Thee journey towards India’s independence from British rule is a saga of resilience, sacrifice, and strategic planning. At the heart of this historic transformation lies the formulation and execution of various independence plans, each marking a significant milestone in India’s quest for self-governance. From the early years of the 20th century to the eventual partition in 1947, India’s independence movement was guided by a series of plans and strategies aimed at achieving freedom from colonial rule. These plans evolved in response to changing political dynamics, social movements, and the exigencies of the time, ultimately culminating in the birth of two nations, India and Pakistan.
The Indian Independence Act was passed by the British parliament on July 5, 1947. It was made to transfer power from the British Crown to the newly independent countries of India and Pakistan. This ended British control over Indian affairs.
The Act was based on the Mountbatten Plan created by Louis Mountbatten, who was the last Governor-General of India. He made the plan to give power to the people of India instead of the British Crown. The Act came after many years of struggle and resistance by Indians against British rule. Lord Mountbatten continued as the Governor-General of independent India until 1948.
Background
- The British Crown took control of India from the British East India Company after the Revolt of 1857. British rule in India was marked by mistreatment and unfair treatment of Indian people. By the time of the Second World War, Indians were very unhappy with British rule. The British promised to give Indians more say in their own government if they helped in the war effort.
- Before the British arrived, India was ruled by different dynasties. When the British East India Company came, they started taking over by making political treaties and fighting wars. They also made alliances like the subsidiary alliances, which meant the British had control over Indian lands. Many Indian rulers agreed to these alliances.
- After the Revolt of 1857, the British Crown took over direct control of India. But Indians started resisting British rule more and more. Among the leaders of this resistance, Mahatma Gandhi stood out for his nonviolent methods. His protests gained huge support, and soon there were massive movements for independence.
- Eventually, the British gave in. The Indian Independence Act was introduced in the British parliament by Lord Listowel, the last Secretary of State for India. The Act was passed, and India and Pakistan became independent countries. The princely states were also given back their independence, and they could choose to join either India or Pakistan.
Royal Assent
The British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act on July 5, 1947. The King of Britain, George VI, approved it on July 18, 1947. This Act removed the title of ‘Emperor of India’ from the British Crown. George VI declared that from now on, he wouldn’t use the title ‘Emperor of India’ in his official titles and names.
Features of Act
- The Act declared India as a free and independent country. It also allowed for the division of India into two separate parts, India and Pakistan, based on religious differences.
- The position of the Secretary of State for India was removed, as well as the office of the Viceroy. Instead, two separate Governor-Generals were appointed for India and Pakistan, chosen by the British Cabinet.
- Both India and Pakistan were given the authority to create their own constitutions and to repeal any British laws, including the Independence Act itself. They were also allowed to make laws until their own constitutions were ready.
- The Act allowed the princely states to join either India or Pakistan, or to stay independent.
- Each country was to be governed according to the Government of India Act of 1935. The British Monarch lost the power to reject or ask for changes to Indian bills.
- The Governor-General of each country had to follow the advice of their council.
- The Radcliffe Commission was set up right after the Act to draw the boundaries between India and Pakistan, based on religious differences. Punjab and Bengal were split between the two countries.
- Lord Louis Mountbatten became the Governor-General of India, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah became the Governor-General of Pakistan. Jawaharlal Nehru became the Prime Minister of India, while Liaqat Ali Khan became the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Developments
- After the Independence Act, there were some important events. The Indian Constituent Assembly created the Indian Constitution in 1949, which became effective on January 26, 1950, making India a republic. Pakistan also became a republic on March 23, 1956.
- The integration of princely states was a big challenge. However, most of them agreed to join either India or Pakistan by signing the accession papers. They mostly chose based on their location. For example, states on the Indian side mostly joined India. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played a major role in these agreements on the Indian side. But the issue of Kashmir has remained a problem between India and Pakistan. They have fought several wars over it, including one right after independence in 1947. According to a ceasefire declared by the United Nations, both countries still control the parts of Kashmir they held at the time of the ceasefire.
The Indian Independence Act led to the independence of India and Pakistan, as the British Crown handed over power to these new states. British control over the region was ended. However, this independence was followed by a violent partition, causing one of the largest forced migrations in history, resulting in the deaths of millions.
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