SIR ADNAN QURESHI PAKISTAN STUDIES-HISTORY-CHAPTER 9_________________

CHAPTER 9: PAKISTAN MOVEMENT 1939-1947

Timeline of the Chapter:

1939: On 3rd September, the Second World War started and British Prime Minister, Linlithgow
announced that India was at war.

1939: In October, the Congress ministries resigned in disagreement to the decision taken by the
British government.

1939: On 22nd December, Muslims celebrated the Day of Deliverance after the Congress
ministries had resigned.

1940: On 22nd and 23rd March, Muslim League had an annual session at Minto Park, Lahore in
which Maulvi Fazl-ul Haq, a prominent leader from Bengal presented the Lahore Resolution
which is also called the Pakistan Resolution.

1940: On 8th August, the British Government gave August Offer by issuing a White Paper
promising that after the Second World War, the British Government would form of a Constituent
Assembly for Indian representatives with rights for Muslims.

1941: India was under the threat of Japanese attack as the Japanese Navy was attacking British
colonies in Asia. Congress was in favour to extent their support Japan.

1942: From January till May, Burma was attacked by Japanese Navy. It was a political defeat of
Britain and finally Burma went out of the British control in 1945.

1942: In March, Sir Stafford Cripps came to India to see if a compromise could be reached to
win India’s support for World War II. It suggested elections, new constitution and dominion
status for India after the war however, both Muslim League and Congress rejected it.

1942: Gandhi started ‘Quit India Movement’ on 8th August 1942 after India suppressed
Japanese invasion in Burma during the Second World War.

1944: In May, Gandhi-Jinnah talks were held but remained unsuccessful as Gandhi tried to
dominate Jinnah.

1945: In June and July, Lord Wavell called for Simla Conference which proposed that an
Executive Council should be made in India with representation of all communities.

1945-46: Elections were held in December 1945 and January 1946 and Muslim League was able
to get more seats in the Centre as well as had a majority of Muslim majority provinces.

1946: Cabinet Mission Plan was given by Lord Wavell in which the British government shared
their plan of Interim government with both Hindus and Muslims.
1946: In the Delhi Convention of the League, Jinnah replaced the word ‘States’ of the Lahore
Resolution into ‘State.’ The legislators signed pledges solemnly declaring their firm conviction
that the safety, security, salvation and destiny of the Muslims lay only in the achievement of
Pakistan.

1947: The Government of India Act was changed as the Indian Independence Bill Act and the
British government gave their plan of future partition.

1947: In February, Lord Mountbatten arrived in India as the last Viceroy.

1947: 3rd June Plan was given by Lord Mountbatten and he decided that the partition would
take place after 7 weeks.

1947: On 11th August, Jinnah sworn in as the Governor General of Pakistan and Liaquat Ali
Khan as the Prime Minister. He addressed the Constituent Assembly in Karachi.

1947: On 14th August, Pakistan got independence.

Synopsis of the Chapter:

World War II put India more in trouble as the British Linlithgow government declared India in
the War without the consultation of both Congress and Muslim League on 3rd September 1939.
Britain declared war against the German Nazis and Russian Fascists. The Quaid-e-Azam
Mohammad Ali Jinnah demanded to end the anti-Muslim policies by Congress. Muslim League
declared 22nd December 1939 as the Day of Deliverance when Congress members resigned
from provincial governments.

Muslims in the subcontinent were recognized and the demand of a separate homeland in the
eastern parts of India with autonomous status. It was presented by Prime Minister of Bengal,
Maulvi Fazi-ul-Haq at the annual session of Muslim League on 22nd and 23rd of March 1940.
The session was held at Iqbal Park at Lahore where Minar-e-Pakistan stands today. It was called
as Lahore Resolution or Pakistan Resolution.

Congress rejected the demands of Muslim League for a separate homeland. In March 1922, a
mission came under British Cabinet member, Sir Stafford Cripps came to India to see if a
compromise could be reached to win India’s support for World War II. It suggested elections,
new constitution and dominion status for India after the war however, both Muslim League and
Congress rejected it. Jinnah was pleased that the British agreed to protect minority rights.

