Round Table Conferences and Congress Rule

The round table conferences of the 1930s achieved little. Give reasons why you might agree or disagree with this statement. [14]

 Failures of RTCs* (Don’t use the acronym ‘RTC’ while writing your answers.)

• The British kept a dictating and imposing attitude throughout
• No Muslim Weightage in a future constitution
• Congress boycotted the first and third conferences
• Gandhi refused to recognize problems of minorities
• Scheduled caste Hindu leaders demanded separate electorate
• Communal award was imposed without Congress and the League’s agreement
• Quaid, Gandhi and major princes were not present in the 3^rd RTC
• Caused civil disobedience movement by Congress
• The British failed to keep major stakeholders on board

Successes of RTCs                                                                                                       

• Princess agreed to join a possible federation
• Provincial autonomy promised
• Power sharing at the centre agreed
• British forced to realize that consensus couldn’t be achieved without Congress
• Sindh and NWFP were to become provinces under governors
• Government of India Act 1935 was the outcome along with its positive aspects
• Elections were held finally and independence movement proceeded

Analysis / Conclusion

• Congress and Muslim League found themselves on different boats
• The League saw how it had to deal with a fierce opposition from Congress
• The League also learnt that Congress was not going to recognize minority (Muslim) rights
• Therefore Muslims were not supposed to cooperate with the Congress but with the British to get the benefits
• The British kept holding the commanding position and did not seem quite weaker
• The destination was still far and Muslims had yet to do a long struggle

 Why was Congress rule so hated? [7]

• Congress mistreated with the League following the 1937 elections showing arrogance and despise
• Bande Matram compulsory in the provincial assemblies; encouraging Hindus to expel Muslims from Hindustan
• Congress education ministries – teaching to be done in Hindi
• Spinning cotton by hand – part of school curriculum
• No religious education (for Muslim children)
• Students to bow to a picture of Gandhi
• Muslims took these measures as an attempt to brainwash Muslim children to embrace Hinduism
• Beef consumption forbidden (at some places under ongress ministries), harsh punishments on slaughtering cows
• Masjids attacked
• Azaan (call to the prayer) forbidden
• Noisy & musical processions near masjids at prayer time
• Pigs pushed into masjids
• Anti-Muslim riots reported
• Governor General Linlithgow also talked of continued oppression under congress ministries
• Though the above incidents were not widespread but together with Bande Matram and Wardha Scheme, they made Muslims see the Congress Rule as Congress Tyranny.

Why did Congress ministers resign? [4] 

• 3 Sep 1939 WWII began
• Lord Linlithgow declared India at war
• Congress objected to it
• Congress’s condition: immediate independence in return of Indian army for WWII
• British rejected Congress’s demand and offered to give dominion status after the war
• Congress rejected the offer and resigned

Random topics from the period 1942 to 1947

 Describe the Cripps Mission. [4]

• An attempt of the British in late March 1942 for full Indian cooperation in British war efforts (WWII)
• Mission headed by Sir Stafford Cripps, government minister in the war cabinet of Winston Churchill
• Promise of elections/full self government (Indian Union) with dominion status after the war
• Individual provinces to have the right to opt out of Indian federation
• Defence and finance were to be retained by the British during the war
• Major parties, Congress and the League rejected these proposals

What was the Quit India Resolution? [4]

• Britain is incapable of defending India
• Indian Army is serving the British and not the Indians
• If the British withdraw from India, India will be able to defend herself in case of any aggression on it
• India has no enmity with Japanese government and people
• India will attain freedom through non-violence

What was the Cabinet Mission Plan? [4]

• Last attempt of the British to keep the subcontinent together as a federation
• 3 senior British Cabinet ministers arrived in India to reach a settlement acceptable to all parties
• Resolving issues of a constitution and a viable Indian federation
• Option of Pakistan rejected
• Subcontinent to be divided up into three parts; section-A with Hindu majority provinces, section-B with Muslim majority (western) provinces and section-C as Bengal & Assam
• These sections to have great deal of local autonomy and allowed to make their own constitution
• Central Indian Union to deal with foreign affairs, defence and communications

