Cabinet Mission

In this article, we will tell you about a very important mission in the history of India, the 1946 Cabinet Mission. This mission was aimed at achieving the Independence of India. Today, we will tell how it was formed, its objectives and why the mission failed.

What is the Cabinet Mission?

In 1946 Clement Attlee (the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom) initiated a Cabinet Mission to India which was focused on transferring the power that the British government had to the Indian government. The mission wanted to strengthen India’s unity and help the country get Independence.

The mission had three members:

• Lord Pethick-Lawrence 
• Sir Stafford Cripps 
• A.V. Alexander 

Lord Wavell was also a member but only took part in a few discussions. At its core, the Cabinet Mission proposed a three-tier administrative structure for British India. The mission wanted to keep the Federal Union at the top tier. While individual provinces were placed at the bottom and groups of provinces were set at the middle. All these groups were named Groups A, B and C, respectively.

These three groups were focused on the three parts of India: Northwest India, Eastern India and central portions of India. Although the plan was disrupted due to the political differences between Indian National Congress and the Muslim League.

To find solutions for this problem, Lord Wavell was replaced by a new viceroy Lord Mountbatten.

Background of the Cabinet Mission

At the time when British was loosing it’s control over India, they had understood that their temporary support of the Muslim League is clashing with their need to unite India. The desire to unite India came from having a politically united subcontinent and the doubts that they had for Pakistan. 

The Cabinet Mission was the outcome of this desire that came to India on 24 March 1946. It was sent by the British Government which put a heavy emphasis on post-independent India.

The three persons who formulated the plan were: 

• A.V. Alexander
• Stafford Cripps
• Pethick-Lawrence

Both the Indian National Congress and Muslim League were ready to settle. At that time a separate electoral system was used during the elections. 

The Muslim league had won 90 per cent for the Muslims. After this astonishing victory in the elections, Jinnah gained the power to deal with the British and Congress. Due to the system of separate electorates, British India couldn’t do anything.

Objectives of the Cabinet Mission

• To get an agreement with the Indian leaders to frame the Constitution of India
• To devise a committee that will frame the Constitution of India keeping in mind all the sections of the society (the Constituent Assembly of India)
• The mission wanted to make a committee that will make a Constitution which will provide equal respect and opportunities to all the people
• To formulate an Executive Council. For this to happen the mission wanted the help of the major Indian bodies

Why did the Cabinet Mission Fail?

• The Congress Party didn’t want the provinces to become powerful
• They also wanted a strong centre
• The Muslim League wanted to make sure that all the Muslims get strong political powers

As there were so many differences of opinion between the two parties the mission had to come up with its own proposals.

• The Dominion of India would get Independence
• There will be no partition between India and Pakistan
• The provinces would be divided into three groups: 
• Group A: UP, Bihar, Bombay, Madras, Central Provinces, and Orissa
• Group B: NWFP, Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh
• Group C: Bengal and Assam
• The Muslim majority were categorised into two groups 
• While the Hindu-majority were categorised in other groups
• The Central Government at Delhi will have complete control over the foreign affairs, communications, currency and defence
• A Constituent Assembly will be formed that will frame the Constitution of India
• An interim government would be formed until a new government is formed

Interim Government

The Indian National Congress didn’t agree on the idea of grouping provinces based on the Hindu-Muslim majority. Although Muslims didn’t want any changes. Since this plan was also rejected a new plan was proposed in June 1946.

This plan proposed the division of India into two parts based on Hindus and Muslims. The region which has the majority of Muslims will be later named Pakistan.

Jawaharlal Nehru who was the Prime Minister of India rejected the first plan. Instead, he wanted to be part of the Constituent Assembly. An invitation was given to the 14 men by Viceroy to devise the interim government. Both the Indian National Congress and Muslim League were given equal rights to nominate 5 members of the interim council. 

Zakir Hussain was nominated by Congress as one of the members. Although this nomination was rejected as many people felt that he would only support the Indian Muslims. In this election, the Muslim League didn’t participate.

The Congress became part of the interim council. The government started framing the Constitution. On the other hand, the new Central Government received a lot of objections from both the Jinnah and the League. They agitated Muslims and urged them to demand Pakistan. On 16 August 1946, they called for ‘Direct Action Day’.

This started communal riots in India. More than 5000 people were killed on the first day. These riots spread to other regions of the country like Noakhali and Bihar.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the first person who understood that the partition was the only way to stop this violence.

Conclusion

The Cabinet Mission was a great plan that aimed to make a Constituent Assembly of India and avoid the partition. Although it failed due to the differences in opinion between Indian National Congress and Muslim League.