Mohandas Gandhi spoke at the Congress meeting at Allahabad in May 1942 that Japanese
invasion was no more a threat in India. He started ‘Quit India Movement’ on 8th August 1942
after India suppressed Japanese invasion in Burma. On 10th August 1942, Gandhi and Nehru
were arrested and Congress was banned. Muslim League also opposed the Movement calling
campaign as ‘blackmail.’

Gandhi was released on medical reasons by Viceroy Lord Wavell in May 1944. He proposed
Jinnah to meet to consider the future of India after the British. The Jinnah-Gandhi Talks failed as
Gandhi wanted Muslim League to extend its full support to Congress and called himself the
spokesperson of all communities in India. Gandhi also rejected his belief in Two Nation Theory.
Jinnah called the talks a little positive as Congress considered it important organization of India.

When World War II was coming to an end when Lord Wavell went to Britain to decide for the
future of British India. He proposed that an Executive Council should be made in India with
representation of all communities. Simla Conference was called in 14th June 1945. Jinnah,
Liaquat Ali Khan and Khwaja Nazimuddin led the Muslim League delegation, Gandhi led the
Congress group along with its Muslim President Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Congress dominated
it by demanding its right to nominate both Muslim and Hindu members in the Council. Lord
Wavell closed the Conference on 14th July 1945 finding no result.

CONGRESS MINITRIES RESIGNED /DAY OF DELIVERANCE:

The Congress ministries resigned in October 1939 in reaction of British announcement that
India would be placed in the Second World War. Upon their resignation, the Day of Deliverance
was celebrated by Muslims on 22nd December 1939 and they offered special thankful prayers
after getting rid of Congress rule.

Why did the Muslims celebrate the Day of Deliverance?

• Song of Bande Matram had hurt Muslims’ feeling which was adopted as National Anthem. It
was made compulsory at all educational institutes and offices and Congress ignored the
right of religion for Muslims.
• Wardha Scheme was educational scheme which had encouraged Hindu religion and culture
only. Teaching was done in Hindi with no religious education for Muslims which meant that
Muslim students were at a disadvantage and they could not flourish.
• Under the Widdya Mandir Scheme, Muslims had to show reverence for Gandhi’s portrait
which was hung up at schools and colleges. It was not acceptable to Muslims to bow down
for anyone except Allah and they believed it was an attack on their religion.
• Ban on cow slaughter was enforced as it was considered holy by the Hindus.
• Ban on Azaan in many areas and freedom of prayers for Muslims was taken away from
them.

AUGUST OFFER:
 On August 8, 1940 the British Government issued a White Paper that after the war a
constituent assembly would be formed in India. For the first time the British Government
promised the formation of a Constituent Assembly for Indian representatives. It was also
said that in the proposed assembly the rights of all the minorities especially the Muslims
would be safeguarded.
 The All India Muslim League Working Committee discussed the August Offer on 1st
September. The session was presided over by Quaid-i-Azam. The Committee expressed
satisfaction about the offer. The Muslim League Committee declared that the partition of
India was the only solution to the problems of the country.
 The Congress reacted against the August Offer and its President Abul Kalam Azad refused to
hold talks with British Government on this issue. The Viceroy regretted that the August Offer
was not accepted by all the parties.
 Although the August Offer could not produce any practical or immediate results but in the
long run it was a considerable gain for the Muslims.

Why did the British give the August Offer of 1940?

 They gave the August Offer to gain support of the Indians for the continued Second World
War as India
 They tried to bring all political parties of the subcontinent on the same page by keeping a
promise for self-government soon after the Second World War.
 There was a threat of Japanese invasion on the British colonies in Asia and the British
government was concerned that the Indians might support them in the war.

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT:

On October 13, 1940 Gandhi declared his line of action in the Working Committee of Congress.
The plan was to start ‘Individual Satyagrah’ according to it few people chosen by Gandhi would
offer civil disobedience and court arrest.

On November 17, the second stage of the campaign began and it was termed as the
‘Representative Satyagrah’. Individuals were selected from groups and they were assigned to
raise anti-war slogans in the streets and got themselves arrested. By the end of the year, five to
six hundred persons were imprisoned.

