Written By Muhammad Faisal, @The_Faisalali
Cripps Mission 1942 and The Role of AIML and Muhammad Ali Jinnah
TABLE OF CONTENT CRIPPS MISSION 1942
1 |
LIST OF ABBREVIATION |
|
|
2 |
Abstract |
|
|
3 |
THE CRIPPS MISSION |
|
|
4 |
Historical Background |
|
|
5 |
M.A Jinnah’s Proposal |
|
|
6 |
The August Offer |
|
|
7 |
Reaction of M.A
Jinnah in August Offer |
|
|
8 |
INC Reaction on August Offer |
|
|
9 |
The Defence Council
and the AIML |
|
|
10 |
CRIPPS PROPOSALS |
|
|
11 |
Profile of Cripps |
|
|
12 |
Rejection of Proposal by AIML |
|
|
13 |
M.A Jinnah Response
on Proposal |
|
|
14 |
M.A Jinnah Response on Proposal |
|
|
15 |
Hindu Mahasabha
Response on Proposal |
|
|
16 |
The Quit India Movement |
|
|
17 |
Conclusion |
|
|
18 |
References |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIST OF ABBREVIATION
AIML All
India Muslim League
INC Indian
National Congress
WWI World
War I
WWII World
War II
USSR Union
of Soviet Socialist Republic
USA United
State of America
U.K United
Kingdom
NWFP North
West Frontier Province
M. A Jinnah Muhammad
Ali Jinnah
M.K Gandhi Mohandas
Karamchand Gandhi
A.K. Fazlul Haq Abul
Kasem Fazlul Haq
G.M Syed Ghulam Murtaza Syed
ABSTRACT
During WWI the British introduced Montagu-Chelemsford Reform
(1919) for getting the support of India, at this time Indian political
situation was deteriorating day by day because the Khalifat Movement was also
launched so they introduced reforms for getting the support of Indian. The
rapid advancement of Japans’ troops brought the war to the Indian border. At
this time Congress wants to take advantage of the British weakness, Congress
dreamed that if the British were defeated by Germany they will fulfill their
derma of Ram Raj in India.
Jinnah and the AIML take an active role in the
Cripps Mission, research focused on the role of Quaid-i-Azam in different
Proposals that are interrelated with the Cripps Mission. The first proposal of
Jinnah was on July 1, 1940, he demanded from the Government that no interim or
final constitution would be imposed on India without the prior approval of the
Muslim and the AIML. Then Jinnah takes an active role in August Offer, Jinnah
showed satisfaction with August Offer. When the Defense Council of 30 members
was formed without informing Jinnah. Jinnah holds an emergency meeting of the
League, in which he demanded the resignation of those leaders who participated
in the Defense Council. Jinnah also adopted autocratic behavior against
them.
Jinnah was also unsatisfied with the Cripps
Proposal. He said that the proposals have “aroused our deepest anxieties and
grave apprehensions, especially concerning Pakistan Scheme which is a matter of
life and death for Muslim India. We will endeavor that the principle of
Pakistan which finds only veiled recognition in the document should be conceded
in unequivocal terms.”
When the Quit India Movement was launched Jinnah was also against that this movement, Congress raised the slogan of ‘Quit India’ but Jinnah raised that Quit and divide India. Research work explored the much contribution of the Quaid-i-Azam and the Muslim for the separate entity of Muslims. Even when the British introduced the term ‘Union’ Jinnah presented Two Nation Theory.
THE CRIPPS MISSION 1942
Historical Background:-
In September 1939 the
Great World War II Started between the Central and the Allied forces, India was
a force to get involved in World War II. Congress demanded the objective and
aims of the War. Indian National Congress demanded complete independence for
India. The objective was for congress to establish the Ram Raj in
India. On June 15, 1940, in an essay, Gandhi wrote “Congress is the only
democratic and elected political party in India. All other parties are
self-created and communal.” While on September 18, 1939 AIML demanded assurance
from the Government that no constitutional reforms would be introduced in India
without the consultation of it and the consent of AIML.
M.A Jinnah’s Proposal:-
On July 1, 1940, the
Quaid-i-Azam sent few proposals to the viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, regarding the
viceroy’s Executive Council and War Council. M.A Jinnah demanded from the
Government that no interim or final constitution would be imposed on India
without the prior approval of the Muslims and the AIML.[1]
The August Offer:-
On August 8, 1940, His
Majesty’s Government issued a white paper that after the war a constituent
assembly would be formed in India, that would include all the elements of the
national life and its task would be to prepare the framework of the country’s
future constitution. The hope was expressed that various parties of India would
cooperate with the Viceroy regarding the war efforts. The following assurance
was given:-
- Ø
The time promised the formation of a constituent assembly made
up of Indian representatives.
- Ø
For the first time, promised the formation of a constituent
assembly, all the minorities, especially the Muslims, were assured that their
rights would be adequately safeguarded.
