Independent India and Pakistan, 1947

British India Devolves Power and Breaks up the British Empire

Sep 19, 2009 Dawn Ouedraogo

A brief discussion of negotiations between Mountbatten and the Indian National Congress and Muslim League regarding Indian independence, heralding the demise of Empire.

Upon arriving in India to negotiate terms for an independent India, Mountbatten soon concluded that transfer of power to one central representative constituency assembly for India would be impossible to achieve as neither the Indian National Congress nor the Muslim League could agree terms, and he accordingly came up with 'Plan Balkan', separate dominions for Pakistan, the Princely states and the rest of British India with certain key areas of administration run by a central Government.

Mountbatten Entices India into Joining a British Commonwealth

By offering immediate separate dominions that could run experimentally until Atlee’s stated date for the finalisation of independent India, June 1948, Mountbatten began enticing the Indian National Congress to accept the idea of India in the Commonwealth.

He continued this position by persuading key Indian National Congress figures such as Baldev Singh, the Defence Minister of the Interim Government, to lobby on behalf of an Indian dominion by advising him that an independent India would immediately lose all British representation in the Indian armed forces or assistance in the eventuality of armed conflict, for example invasion by communist Russia.

The fact that the created country of Muslim Pakistan would be a dominion was a key card in his argument as Pakistan would potentially be receiving British army, naval and economic support.

Discussions Surrounding a Centralised Indian Government

Mountbatten met Nehru in May 1947 to discuss aspects of independence. He initially presented the British Cabinet Plan which argued for a central Government control of all India from June 1947 but with the proviso that all provinces could form groups and opt out of the Union once a Constitution for India had been formed.

Nehru recognised the inherent danger that this entailed with the potential for independent Muslim enclaves in every province and was not willing to accept it.

Plan Balkan

Mountbatten then offered Nehru a draft of his 'Plan Balkan', which initiated the division of India into separate areas of control for the Indian National Congress, Muslim League and the Princely States.

In a note dated 11 May 1947 Nehru again indicated displeasure with this plan, as allowing the Princely states of India separate dominionhood created a fragmentary division and was almost certain to initiate civil and interstate wars and tensions.

Nehru Agrees Transfer of Power in India to Two Separate Domains, Hindustan and Pakistan

Finally Nehru agreed to an amended Plan Balkan with an Appendix drafted by V P Menon which made clear that the transfer of power would only be granted to two successor domains with referenda in the North West Frontier Provinces and Bengal to decide between Hindustan or Pakistan, this plan is now called 'Plan Partition'.

British Cabinet Approve Amended Plan Balkan

Attlee recalled Mountbatten to discuss the amendments made to 'Plan Balkan' and after Mountbatten's presentation to the British Cabinet it was agreed this was the best option to follow. The Indian leaders accepted 'Plan Partition' on 3 June with partition under dominionhood taking place in August 1947.

British Withdraw From India Leading to Further Violence and Refugee Crisis

Diplomatically it was agreed at the time that Mountbatten had achieved a coup in persuading India to accept dominionhood and Jinnah to accept the partition of the Punjab and Bengal.

Centralising key areas such as defence between the two countries was impossible to negotiate however and the speedy British withdrawal certainly led to an incomprehensible upswing in communal violence, speedy migration between the two countries and a massive refugee crisis.

Certainly from the viewpoint of the present, it was at the very least misguided of Britain, the experienced coloniser, to pull out of India without first ensuring a proper and orderly handover of power and safe removal of refugees, in view of the communal violence occurring throughout this period.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like to read:

Indian Independence - Lord Mountbatten too Late

India and Pakistan - Move to Independence

British India, Divide and Rule Tactic

Sources:

Pandit Nehru, Note dated 11 May 1947, From British Library Records

R J Moore, Endgames of Empire

The copyright of the article Independent India and Pakistan, 1947 in SE Asian History is owned by Dawn Ouedraogo. Permission to republish Independent India and Pakistan, 1947 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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