The campaign failed in the Muslim provinces. In the NWP, at first Khan Sahib was reluctant to
participate. In Bengal, the people were not at all attracted to the idea of Gandhi.

In April 1941 Gandhi opened the Satyagrah campaign to all Congressmen. At one time 14000
Congress members were in jail. With the passage of time the number of Satyagrah movements
kept on decreasing.

The Muslims of South Asia were not in favour of the Congress policies. In November 1940
Quaid-i-Azam said that Congress had wrongly claimed that its campaign had been launched for
the freedom of India. The Muslim League in its Madras annual session of April 1941 repeated
that the Congress civil resistance was aimed at relegating the Muslim nation of one hundred
million. They warned the Government that any constitutional change enacted under Congress
threat would be unacceptable to the Muslim League and they would resist it with all the power
they could command.

PAKISTAN RESOLUTION/LAHORE RESOLUTION:

Muslims in the subcontinent were recognized and the demand of a separate homeland in the
western parts of India with autonomous status. It was presented by Maulvi Fazl-ul-Haq at the
annual session of Muslim League on 22nd -24th of March 1940 by the 25-member Working
Committee of the All-India Muslim League.

The session was held at Minto Park which was named as Iqbal Park (in the memory of Dr. Allama
Mohammad Iqbal who died on 21st April 1938) at Lahore where Minar-e-Pakistan stands today.
It was called as Lahore Resolution or Pakistan Resolution. This event marked as the first major
success of the Muslim League and the struggle which started in 1906 at the time of Formation
of All India Muslim League got an achievement when the idea of an independent country was
accepted.

Why was the Pakistan Resolution passed?

 Congress rule of 1937-39 was tyrannical for Muslims and Muslims wanted to get rid of the
brutality of Congress.
 Iqbal and Chaudhri Rehmat Ali gave idea of separate Homeland in early 1930s which
became the basis of achieving Pakistan as their aim, Jinnah agreed to it only after Congress
Rule.
 Muslims knew that Independence had to be achieved before the British left India otherwise
in the absence of the British, the Muslims would be dominated by the Hindus.

Why did the Muslims feel happy at the acceptance of Pakistan Resolution?

 It worked as a milestone of the struggle of Muslims when they got the idea of an
independent country acceptable by the British.
 It made them acceptable in the eyes of the British as a separate community and they could
fight for their political rights against the Congress.
 They liked it as an opportunity of getting more jobs and better positions in civil service of
the Indian government.
CRIPPS MISSION:

During World War II, there was a threat of Japanese attack on Burma as Japan was the ally of
Germany.

in March 1942, a mission came under British Cabinet member, Sir Stafford Cripps came to India
to see if a compromise could be reached to win India’s support for World War II. It suggested
elections, new constitution and dominion status for India however, both Muslim League and
Congress rejected it. Jinnah was pleased that the British agreed to protect minority interests.

Why was the Cripps Mission rejected by the Indians?

 Cripps Mission suggested that Dominion status be given to India whereas the Congress
wanted immediate power transfer.
 It suggested that Individual provinces be allowed to opt out, but this would lead to Pakistan
creation/Muslim Majority, so the Congress opposed it.
 Jinnah still rejected it since he wanted a clear cut reference to Pakistan’s creation.

How did Cripps Mission help in Pakistan’s Creation?

 It suggested that Individual provinces could opt out, thus some reference to Pakistan
Movement was present.
 Jinnah rejected it since he desired clear cut reference to Pakistan, shows determination of
Jinnah and clear cut goals.
 The Congress demand of immediate independence alarmed League, since no Pakistan if
British were not there to conduct partition before leaving.

QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT:

Mohandas Gandhi spoke at the Congress meeting at Allahabad in May 1942 that Japanese
invasion was no more a threat in India. He started ‘Quit India Movement’ on 8th May 1942.

It was a civil disobedience movement launched at Bombay by Gandhi on 8th August 1942,
demanding an end to British Rule of India. The Cripps Mission had failed, and on 8th August
1942, Gandhi made a call to Do or Die in his Quit India speech. On 10 th May, leaders including
Gandhi and Nehru were arrested.

Gandhi and Nehru were arrested and Congress was banned. Muslim League also opposed the
Movement calling campaign as ‘blackmail.’

