- In 1940, the Muslim League passed the Pakistan Resolution demanding an independent Muslim state of Pakistan. This came after the failure of negotiations between the Congress and the British over granting independence to India. - The Mountbatten Plan of 1947 provided for the partition of British India into two independent dominions - India and Pakistan. It set June 30th, 1947 as the deadline for the transfer of power and established boundary commissions to divide the provinces of Bengal and Punjab between the two new states. - The Indian Independence Act, passed in July 1947, formally implemented the partition. It established the two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan within the British Commonwealth and specified that the governments would be led by governors general until new constit

1. Freedom & Partition
• Sept 1939, Germany attacks Poland-- WW2
• Britain declares war against Germany & declares
India’s support in war without consulting Indian
ministers
• Congress demanded promise that constituent
assembly be convened to decide political
structure of free India & immediately some
genuine govt be set up at center
• This demand was rejected by linlithgow
• Ministers resign leads to constitutional deadlock

2. Pakistan Resolution (Lahore) 1940
• Ml passed resolution for independent
Pakistan

3. August Offer
• Hitler defeated Belgium,France,Holland
• British Viceroy offered August offer
• Offered dominion status
• Set up constituent assembly after war
• No future constitution to be adopted without
minority consent
• ML happy to get veto power & felt that
partition was only solution of the deadlock

4. Individual Satyagrahas
• Gandhi didn’t want to start full fledged
satyagraha
• Vinoba Bhave 1st & Nehru 2nd to offer it

5. Cripps Mission
• March 1942 Stafford Cripps sent to India
• An Indian union with dominion status (Self
governing territory of British commonwealth)
would be set up
• After the war constituent assembly will be
convened
• Any province not willing to join union could have
separate constitution & form separate union
• Congress rejected it as it wanted full
independence & not dominion status

6. QIM
• After Cripps mission departure Gandhi asked
British to go & made plans for non violent non
cooperation movement against Japan invasion
• CWC meeting at Wardha accepted resolution for
struggle
• AICC meeting Gowalia Tank Bombay QI resolution
was passed & it demanded immediate end to
British rule in India
• Gandhi gave “Do or Die “ mantra , free India or
die in attempt

7. Rajaji’s Formula
• Formula for ML & INC cooperation
• It was tacit acceptance of ML demand for Pakistan
• Ml to endorse congress demand for independence
• Ml to cooperate with congress in forming provincial
govt at centre
• After war entire population of Muslim majority areas
to decide by plebiscite about separation
• In case of separation agreement to be made jointly for
safeguarding defence, commerce , communication
• But Jinnah rejected formula as he wanted only Muslims
of these areas to participate in plebiscite

8. Desai- Liaqat Pact
• Equal number of people to be nominated by
congress & ML in central legislature
• 20 % seats reserved for minorities
• But it was not accepted & it had consequence
that parity between ML & congress was drawn

9. Wavel’s Plan
• Churchill govt in Britain wanted to resolve
deadlock
• Possibilities were kept open for negotiations
on a new constitution once the war is over
• Gave Ml power to decide for Indian Muslims
, it used veto

10. Cabinet’s Plan
• PM Attlee sent three member team including Pethick Lawrence, Stafford
Cripps,AV Alexander to India to find out ways for peaceful transfer of
power
• After Cripps offer little was left to offer other than full independence
• Now British wanted united & friendly India & active partner in defence of
Commonwealth
• It gave it’s plan
• Rejected demand of Pakistan
• Country can’t be divided on communal lines as Sikh will demand
separation in Punjab too
• It will create administrative problems to govern such divided nation
• It suggested grouping of the existing provincial assemblies into three
sections A,B,C
• Meanwhile an interim govt to be formed from constituent assembly

11. Attlee’s Statement 20 Feb 1947
• British PM Attlee kept June 30,1948 as
deadline to transfer power
• Mountbatten would replace Wavell

12. Mountbatten Plan June3,1947
• Immediate transfer of power on basis of grant of dominion
status(with right of secession)
• Divide India but retain maximum unity by making Pakistan
as small as possible
• Boundary commission was to be set up for partition
• Independence of princely states ruled out
• Accession of Hyderabad to Pak ruled out as Mountbatten
supported congress on this
• Sindh will make it’s own decision
• Punjab & Bengal assemblies to meet in Hindu & Muslim
members separately & decide about partition
• Referendum in NWFP & Syllhet distt of Bengal

13. Indian Independence Act
• July 18,1947 British Parliament ratified Mountbatten
plan as the “Independence of India Act 1947” & was
implemented from 15th Aug 1947
• Act provided for the creation of two independent
dominions of India & Pakistan each dominion to have
GG
• Constituent assembly of each dominion to serve as
legislature of that dominion till the new constitution
comes into force govt of India act 1935 to be in
operation
• MA Jinnah became GG of Pakistan & India requested
Mountbatten to continue it’s GG