  What were the flaws of the 3 June Plan? [7]

• A question of how much Pakistan was to receive of the financial and military share of British India
• Issue of the princely states, whether to join a country or remain independent and what if to join a country which doesn’t share a border with it
• Relations of the British with the new dominions not yet defined
• Pakistan’s not accepting Mountbatten as its governor general was to have serious consequences later

What was the Direct Action Day? [4]

• Failure of Cabinet Mission Plan
• Possibility of the British leaving Indian Muslims at the mercy of Hindu majority
• The League met in Bombay at the end of July 1946
• Resolution – Muslims not only to rid of the British but also Hindu authority
• Muslims asked to hand all the British titles back
• Muslims were to seek independence without relying on any group (e.g the British)
• 16 August 1946 – observed as a Direction Action Day, a call by the League to demonstrate Muslim strength
• It was peaceful throughout the subcontinent except in Calcutta where 4000 to 5000 deaths occurred in communal riots

Describe the Indian Independence Act. [4]

• Passed by the British government on 15 July 1947
• It stated that from 15 August 1947 two independent dominions (India and Pakistan) be established
• Complete freedom to pass any act or bill
• Government of India Act 1935 to be the provisional constitution until replaced

Independence Struggle during the Second World War

Do you agree that during the Second World War there was no significant progress towards independence in the subcontinent? Give reasons for your answer. [14]

[Plan and scheme]

(Opening)

Contrary to the above statement, I think there was significant progress towards independence during the Second World War. My view is based on the following reasons.

[List important events in the period]

Aftermath of Congress Rule (1939)

Pakistan Resolution (1940)

Cripps Mission (1942)

Quit India Movement (1942)

Gandhi Jinnah Talks (1944)

Simla Conference (1945)

Elections (1945 – 46)

(Deadlock or Failures)

• Noncooperation from Congress (1939)
• Dictatorial attitude of the British (continuation of policies)
• Rejection of the idea of Pakistan in Cripps Mission
• Failure of Cripps Mission
• Disunity among Indians on religious and ideological lines
• British Divide and rule policy going on
• Agitation and civil disobedience from Congress (Quit India Movement)
• Gandhi’s insistence on united India – disagreements between Congress & the League (Gandhi Jinnah Talks)
• Continued tussle between Congress & the League (failure of the Simla Conference)
• Election results (1945-46) showing divided India; Indian disunity extending the British Rule

(Progress or Successes)

• Aftermath of Congress Tyranny led to partition ideas
• Cooperation of the League in British war efforts provided good understanding between the parties
• Pakistan Resolution set a goal for many Muslims
• Possibility for individual provinces to opt out of Indian union (federation) in Cripps Mission – a provision towards independence for Muslims of India
• The League distancing from Congress’s Quit India Campaign fortified its relations with the British
• The League gained strength as was shown in the Gandhi Jinnah Talks – League’s strength means partition more probable
• Failure of Simla Conference proved the League was a key player in Indian politics; without League’s approval no settlement was possible
• Elections 1945 – 46 gave great success to Muslim League – partition / independence of Muslims of India a big possibility

(Conclusion)

The above discussion supports my position that during the Second World War India witnessed good progress towards independence from the British Rule, though the division on the basis of politics and communalism did help the British Raj survive a little longer.

What was the 3 June Plan? [4]

• Two states (India & Pakistan) to be set up
• Government of India Act 1935 as interim constitution
• Dominion status for both states
• An Executive (Head of state) responsible to the Constituent Assembly
• Muslim majority provinces to decide whether to join Pakistan or India

• Two states (India & Pakistan) to be set up
• Government of India Act 1935 as interim constitution
• Dominion status for both states
• An Executive (Head of state) responsible to the Constituent Assembly
• Muslim majority provinces to decide whether to join Pakistan or India