- Ø
Thirdly, this declaration removed the fears of the Muslims, and
that of all other minorities, that the Government might surrender to Congress
demands was set as rest.
The reaction of M.A Jinnah in August Offer:-
On 1, September 1940
the All India Muslim League Working Committee, at a meeting, presided over by
the Quaid-i-Azam, discussed the August Offer. It expressed its satisfaction
over the British Government’s decision that no future constitution would be
adopted without the prior approval and consent of the League. In their speech,
the Viceroy and the Secretary of the State had talked about the “national
unity”. The working committee of the League stated that throughout
history, “national unity” had been no existence in India.[2] The league working
Committee declared that the partition was the only solution to complicated
political issues.
INC Reaction on August Offer:-
The INC reacted against
the August Offer, Its president Shri Abul Kalam Azad, even refused to hold
talks with the Government on this issue. Because they believed that the
declaration was “totally at variance with the Congress Policy”. The congress
completely rejected the August Offers and alleged that the Government was not
sincere to the cause of Indian independence.
The Defence Council and the AIML:-
On July 20, 1941, the
Government briefed the Quaid about the proposed extension of the
Governor-General’s Executive Council. At the same time, the formation of a 30
members Defense Council was also announced. The decision was also taken without
the consulting of the Quaid, so he organized an emergency meeting of the
Working Committee of the League at Bombay. The League strictly criticized the
Government’s decision to encourage its members to join the Defence Council, the
League demanded the resignation within ten days, from those members who joined
the
Defence Council, The Muslim Leaders who
participated in Defence Council were Moulvi A.K Fazlul Haq, Sir Sa’adullah,
Begum Shah Nawaz, Sir Skindar Hayat, and Nawab Saeed Chattari. [3] When the resignation
demanded from Moulvi Fazlul Haq he did it, but he also resigned from the
League. In a letter, he accused the Quaid of adopting autocratic behavior. This
attitude enraged the Muslims of Bengal. Other leaders Sir Sa’adulah and Sir
Skindar Hayat resigned from the Defense Council. Begum Shah Nawaz was also
expelled from the party.
CRIPPS PROPOSALS 1942:-
The rapid advance of
the Japanese troops had brought the war to the Indian borders. When Burma was
engulfed in the flames of war. Congress decided to take advantage of this
helpless condition of the British. It believed that in case of defeat of
British the Congress fulfill its old dream Ram Raj, in
India. Meanwhile, the British Government sends its delimitation to tackle the
situation, that was headed by Sir Stafford Cripps to India to try to break the
political deadlock.
Profile of Sir Stafford Cripps:-
Sir Stafford Cripps
had been the British ambassador to the USSR, and he was widely credited with
bringing the USSR into the war on the Side of Britain against Germany. He was
socialistic and was also a personal friend of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress
Leader. [4]
Cripps arrived in Delhi
on March 22, 1942. He held meetings with the Quaid-i-Azam, Jawaharlal Nehru,
Abdul Kalam Azad, Sir Skindar Hayat, Moulvi Fazlul Haq, B.R. Ambedkar, V.D
Savarkar, and Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru. He briefed them about the following
proposal:-
Ø
Complete independence would be granted to India at the end of
the War.
Ø
The British Government wants to create a new Indian Dominion
which, despite having complete external and internal autonomy, would be
associated with the U.K. and other Dominions by a common allegiance to the
crown.
Ø
At the end of the war, a new constituent assembly would be
formed to frame the future constitution of India. It member would be elected
based on proportional representation by the members of the lower house of the
provincial assembly. The constitution made by this assembly would be acceptable
to the British Government. A treaty would be concluded between the Assembly and
His Majesty’s Government. It would resolve all the issues and problems that
would crop up at the time of the transfer of power from Britain to the people
of India. All the promises made to the religious minorities would be honored in
these accords.
Ø
Any province would be free to keep itself out of the proposed
Union and to retain its prevailing constructional position. If such
non-acceding provinces so desired they could have their own separate
Union.
Ø
During the critical period which now faces India and until the
new constitution is framed His Majesty’s Government must inevitably bear the
responsibility for the control of the defense of India.
As earlier mentioned that Cripps was a friend of Congress. His
proposals were mainly based on that broad principle which had been discussed at
length by Nehru with him and Attlee in 1938.[5]
Rejection of Proposal by AIML:-
The working committee
of the All India Muslim League rejected these proposals on the following
grounds:-
Ø
The announcement by the Government that a Union would be set up
in India. Was not in line with the basic principles and desires of the League,
because the League did not believe in the so-called Indian Unity. The Working
Committee emphatically declared that it was neither just nor possible, in the
interest of peace and happiness of two peoples, to compel to constitute One
Indian Union.
