Sambhav-2023

Answer 1

Approach

• Introduce briefly about Cripps Mission.
• Discuss whether the Cripps mission was a repackaging of August offer. Mention your own dissenting views as well.
• Conclude suitably.

Introduction

• In March 1942, a mission headed by Stafford Cripps was sent to India with constitutional proposals to seek Indian support for the war. Stafford Cripps was the leader of the House of Commons, and a member of the British War Cabinet who had actively supported the Indian national movement.
• For similar purpose the August Offer was announced by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on August 8, 1940.

Body

Gandhi ji described the scheme as "a post-dated cheque", which depicts is irrelevance to then-political leaders and Indian interests. Let’s examine the similarities between the August offer and Cripps Mission to examine whether it was a repacking or not.

Similarities between August offer & Cripps Mission:

• An Indian Union with a dominion status
• Expansion of viceroy’s executive council which would have a majority of Indians except defence of India and power of governor general.
• Setting up of a constituent assembly after the war
• No future constitution to be adopted without the consent of minorities.

These provisions were the all-major provisions of both offers. Hence it could be said that the Cripps mission was a repackaging of August offer.

Though the Cripps mission was a repackaging of August offer but there were few different provisions in the Cripps Missions that were differing from the August offer like:

• Dominion of India would be free to decide its relations with the Commonwealth and the United Nations and other international bodies.
• Members of constituent assembly would be partly elected by the provincial assemblies through proportional representation and partly nominated by the princes, means the future constitution will be frame by Indians only.
• The British government would accept the new constitution subject to two conditions:
  • Any province not willing to join the Union could have a separate constitution and form a separate Union, and
  • The new constitution making body and the British government would negotiate a treaty to effect the transfer of power and to safeguard racial and religious minorities.
• Cripps mission reserved only the defence of India and powers of the governor general (GG) unlike only expansion of the GG’s executive council.
• These provisions shows that the Cripps mission was only a repackaging of August offer.

Conclusion

Failed efforts of Stafford Cripps and other such provisions led to a national wide mass movement called as Quit India Movement (QIM).

Answer 2

Approach

• Introduce briefly about the World War II.
• Briefly explain how World War (WW) II was more significant for India’s Freedom struggle.
• Conclude suitably.

Introduction

• On September 1, 1939, Germany attacked Poland—the action that led to the Second World War. On September 3, 1939, Britain declared war against Germany and the British Government of India declared India’s support for the war without consulting Indian opinion.
• The second World War had a major impact on the process of ‘decolonization’. This gave rise to severe nationalist movement in India.

Body

Effect of WW2 on India’s Freedom struggle were:

• The WW2 had created several situations that leads to the national struggle in one or other forms. The situations were:
• Indian’s demand of conditional cooperation in war: Though the Congress did not like the unilateral action of the British of drawing India into the war without consulting the Indians, it decided to support the war effort conditionally, had two basic conditions:
  • After the war, a constituent assembly should be convened to determine political structure of a free India.
  • Immediately, some form of a genuinely responsible government should be established at the Centre. The offer was rejected by Linlithgow, the viceroy. The Congress argued that these conditions were necessary to win public opinion for war.
• Non-Cooperation on the political front: Congress ministries decided to resign on October 23, 1939, rejected the viceregal statement and decided not to support the war.
• Conciliatory Mood: Hitler’s astounding success in Europe and non-cooperative attitude of the Congress led to England in a conciliatory mood and British brought several offers like August offer, Cripps mission, Wavell plan and eventually the cabinet mission which brought partition and independence to India.
• Brought Individual heroism and Patriotism to the nation: Gandhi decided to initiate a limited satyagraha on an individual basis by a few selected individuals in every locality to show that nationalist patience was not due to weakness and express people’s feeling that they were not interested in the war and to give another opportunity to the government to accept Congress’ demands peacefully.
• Pan-India National movement against the aggressors: After Cripps’ departure, Gandhi framed a resolution calling for British withdrawal and a non-violent non-cooperation movement against any Japanese invasion. It led to launch of Quit India Movement (QIM).
• Heroic and violent activities: Parallel governments were established at many places like Ballia, Tamluk, and Satara.
  • Indian National Army guided by Subhas Bose led a revolutionary way to achieve the Independence of India, this step was more organized, guided and globally recognized than the previous revolutionary activities.
• Economic hardship: Economic hardship to the Europeans and eventually to the Indians led to more radical demand of self-rule among independence.
• International geo-politics: During and after WW2 and formation of UN and changed global superpowers led to more demand of the independence to the colonies.
  • Britain no longer remains a global power.

Conclusion

World War II had a greater impact on India's freedom struggle because it contributed to the weakening of British colonial rule and provided an opportunity for Indian leaders to push for greater autonomy and self-rule.