Why was the Quit India Movement started?

 The Congress was aware that the British were going to leave India, exploited the British
plans to use Indian resources during Second World War.
 The Cripps Mission stated that individual provinces could opt out, alarmed them since this
meant the British were considering Partition.
 Japan was threatening British, this meant possible Indian invasion. If British left, threat of
invasion would finish.

Why was the Quit India Movement unsuccessful?

 The Main Leaders, Gandhi and Nehru were arrested so there was no leadership to control
the movement.
 The British used Aerial Bombing and Machine Guns against the movement supporters,
thousands thus died.
 Jinnah didn’t approve, since he knew no Pakistan if Independence without British being
there to Partition.

Why the Quit India Movement important?

 The Congress started Movement to get general Independence and stop creation of Pakistan,
alarming Jinnah who quickened pace for Pakistan creation.
 Due to movement leaders being arrested, League gained a huge advantage which it
exploited to gain strength.
 Jinnah declared the movement as blackmail, declaring it an attempt to take advantage of
weak British condition. Jinnah supported the British (important for Pakistan)

GANDHI-JINNAH TALKS:

Gandhi was released on medical reasons by Viceroy Lord Wavell in May 1944. He wrote letters
to Jinnah and proposed to meet at his home in Bombay from 19th – 24th May to consider the
future of India after the British.

The Jinnah-Gandhi Talks failed as Gandhi wanted Muslim League to extend its full support to
Congress and called himself the spokesperson of all communities. Gandhi also rejected his belief
in Two Nation Theory claiming them the descendants of Hindus. Jinnah called the talks a little
positive as Congress considered it important organization of India. Gandhi also believed that
India was one united nation and Pakistan Resolution was made to ruin its unity.

Gandhi wanted subjects like Defence and Foreign Affairs to be under control of central
government. Jinnah wanted this in provinces. Gandhi also said that of six declared provinces,
only three could be made part of Pakistan since they were Muslim majority, Punjab, Bengal and
Assam should be communally divided as they were partially Muslim. Jinnah said no, since this
would mean financially weak Pakistan.

Gandhi Jinnah Talks made the Congress realize that they could not do anything without the
support of Muslim League. Gandhi accepted Muslim League as a sole party of the Muslims.
Why did the Gandhi-Jinnah Talks fail?

 Gandhi wanted Muslim League to extend its full support to Congress and called himself the
spokesperson of all communities.
 It was also rejected as Gandhi did not have any belief in Two Nation Theory claiming the
Muslims as the descendants of Hindus.
 Gandhi also wanted League to follow the policies of the Congress till the end of Second
World War.

Why were the Gandhi-Jinnah Talks somewhat successful?

 Jinnah handled these intelligently, didn’t compromise Muslim Rights. His standing thus
improved.
 Gandhi said that Jinnah and Congress should work for general Independence first.
 It pleased Jinnah since this should that Indians had realized that Partition might happen.

LORD WAVELL AND SIMLA CONFERENCE:

Elections were held in Britain in 1945 and the Labour Party came to power. It was considered as
Liberals and were sensitive towards the solution of the Indian subcontinent problems.

The British Viceroy, Lord Wavell visited India in May 1945 and announced a plan for a new
Executive Council in which all members except the Viceroy and the Commander in Chief would
be Indians. This interim government would work till the division of the subcontinent.

Lord Wavell called for the Simla Conference was held on 14th June 1945 was a meeting
between the Viceroy and the major political leaders at Simla. Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan and
Khwaja Nazimuddin led the Muslim League delegation, Gandhi led the Congress group along
with its Muslim President Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

Gandhi disagreed for equal representation of Muslims and Hindus in the government. He also
stated that Congress was not the part of Hindus only as its President was a Muslim. Jinnah
disagreed to Gandhi and claimed Muslim League as the major party of Muslims but it also had
Hindus.

Wavell Plan for Indian self-government as an interim government was approved, it reached a
potential agreement for the self-rule of India that provided separate representation for Muslims
and reduced majority powers for both communities in their majority regions. Since no concrete
result was achieved, the conference was closed on 14 July 1945.

Why was the Simla Conference unsuccessful?

