Table of Contents
Introduction: Cabinet Mission Plan
The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 was a significant development in the history of British India, aimed at resolving the political deadlock between the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League regarding the future governance of India.
The Cabinet Mission was a high-powered mission of three British Cabinet members.
The British government sent the Cabinet Mission to India to find ways to transfer power to India, suggest measures for forming a Constitution-making body, and set up an Interim Government.
The initiative to form the Mission was taken by Clement Attlee (the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 26 July 1945 to 26 October 1951).
The Mission reached Delhi on 24th March 1946.
The members of Cabinet Mission
| Lord Pethick Lawrence | The secretary of state for India (A British Cabinet minister and the political head of the India Office in London). The post was created in 1858. |
| Sir Stafford Cripps | President of the Board of Trade |
| A.V. Alexander | The first lord of the Admiralty, the political head of the British Royal Navy. |
Context
- Post-World War II Scenario: After World War II, the British were keen on resolving the Indian issue as the demand for independence had intensified.
- Communal Tensions: The political landscape was marked by significant communal tension between Hindus and Muslims, with the Muslim League demanding a separate nation, Pakistan, while the Congress Party wanted a united India.
Objectives
The British Cabinet Mission, consisting of Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, and A. V. Alexander, arrived in India in March 1946 with the aim to:
- Discuss and plan for the transfer of power from the British to Indian leadership.
- Ensure that India remained within the Commonwealth.
- Address the demands of both the Congress and the Muslim League.
Proposals
The Cabinet Mission Plan proposed:
- Union of India:
- A united India as a loose federation, with a central government controlling only defense, foreign affairs, and communications.
- Provinces would have significant autonomy and would control all other aspects.
- Grouping of Provinces:
- Provinces were to be grouped into three sections:
- Group A: Hindu-majority provinces (e.g., Madras, Bombay, Central Provinces, United Provinces, Bihar, and Orissa).
- Group B: Muslim-majority provinces in the northwest (e.g., Punjab, North-West Frontier Province, Sind, and Baluchistan).
- Group C: Muslim-majority provinces in the east (e.g., Bengal and Assam).
- Provinces could opt out of their groups after the first general elections.
- Provinces were to be grouped into three sections:
- Constituent Assembly:
- A Constituent Assembly was to be elected to draft a constitution.
- The assembly would consist of 389 members: 292 from British India, 93 from princely states, and 4 from the chief commissioners’ provinces.
- Interim Government:
- An interim government would be formed from representatives of major political parties, ensuring a balance between the Congress and the Muslim League.
Reactions
- Congress Party: The Congress accepted the plan’s framework but rejected the idea of grouping as it believed it would lead to the eventual partition of India.
- Muslim League: The League initially accepted the plan but later rejected it due to disagreements over the interpretation of the grouping clause and their insistence on a separate Pakistan.
Outcome
The differences between the Congress and the Muslim League led to the breakdown of the Cabinet Mission Plan. The plan’s failure eventually led to:
- The interim government being formed in September 1946 under Jawaharlal Nehru.
- Mounting communal violence and political unrest.
- The eventual partition of India and the creation of Pakistan in 1947 as per the Mountbatten Plan.
The Cabinet Mission Plan remains a crucial chapter in India’s struggle for independence, highlighting the complexities of managing diverse political aspirations within a colonial context.