Were the Gandhi-Jinnah talks the most important factor during the 1940s that led to the partition of the sub-continent in 1947? Give reasons for your answer. please no copy answer
Answers
Answer:
Gandhi–Jinnah talks
• It was an important meeting as Gandhi had been forced to negotiate with the Muslim League on an equal footing for the first time regarding the future of India.
• Gandhi wanted to achieve independence first – partition discussions could follow later – whereas Jinnah wanted to settle the issue of partition first and before the British left. He knew that his bargaining position would be much weaker if he went along with Gandhi’s plan. Other factors
• The Lahore Resolution, 1940 drafted by the 25-man All-India Muslim League asked for greater Muslim autonomy within India; this was seen as a demand for a separate Muslim state. From then on, the aims of the Muslim League were clear: an independent nation state.
• The results of the 1945–46 elections demonstrated that Congress had control of the non-Muslim votes but that the League had gained control of the Muslim vote. The Muslim League was now an equal player to Congress so the demand for Partition could no longer be ignored by Congress or the British government.
• In March 1946, members of the British Cabinet Mission arrived in India to work out a plan for achieving independence for India as a federation which the Muslim League accepted but Congress refused to accept the province groupings and stated that they would not be bound by any British plan. The British government decided to form an interim government headed by Nehru joined by members of the Muslim League.
• As the Muslim League were concerned that the British would leave India without organising a settlement and that Congress would be left to organise a new country, they organised a Direct Action Day in the summer of 1946 with the aim of stopping the British government giving in to Congress. The disruption worried the British, so gradually they shifted their position on Partition.