important
9.15 Cripps Mission
Cripps Mission 1942
Tripuri Crisis
- Subhash Bose decided to stand for the Presidency in 1939 putting as a spokesperson of militant politics and radical groups.
- His views were countered by Patel, Prasad and Kriplani who with the blessings of Gandhiji put Pattabhi Sitaramayya as the rival.
- Bose emerged victorious.
The Reason for the Crisis Was
- Bose's criticism of the Congress leadership as being rightists, working with the gov on a compromise of a federation, not wanting a leftist as president and having already drawn a list of prospective central ministers.
- Bose thought that India was ready for a mass movement Gandhi did not.
- Bose wanted Gandhiji to lead the struggle and follow strategy and tactics laid by him
- Issue of federation rift in INC Haripura and Tripuri.
- Bose - anti federation stand. BR Tomlinson - fought out in ideological terms right vs left, proFed vs anti Fed, pro Ministry vs anti
- Bose formed a new party called the Forward Bloc within the Congress.
- later Bose resigned later he was also removed from all Cong position, banned to hold any exec office for 3 yrs.
- Cong began to lose popularity after 1938 coz popular frustration, militant mood.
- WWII broke out Gandhiji was sympathetic to the cause of Britain, Bose and other socialist did not want to support either party.
- Nehru did not wanted to take any advantage of Britain's difficulty nor did he wanted to support its war efforts. Gandhiji supported Nehru.
- Linlithgow pitched the Princess and the Muslim League against the Congress. Britain had no intention of leaving India.
- Congress ministries resigned. They wanted to start an immediate struggle. But Gandhiji did not.
Reasons for not Launching a Struggle Immediately after WWII
- Cause of the Allies was just.
- Lack of Hindu Muslim unity.
- Conducive atmosphere was missing.
- Indiscipline and lack of cohesion within the congress.
- Gandhiji started the Delhi Chalo movement for the freedom of speech to preach against the participation in the war individual Satyagrah.
- The CWC in 1941 overrode Gandhijji and Nehru's objection and offered full support towards defence of India.
- President Roosevelt, Chiang Kai Shek of China, Labour party of Britain appealed for the cooperation of the Indians to the British.
Cripps Mission 1942
- was sent in Mar 1942 because of Reverses suffered by Britain in SE Asia and Japanese threat to invade India.
- Pressure from USA, China and USSR to seek Indian cooperation.
- Indian nationalists agreed to cooperate if substantial power was transferred.
Main Proposals Were
- Indian Union with a dominion status would be set up to decide its relations with the Commonwealth.
- Constituent Assembly would be convened to frame a new constitution.
- To accept the new consitution 2 condition needed to be fulfilled any province not willing to join could form a separate constitution and union and rights of racial and religous minorities were safeguarded -> this was the acceptance to the demand of Pakistan. important
- Defence of India would remain in British hands and Gov Gen powers would remain intact.
Objections/Problems
- Dominion status rather than full independence.
- Representation to the princely states not by the people but by nomination.
- Provision for partition of India.
- No acceptance to the demand of immediate transfer of power
- Cripps was asked not to go beyond the Draft declaration, it gave him no power to bargain and negotiate.
PYQs
The Cripps Mission
- "The Cripps Mission gave India‚ a post-dated cheque." Comment. [1982, 20m]