Cripps Mission in India in 1942

Introduction:

• In 1942, the British Government sent a mission headed by Stafford Cripps to India to present constitutional proposals to gain Indian support for the war effort.

• The Cripps Mission aimed to seek Indian cooperation by offering a new plan for India's future relationship with Britain.

Why Cripps Mission was Sent:

• The British faced reverses in Southeast Asia, and the Japanese threat to invade India seemed imminent.

• Pressure from the Allies (USA, USSR, China) to seek Indian cooperation.

• Indian nationalists agreed to support the Allied cause if substantial power was transferred immediately and complete independence given after the war.

Main Proposals od Cripps Mission:

• Setting up an Indian Union with Dominion status, free to decide its relationship with the Commonwealth and to participate in the United Nations and other international bodies.

• Convening a constituent assembly after the war to frame a new constitution. Members would be partly elected by the provincial assemblies through proportional representation and partly nominated by the princes.

• 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 a treaty would be negotiated between the new constitution-making body and the British government to effect the transfer of power and safeguard racial and religious minorities.

• In the meantime, defense of India would remain in British hands, and the governor-general's powers would remain intact.

Departures from the Past and Implications:

• The making of the constitution was solely in Indian hands.

• A concrete plan was provided for the constituent assembly.

• The option was available to any province to have a separate constitution, a blueprint for India's partition.

• Free India could withdraw from the Commonwealth.

• Indians were allowed a large share in the administration during the interim period.

Why Cripps Mission Failed:

• The Congress objected to the offer of Dominion status instead of complete independence, representation of princely states by nominees and not elected representatives, the right to provinces to secede, and the absence of any plan for immediate transfer of power and any real share in defense.

• The Muslim League criticized the idea of a single Indian Union, machinery for the creation of a constituent assembly, and the procedure to decide on the accession of provinces to the Union, denying Muslims the right to self-determination and the creation of Pakistan.

• Other groups also objected to the provinces' right to secede.

• The British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Secretary of State Amery, Viceroy Linlithgow, and Commander-in-chief Ward consistently torpedoed Cripps' efforts.

• Talks broke down on the question of the viceroy's veto.

• Gandhi described the scheme as "a post-dated cheque," and Nehru pointed out that the "existing structure and autocratic powers would remain, and a few of us would become the viceroy's liveried camp followers and look after canteens and the like."

Conclusion:

• The Cripps Mission failed to gain Indian support for the war effort. Indian nationalists' demand for immediate transfer of power and complete independence was not met, leading to further agitation and mass movements, leading to India's independence in 1947.