 Congress wanted to nominate at least one Muslim member in executive council, rejected by
Jinnah since League wanted to be sole representation of Muslims in India.
 Jinnah dissatisfied with parity of seats between Muslims and Hindus since Sikh and low
Caste members would side with Hindus, leading to permanent Muslim minority

ELECTIONS OF 1945-46:

General elections were held in British India in December 1945 to January 1946 to elect
members of the Central Legislative Assembly and the Council of State. The Indian National
Congress emerged as the largest party, winning 57 of the 102 elected seats becoming the
largest party getting 90% of Hindu votes. The Muslim League won all 30 Muslim constituencies
and won 87% of overall Muslim votes and stood as second position. Only NWFP was the Muslim
majority area where Muslim League did not win.

Even though Congress won, the League had united the Muslim vote and as such it gained the
negotiating power to seek a separate Muslim homeland as it became clear that a united India
would prove highly unstable.

Why were the elections of 1945-46 so successful for Muslim League?

 The Congress Rule was tyrannical and League promised rights, so Muslims voted for the
League so that they would not face Congress problems again.
 The League learnt from 1937 elections and thus improved planning, organization and
campaigned efficiently. Thus more Muslims knew of the league.
 The Muslim League had passed the Lahore Resolution 1940 and started working for
separate homeland. The acceptance of Pakistan resolution had really installed energy into
the League.

CABINET MISSION PLAN:

In March 1946, British Prime Minister, Clement Attlee sent a three-member mission to India the
British government made their final report to settle differences within India. It had Sir Stafford
Cripps, Lord Pethick Lawrence and A. V. Alexander.

The Cabinet Mission's purposes were to hold preparatory discussions with elected winners of
Elections 1945-46 and the Indian states. It also wanted to set up a constitution body and an
Executive Council with the support of the main Indian parties till the time of Independence.

The Mission held talks with the representatives of the Indian National Congress and the All-India
Muslim League, the two largest political parties in the Constituent Assembly of India.

In May 1946, the Cabinet Mission announced its decision:

 Instead, there would be three parts in India, the Hindu majority areas, the western Muslim
provinces, Bengal and Assam.
 Each part would be able to draft its own constitution.
 Foreign affairs, defence, and communication would be managed by Indian Union.

Since the word Pakistan was dropped from the draft, therefore Muslims of India doubted that
the British Government might leave India without dividing it and Muslims would have to face
the tyranny of the Congress once again that’s why Muslim League felt annoyed at this decision.

Why was the Cabinet Mission Plan Unsuccessful?

 It stated that India would be divided into three parts, (Two Muslim majority areas and one
large Indian Majority) with full provincial autonomy and right to form own constitution.
Jinnah immediately accepted as Muslim rights protected, but Nehru stated in a press
conference this they were not bound to keep it once the British left, Jinnah thus
immediately rejected the plan.
 The Mission was not able to lessen the gap between the Muslims and the Hindus (i.e.
Partition versus United). It suggested an All India Commission to decide outcome (Partition
or United India). It was rejected by both Congress and League since both feared that the
outcome would go against their demands.
 It was rejected by the Congress as it doubted on the promises kept by the British and stated
that the British had made promises for the immediate transfer of power after Second World
War however, they were delaying their said promise.

DELHI CONVENTION:

On 19th April 1946, soon after the elections, Jinnah called a convention at Delhi of all the newly
elected League members in the central and provincial legislatures. In this convention the word
“States” of 1940’s Lahore Resolution is transformed into the word “State” and the legislators
signed pledges solemnly declaring their firm conviction that the safety, security, salvation and
destiny of the Muslims lay only in the achievement of Pakistan.

DIRECT ACTION DAY:

By May 1946, after the Cabinet Mission Plan, the Muslim League became increasingly worried
that the British might simply withdraw from India and leave it to the Indians to sort out the
problems that they had left behind. They planned to show their unity against the decision and
to pressurize the British which is called as the ‘Direct Action Day.’

More strength was shown in Bengal. It resulted in Hindu-Muslim clashes in Calcutta where more
than 4000 people were killed in ‘Great Calcutta Killing’. Muslim League was blamed for bringing
that violence.
After the Cabinet Plan the Congress joined the Government Council without the Muslim League.
Lord Wavell urged Jinnah to join interim government.

