy is to stop rebellion (also in charge of organising defence effort should Japan invade Burma)

Question 19

How did muslims and hindus feel about the British response to the Bengal famine?

Answer 19

Growing fear about Indian defection to the Japanese
Sour taste with the Muslims who had answered Britain’s call for aid but had been shunned during their own

Question 20

How did the INC and ML make political opportunity out of the Bengal Famine?

Answer 20

INC/Gandhi blamed British diversion of Indian reserves
Jinnah called the British incompetent

Question 21

What three key issues did Wavell have to contend with during the War?

Answer 21

Wavell contended with Bengal famine, Jinnah working for an independent muslim state and Bose siding with the Japanese Empire