History & Civics
With reference to the newspaper article answer the questions that follow:
(a) Which Plan is referred to in the given newspaper article? State any two features of this Plan.
(b) How was the Plan supposed to solve the communal problem existing in India?
(c) Why did the Congress accept the Plan? State three reasons to justify its acceptance.
Answer
(a) The Plan referred to in the given newspaper article is Mountbatten Plan.
Two features of the Plan devised by Lord Mountbatten were:
Partition — The country would be divided into two Dominions, i.e., India and Pakistan.
A Boundary Commission — A Boundary Commission would be created to settle the boundaries of the two Dominions in case partition was decided upon.
(b) The Mountbatten Plan aimed to solve India's communal problem by partitioning British India into two dominions—India and Pakistan, allowing provinces to choose their dominion. Muslim-majority areas could join Pakistan, while Hindu-majority ones remained in India. This was seen as a way to end separate electorates and enable India to become a secular, democratic nation.
(c) The Congress accepted the Mountbatten Plan because of the following reasons-
- The large-scale communal riots that engulfed the whole country convinced all that the only solution to the communal problem lay in the Partition of India.
- The League had joined the Interim Government to obstruct and not to cooperate. Experience of working with the League had convinced the Congress that it could not have a joint administration with the League.
- The only alternative to Partition was a Federation with a weak Centre. A smaller India with a strong central authority was better than a bigger State with weak Centre.
Related Questions
The Cabinet Mission Plan proposed a two-tiered federal union of British Provinces and Princely States. With reference to this describe the following:
(a) Name the persons who constituted the Cabinet Mission. What was the purpose of sending the Cabinet Mission to India in 1946?
(b) The federal structure proposed by the Cabinet Mission Plan.
(c) The option given to the Princely States.
The attempt of the British to pacify the Congress and the Muslim League was clearly visible in the Cabinet Mission proposals but in reality neither could be pleased. With reference to this, explain:
(a) Any three proposals of the Cabinet Mission.
(b) The reasons for the Muslim League's acceptance and later rejection of the Cabinet Mission Plan.
(c) Why did the Congress refuse to participate in the formation of the Interim Government under the Cabinet Mission Plan?
Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:
“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny and now the time comes, when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom… It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still large cause of humanity.”
—Tryst with Destiny Speech by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru(a) What happened at the stroke of midnight hour? Which unending quest is Jawaharlal Nehru talking about in the excerpt? Who all strived to end this quest?
(b) Where and when did Jawaharlal Nehru made this historic speech? Name any two famous dignitaries present there?
(c) Name the British Act that led to Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech. State three features of this Act.
A number of Acts were passed by the British to pacify the demands of the Indians relating to the Government of India. But the Independence Act, 1947 is considered as a unique piece of legislation. Why is it so? Give reasons to support your answer.