3RD JUNE PLAN:

The British Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced that India would be freed by Feb 1948. He
also announced Lord Mountbatten as the last viceroy of India.

Lord Mountbatten arrived in March 1947 and met the major leaders of both Congress and
Muslim League. He went back to England to review their decision as it was difficult to hold
India’s aggression anymore.

On 31st May 1947 Lord Mountbatten came back to India and announced the partition on 3rd
June to be preponed in August 1947. They had seven weeks to solve all issues.

Both the Congress and the Muslim League agreed to the partition as there were many issues
which were supposed to be solved particularly the division of Bengal and the Punjab.

PAST PAPER QUESTIONS:

Q: WHAT WAS DAY OF DELIVERANCE? [4]

Q: WHAT WAS PAKISTAN RESOLUTION? [4]
Q: WHAT WAS SATYAGRAHA? [4]
Q: WHAT WAS QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT? [4]
Q: WHAT WAS SIMLA CONFERENCE? [4]
Q: WHAT WAS 3rd JUNE PLAN? [4]
Q: WHY WAS PAKISTAN RESOLUTION PASSED? [7]
Q: WHY WAS THE CRIPPS MISSION OF 1942 UNSUCCESSFUL? [7]
Q: WHY DID GANDHI-JINNAH TALKS FAIL? [7]
Q: WHY DID THE MULSIM LEAGUE ABLE TO GET SUCEESS? [7]
Q: WAS THE CRIPPS MISSION IN 1942 THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR DURING THE 1940s
THAT LED TO THE PARTITION OF THE SUB-CONTINENT IN 1947? GIVE REASONS FOR YOUR
ANSWER. [14]
Q: WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTED THE MOST TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
SEPARATE HOMELAND FOR MUSLIMS:
(I) GANDHI-JINNAH TALKS 1944;
(II) SIMLA CONFERENCE 1945;
(III) CABINET MISSION PLAN 1946?
EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER WITH REFERENCE TO ALL THREE OF THE ABOVE. [14]

SAMPLE ANSWERS:
Q: How successful were the negotiations aimed at independence during the Second World
War? Explain your answer. [14]
Ans:
Successes
Muslim League’s own progress in Day of Deliverance/Lahore Resolution.
Unity in rejecting Cripps Mission/demands for a separate homeland.
Muslim political gains in Jinnah-Gandhi talks.
Muslim stance at Simla Conference – necessity for new elections.
Failures
Breakdown of relations between Congress and Muslim.
Rejection of Cripps Mission’s proposals. Imprisonment following ‘Quit India’ protests.
Failure to reach agreement from Jinnah-Gandhi talks 1944.
Failure to reach agreement from Simla Conference 1945.
Failure to persuade Jinnah to agree to safeguards for Muslims in a united India.

The Second World War (1939-45) brought a major change in the history of the subcontinent and
there were many negotiations held which aimed at the independence of the subcontinent.
The passing of the Pakistan Resolution was a turning point in the history of Indian Muslims. It
brought about a qualitative change in their status as a minority in India. The British accepted the
demand of millions of Muslims of the subcontinent for the need of a separate homeland in
March 1940 which made a clear victory for the independence of a Muslim state.

Cripps Mission was deputed by British Parliament in early 1942 to contain the political crisis
obtained in India. The mission was headed by Sir Stafford Cripps, a Cabinet Minister. The
Mission reached India on 23 March, talked to different Indian leaders for nearly twenty days and
then offered its proposals. It offered Dominion status to India after the war and even the right
to secede. It provided for a constitution committee after the war and the provinces to be free to
frame their own constitution. All the parties rejected it. The Mission failed because of the
attitude of the conservative party. The government did not desire to share power with the
Indians during the war. Cripps was also not completely free to negotiate with the Indians. Cripps
blamed Gandhi and the congress leaders for the failure of his mission.