Ø
Since in the proposed assembly in which the Muslims would get
only one-fourth of seats, all the important issues would be decided by a
majority vote, the Muslims would be left with no option but to surrender to the
dictates of the majority. Keeping in view that fact the League opposed the
setting up of a constitution-making body because the only solution to India’s
constitution problem was the partition of India.
Ø
Although the provinces were given the right to secede from the
Union the proposals did not lay down the method and procedure to implement the
provision. Secondly, no procedure had been laid down as to how the verdict of
the province was to be obtained in favor or against accession to the one
Union.
M.A Jinnah Response on Cripps Proposal:-
The Quaid-i-Azam called
these proposals very unsatisfactory and asserted that they amounted to taking
the Muslims to the gallows. Expressing his views on the issue he said that the
proposals have “aroused our deepest anxieties and grave apprehensions,
especially concerning Pakistan Scheme which is a matter of life and death for
Muslim India. We will endeavor that the principle of Pakistan which finds only
veiled recognition in the document should be conceded in unequivocal terms.”
The Quaid hope that to give real effect to the principle of Pakistan and Muslim
self-determination, his Majesty’s Government and Stafford Cripps would not
hesitate to make necessary amendments. [6]
The response of Congress on Cripps Proposal:-
Ø
The Congress denounced the Cripps proposals because it contained
seeds of Pakistan.
Ø
Congress condemned the “novel” principle of non accession” as a
severe blow to the conception. Growing trouble in the provinces.
Ø
The Congress also demanded that the portfolio of defense should
immediately be handed over to the Indians.
Ø
It also objected to the power given to the provinces.
Ø
M.K Gandhi was deeply distressed at the idea of the breaking
away of the provinces from the Union.
Ø
Nehru wrote an article in New York Times on
July 19, 1943, that “proposal had shown the Indians the way to divide their
country not only into two but several parts.
Hindu Mahasabha Response on Cripps Proposal:-
On April 3, 1942, the
working Committee of Hindu Mahasabha rejected the Cripps Plan. It said that the
basic principle of the Mahasabha was that India was one and indivisible. The
right to set out of the Indian federation. “will stimulate communal and
sectional animosities.” The Mahasabha demanded that Indian should be
immediately declared an independent country. [7]
The Quit India Movement:-
Cripps made his office
in the expectation that the Congress and the Muslim League would cooperate in
Britain’s War against Germany. Gandhi persuaded Congress to adopt a Quit India
Resolution. At first Nehru and Sardar Patel resisted but finally agreed with
Gandhi.
In the Muslim League,
the Quit India Movement was fanning differences of opinion in the working
committee. The Raja of Mahmudabad and G.M Syed moved a resolution calling for
the Muslim League to join the Quit India Movement. Ultimately, the Raja of
Mahmudabad abstained and only G.M Syed voted for the resolution. It must be
mentioned that the Quit India Movement had created an emotional crisis. Police
had fired upon students in Allahabad, Nehru’s hometown and the Hindu students
appealed to their Muslim classmates to join them. However, Jinnah did not want
to participate in the Quit India Movement and instead coined the slogan ‘Divide
and Quit’. Jinnah's views about Quit India was that Congress effort to force
the British to transfer power only to the Congress, thereby leaving the Muslim
League in the lurch.[8]
Conclusion:-
After
WWI Britain introduced Montiogu Chemelsford reform, the same they did after for
obtaining the support of the Indian. They did same after the WWII, they sent
Cripps Mission because the political situation of India was deteriorating day
by day, so they send Cripps for getting the maximum support of Indians and the
involving the Indians the WWII. Although the AIML rejected the rejected Cripps
Proposal the Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah admitted that the only positive
aspect of the plan was that for the first time, the British Government had
agreed in principle to the idea of partition. Secondly, within two years of the
Lahore Resolution, the British Government accepted the idea of partition as a
fundamental principle of any future constitution. It was indeed a great
achievement of the Muslims. It was for the first time that the idea of
partitioning India was mentioned in the British official a report to the
Governor-General also testified that “the Muslims are pleased with the thought
that Pakistan is now recognized as practical politics by his Majesty’s
Government.
Works Cited
Kazmi, Muhammad Raza. A Concise History of
Pakistan. Karach, Sindh: Oxford University Press,, 2012 ©2009.
Ibid., p. 279.
Ibid,. p. 280.
Saeed, Ahmad, and Kh Mansoor Sarwar. Trek To Pakistan. Lahore,
Punjab: Institute of Pakistan Historical Reasearch, 2009.
Ibid,. p. 284.
Ibid,. p. 286.
Ibid,. p. 288.
Saeed, Ahmad, and Mansoor Sarwar. Trek to Pakistan. nstitute of
Pakistan Historical Reasearch, 2009.
0 Comments
Thanks for your feedback.
Email address is mandatory for comments, your Email address will not appear on comment, nor will be publish.