Topic 3 Flashcards
why did the 1937 provincial election
as a result of 1935 government of India Act abolishing dyarchy to give provincial control to all matters except military and finance and giving an electorate vote to 35 million people
what were the 1937 provincial elections
- electrified political situation
- indians governing indians was palpable for the first time
- INC won all the seats - 716 elected members
why did the ML fare so bad in the 1937 elections
- Jinnah had returned from exile in England and so to attempt to rally a coordinated and focused support was a big task
- he worked hard before the elections to build up a power base but wasn’t able to find enough candidates to contest all the reserved Muslim seats
- when he came back he was elected as president of the Muslim league in 1937 but he had nothing to offer
what were the divisions in congress in 1938
- by end of 1938 INC torn apart by in fighting
- considerable pressure for Bose to quit as president - Gandhi did not trust Bose and nor did the INC old guard
- Nehru refused to stand against Bose and so he won the election for INC pres by 200 votes
- many of the Gandhi faction resigned and so Bose was head of a party that was unable to function effectively - Gandhi organised the CWC to reign - pull the heart and best people out
- Bose forced to resign and was replaced by Rajendra Prasad, a key member of the CWC
- Bose and his bro Chandra formed the Forward Bloc Party - revolutionary group to overthrow the Raj
gandhi doesn’t want to be head of the INC he wants spiritualty not politcs
Linlithgow’s declaration of war
- September 3rd 1939
- announced India at war on behalf of Britain - committed over 300 million Indians
- obvious war was coming which made it more surprising that he made this announcement without consultation of Indians or the INC
- Britain was in charge of military through Gov of India Act of 1935 so Britain kind of back in charge of provincial people as INC resigned
- Jinnah decided tactical move to stick by Britain and support them in their war effort which led to Lahore Resolution
- it was a huge cock up on behalf of Britain because between 1937-39 India and Raj getting on well working happily besides and for each other
what was the reaction of the INC to Linlithgow’s declaration of war
- Gandhi urged the British to negotiate with Hitler but some of the old INC guard knew this was futile
- INC not prepared to support government over something they had not been consulted on
- despite the fact that winning the war was in India’s interests and freedom they refused to cooperate with the war effort
- INC ordered all its members to resign from provincial ministries all over India
- INC was not prepared to fight unless they were grated Purna Swaraj - foolish demand -
reaction of the ML to Lilithgow’s declaration of war
- Jinnah couldn’t believe his luck as INC had resigned leaving the way open for the ML to come in
- by 22nd December 1939 - Jinnah named this day the Muslim Day of Deliverance and called for all Indian Muslims to celebrate their freedom from Hindu bondage
- Jinnah was now able to focus on formulating the ML’s constitutional objectives such as the push for Pakistan
- he called for a meeting In Lahore March 1940
- political opportunist
the Lahore Resolution
- March 1940 meeting of ML to formulate their political demands as since the start of the war they were rising in power due to support for and from the British
TWO Proposals:
- provinces where Muslims where the majority should be grouped together to form separate independent states
- that minorities had to be protected whether the people concerned were living in Muslim or Hindu dominated states
- separate independent states highlighted Jinnah so no possibility of rapprochement between Hindus and Muslims
- INC hated
- British grateful for ML and said they would not adopt a new constitution without prior approval from the ML
- Jinnah got something to offer now in a concrete political position
hostage theory
- INC said muslims been selfish and not looking out for the other minorities
- ironic because they weren’t
- hostage theory was Jinnah’s response
reaction to the Lahore Resolution
- arguments flared between Jinnah and Gandhi
- Gandhi said Lahore Resolution was tantamount to the vivisection of India
- mini satyagraha campaigns broke out across India
- Jinnah had played an ace - supported Britain at time of crisis and gained sympathy
August Offer 1940
- proposition of some form of government but did not offer independence and so was universally rejected
- done by Linlithgow
- ‘representative’ Indians would join his executive council
- a war advisory council would be established that would include the princes and other interested parties
- there was an assurance that the government would not adopt a new constitution without prior approval of Muslim India
- 50% muslim say
what was the Atlantic Charter
August 1941
- signed
- agreement between Churchill and FDR
- main purpose was to promote post war peace and self determination for all countries giving India hope of self determination
- but Churchill pro imperialist so he did not want any notions of dismantling the Raj and British power in India
- he signed it under the notion that India was not included
what was the Cripps Mission
- Churchill appointed Stafford Crips to lead a delegation to India to secure full cooperation and support for the war
- invited all Indian parties to join an interim government of national unity until after the war
- found situation in India bad - food poor - unrest rising - internal situation seemingly bad
why was sending Cripps for the Cripps Mission clever by Britain
- because he was a massive supporter of India
- labour politician
- besties with INC thought he could get them to cooperate - reasonable chance of success but he couldn’t
Gandhi’s reaction to the Cripps Mission
- was willing to accept the proposal but on condition that India’s defence would be controlled by India - ridiculous as mid war
discuss the relevance of topic 2 Gandhi’s back to basic movement
- Gandhi had spent time looking at untouchables and improving education and sanitation
- this made him feel betrayed when they sided with Ambedkar after he’d tried to help them
- betrayed for wanting separate electorates
discuss the relevance of the topic 2 Simon commission
- the driving force of the RTCs
- exposed that the untouchables and other minority groups didn’t feel represented by the INC
- so the INC wouldn’t be able to have sole control of India
discuss the relevance of the topic 2 Jinnah’s failed rapprochement
- he asked for a third of the seats expecting the INC to negotiate but they just refused
- caused him to leave and go to Britain
- caused him to want to do things constitutionally
- key architect of the RTC - pushes for them with Ramsey Mac Donald
discuss the relevance of the the topic 2 salt satyagraha
- the RTC need to happen to help satisfy Gandhi to stop it
- the salt satyagraha took the spotlight limiting the RTCs media impact and coverage
- time of Gandhi-Irwin pact
- Gandhi didn’t attend the FRTC because of it
why did the FRTC take place
- 31st January 1929 Viceroy Irwin announced that the British Gov would convene a RTC to discuss the constitution of India
- minority rights and representation - building on the findings of the Simon Commission
- provide LT reassurance to nationalists and minorities
discuss the political stance of Viceroy Irwin
- he had progressive views but was a puppet straddling both labour and conservative governments
- despite a new incoming Labour Government in June Dominion Status was not to be on the agenda because the election hadn’t happened yet - the Government was still conservative
who attended the FRTC
- no INC as they rejected as they had agreed to Purna Swaraj in June 1929
- Irwin didn’t nominate any INC members anyway
- Gandhi was imprison but was informed by Irwin that the conference would give nationalists reassurance and ensure co-operation with the Simon Commission
- 16 reps from the 3 main British political parties
- 16 provincial princes
- 57 nominees of the Viceroy to represent British India which included all religions
why was it good that Gandhi and the INC didn’t attend the FRTC
- Britain only care about Gandhi who was not in charge anyway
- it was better they weren’t there as it would have created conflict as Gandhi claims he does represent all
when was the FRTC
12th November 1930