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Cripps Mission 1942

2020-04-27 15:21:45


  • 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.
  • 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

Section titled “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.

  • 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.
  • ==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.
  • 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.

The Cripps Mission

  1. “The Cripps Mission gave India‚ a post-dated cheque.” Comment. [1982, 20m]