The Gandhi-Jinnah talks began in Bombay in May 1944. Gandhi argued with Jinnah in the talks
that all Indians are one nation therefore demand of separate homeland was baseless. Congress
and league should cooperate and achieve independent first, then a referendum maybe held in
Muslim majority provinces to find out if they wish to be separated. Punjab and Bengal will have
to be divided because there are non-Muslims majority districts. Mr. Jinnah did not agree and
pressed upon an independent and sovereign Muslim state. Therefore, no fruitful result came
out because Gandhi did not accepted Muslims as a separate nation. On the other hand, Jinnah
wanted all six provinces which were Bengal, Kashmir, Baluchistan, N.W.F.P, Sind and Punjab to be
included in Pakistan. Though the Gandhi-Jinnah negotiations failed to achieve the avowed goal
of the Hindu-Muslim unity, they brought to Jinnah and the Muslim League some important
political gains which led to the partition in 1947.

In June and July 1945, Lord Wavell called for Simla Conference and suggested the reconstitution
of the Viceroy’s executive council in which the Viceroy was to select persons nominated by the
political parties. Different communities were also to get their due share in the council and parity
was reserved for casts Hindu and Muslims. The leadership of both Congress and Muslim League
attended the conference. However, differences arouse between the leadership of the two
parties on the issue of representation of the Muslims community. The Muslim League claimed
that it was the only Muslim representative party in India and the entire Muslims representative
in the Viceroy’s executive council should be the nominees of the Party. On the other hand,
Congress tried to prove that their party represented all the parties living in India and thus
should be allowed to nominate Muslim representatives as well.
The World War II ended in August 1945. All negotiations for independence during this period
failed because of the rejection by Congress and Muslims to all the negotiations with Britain
including breakdown of relations between Congress and Muslim League. However, the Muslim
League had a little success during this period in the form of Lahore Resolution, unity in rejecting
the Cripps Mission and demanding for a separate homeland. Gandhi realized that Muslim
League is the only political party for the Muslims in Gandhi-Jinnah talks which the Congress was
neglecting from the beginning. Jinnah took a firm stance at Simla Conference on Lahore
Resolution of 1940 which led to the necessity of new elections (1945-46).

Q: Were the Gandhi-Jinnah talks the most important factor during the 1940s that led to the
partition of the sub-continent in 1947? Give reasons for your answer. [14]

Ans:

By 1940s, the subcontinent had almost come to the verge of partition and there were many
events which marked as the stone to partition and Gandhi-Jinnah talks remained the most
important event.

Gandhi and Jinnah held talks in May 1944 at Bombay between Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
and Mohammad Ali Jinnah about a Muslim homeland but failed to reach agreement since
Jinnah wanted all six provinces included in Pakistan whereas Gandhi only agreed to three.

Despite of the fact that the talks failed on the point of Muslims’ unconditional support to the
Congress which Jinnah disagreed but at the same time Jinnah became the most important
leader who represented the Muslims. Nevertheless, it was an important meeting since Gandhi
had been forced to negotiate with the Muslim League on an equal footing for the first time.
Similarly, Gandhi’s refusal to accept the Two Nation Theory became another reason for its
failure but Muslims were considered as an important community by Gandhi and without his
support, Congress was not able to take any unanimous decision.

However, they were not the only factor which was important in leading to eventual Partition at
the Simla Conference of 1945, the Viceroy Lord Wavell realised that the two parties were unable
to reach agreement on anything. Although all parties agreed to the principle of the Executive
Council, the sticking point was the method of selection. Following the Conference, Lord Wavell
announced new elections of 1945-46. The results demonstrated that the Congress had control
of the non-Muslim votes but that the League had equally gained control of the Muslim vote. It
was clear that the League was an equal player to the Congress and that the demand for
Partition could no longer be ignored by the Congress or the British Government.

Similarly, it was following the announcement by Clement Attlee that the British would leave the
sub-continent by 1948 and the subsequent violence in the Punjab in March 1947 that convinced
Nehru that Partition should take place quickly.

By the help of the given points, it can be said that despite of the failure of the Gandhi-Jinnah
talks, it made a concrete achievement for Muslim League and they were able to voice the issues
of Muslims’ rights and need of having an independent country which came true on 14 th August
1947 in the form of independent Pakistan.

Researched and Prepared by:

Sir Adnan Qureshi

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