Page 87 - SST Class 08

Telegraph Department observed a countrywide
atom bombs by America on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki in which millions of people were killed
and crippled.
Britain and allies had won, but it had become
weakened. Two new powers on the world
horizon now were America and Russia. So, many
countries in Asia and Africa rose in rebellion for
independence from the British rule.
Back home, three of the imprisoned officers of the
INA were put on trial in the Red Fort, they were
Shah Nawaz Khan, G.S. Dhillon and P.K. Sehgal,
among others. This created a great emotional
upsurge among the Indian people. Many
prominent lawyers, including Jawaharlal Nehru,
defended them. These officers were convicted and
sentenced to death; however, under the popular
pressure, they were not executed.
The Indian soldiers were not at all happy with the
British because, after so much of sacrifice, their
condition had not improved. So, they rose in
revolt in many places. The British officers now
realized that it would be extremely difficult to rule
India without the cooperation of the Indian
soldiers. In 1946, a revolt by the ratings of the
Royal Indian Navy alarmed the British. The ratings
demanded better working conditions. They were
supported by the common people also. The
ratings clashed
with the police in
which more than
300 people were
killed. The ratings
surrendered only
after the Congress
leaders talked to
them. Royal Indian Navy ratings revolt in 1946
Mass Movement in 1945-46
In addition to the above events, the masses took to
streets to protest against the British. They
demanded setting free of the prisoners of war of
the INA. At many places, hartals were observed.
Even the Indian Air Force and the Indian Signal
Core expressed their resentment of serving under
foreign masters. The civil servants too protested.
The Indian Civil Services expressed displeasure
with the government. The Indian Postal and
hartal. In South India, the Indian Railways did the
same. Not only this, violence erupted at many
places. It may be noted that all these hartals were
spontaneous, and not led by any leaders.
Shocked by the numerous revolts by the Indian
soldiers and Indian people in general, the British
government realized that it would be extremely
difficult to rule India and suppress the Indian
people any more. So, it declared in 1946 that it
intended to end its rule in India.
Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)
The Cabinet Mission arrived in India in 1946.
After the Second World War, Atlee had become
the Prime Minister of Britain, who favoured the
independence of India. Also, America was in the
favour of the Indians getting independence.
Moreover, India was no more an economic asset
for Britain as the people had boycotted the foreign
goods. Frequent revolts, protests and hartals had
convinced the British that it was no more possible
to rule India. They were further shaken by the
strikes of the Navy and Air Force.
The chief purpose of the Cabinet Mission was to
find out a mutually agreed solution to the Indian
problem. The Mission held talks with all
prominent political leaders of India and proposed
the following :
1. A federal government should be established at
the centre which would include the native
states as well. It should look after the defence,
foreign affairs and communication.
2. Communal problems should be decided by the
concerned communities.
3. The provinces should organise themselves into
groups.
4. An interim government should be formed
which should include representatives of all
prominent political parties.
5. A Constituent Assembly should be convened
to draft a new Constitution of India. It should
comprise of the members elected by the
Provincial Legislative Councils and
representatives of the princely states.
Nationalist Movement (1919-1947)
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