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The Ending of the Raj

The Ending of the Raj. 1945-1947. Why was UK govt ready to grant independence after the war?. Economics DEBT - £2,730 million Reconstruction needed huge resources The End of lend-lease one week after the end of the war with Japan. Falling exports to India Britain in debt to India.

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The Ending of the Raj

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  1. The Ending of the Raj 1945-1947

  2. Why was UK govt ready to grant independence after the war? • Economics • DEBT - £2,730 million • Reconstruction needed huge resources • The End of lend-lease one week after the end of the war with Japan. • Falling exports to India • Britain in debt to India

  3. Why was UK govt ready to grant independence after the war? • Shifting Loyalties • By 1945 2 ½ m Indian men had joined the army with over 15,000 Indian Officers • Loyal to “India” • 429 British but 510 Indian civil service officers • Continued unrest in India

  4. General Election • 26 July 1945 • Labour party –won with 393 seats • Nehru was jubilant. • Clement Atlee was pro United Nations and pro Independence. • Strong friendship between Cripps and Nehru. • Muslim suspicion.

  5. Cabinet India’s Committee • British Cabinet decided that elections should be held throughout India. • Choose Representatives to Constituent Assembly. • Pave the way for negotiations

  6. Results • Muslim League won all 30 seats on Assembly for Muslims. • Congress won 90% of general seats. • The Pattern was reproduced in the regions. • Background of violence, 7 million Indians being decommissioned, INA officers being court marshalled.

  7. Attlee’s Mission • Sent a 3 man committee into the mess. • Lord Pethick –Lawrence (Peer with liberal views) • Cripps (President of Board of Trade) • A Alexander (First Lord of Admiralty) • Solve the problem but keep India united • Stayed three months

  8. The Second Simla Conference • May 1946 • 4 from Congress and League • Proposals: • All India Union • Defence, foreign policy and internal communications • Governed by executive and legislature. • Provincial Govts – Hindu Heartlands, Muslim Northwest, Bengal/Assam – balanced.

  9. The Response • League accepted – believed separate Pakistan was inherent. • Congress accepted – best interests • Nehru as President.

  10. Nehru • Mission returned to London • Nehru made speech • Congress when in charge of the Union would act as it pleased. • Jinnah horrified. • Rejected the agreement. • Called for direct action on 16 August.

  11. 16 August • 72 hours • Over 5000 dead. 20,000 seriously injured and 100,000 homeless. • Uncontrollable violence. • Nehru sworn in as PM and Jinnah finally persuaded to join the govt.

  12. The British • Removed Wavell • Appointed Lord Mounbatten • Feb 1947 – Attlee set a deadline for 30 June 1948 • The race was on.

  13. Lord Mountbatten • Get Congress and League to agree • Leave power to existing bodies • To get out of India • Mountbatten wanted to do it in a blaze of good publicity. • Charm offensive • Worked well with Gandhi, Nehru and Congress • Jinnah - frosty.

  14. 1947 • Riots in Delhi, Amritsar and Lahore • Gandhi in despair • Went on one of his walks – failed and now out of time and touch. • The race was still on

  15. The Plan • To allows the Indian states and provinces to decide their own future. • Good Idea? • Mountbatten unofficially and improperly told Nehru. • Nehru – “balkanisation of India; to provoke civil conflict and to add to violence and disorder” • Mountbatten had to start again!

  16. The Final Plan • Drawn up quickly due to mass riots in the Northwest, collapsing law and order as it was clear that Britain was leaving. • Army and Civil Service could not keep control. • Jinnah in a rush as he was dying. • Menon Plan • Two states • India and Pakistan

  17. The Rush • Auchinleck given four weeks to divide army which he reckoned should take 5 years. • Boundary commission drew up the lines in 5 weeks. • Divide up police, civil service revenue and infrastructure • Assets – 82.5% to India and 17.5% to Pakistan.

  18. Boundary Commission • Many leaks, esp to Nehru who applied pressure on the Commission. • The Princes – had been very loyal and now terrified. • Mountbatten pressured them into signing upto India or Pakistan • Their own death warrant.

  19. The Map

  20. The Carnage • Millions of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs were terrified. • Muslims went west, Hindus and Sikhs went East • 10 million moved • 1 million died in the violence. • Only 50,000 troops despatched. • Could do nothing – Mountbatten believed.

  21. 14 August 1947 • Indian Independence with Nehru as leader • Jinnah first Governor General of Pakistan.

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