Write short notes on any two of the following: a) Partition of Bengal b) Subhash Chandra Bose c) Cabinet Mission
Answers
A)
Partition of Bengal ( 1905 )
Bengal was partitioned in 1905 by Lord Curzon, based on the Risley Report of 1904 which stayed that ' Bengal United is a power : Bengal divided will pull in several different ways.' East Bengal was given to the Muslims and West Bengal to the Hindus. The reason given to the people was that the partition was necessary for administrative convenience. But the real reason was because Bengal was the centre of all Revolutionary activity.
The Partition of Bengal created widespread education among the people of Bengal. Hindus and Muslims came out into the street singing Vande Mataram. The movement soon spread to other parts of India. People decided to Boycott foreign goods and Institutions and use Indian goods. Thus the movement came to be called the Swadeshi Movement. The success of the movement led some National leads to advocate 'revolutionary terrorism' as a means to end British rule. Bengal was reunited in 1911
B)The participation of Subhash Chandra Bose took place with the Civil Disobedience Movement. This is how Subhash Chandra Bose became part of the Indian Independence movement. He became a member of the Indian National Congress (INC). Also, in 1939 he became the party president. However, this was for a short time only because of his resignation from this post.
The British put Subhash Chandra Bose under house arrest. This was because of his opposition to British rule. However, due to his cleverness, he secretly left the country in 1941. He then went to Europe to seek help against the British. Most noteworthy, he sought the help of Russians and Germans against the British.
Subhash Chandra Bose went to Japan in 1943. This was because the Japanese gave their agreement to his appeal for help. In Japan Subhash Chandra Bose began the formation of the Indian National Army. Most noteworthy, he did the formation of a provisional government. The axis powers during the Second World War certainly recognized this provisional government.
The Indian National Army attacked the North-eastern parts of India. Furthermore, this attack took place under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose. Also, the INA was successful in capturing a few portions. Unfortunately, there was the surrender of INA due to weather and Japanese policies. However, Bose made his Refusal to surrender clear. He escaped on a plane but this plane most probably crashed. Due to this, Subhash Chandra Bose died on 18 August 1945.
C) On 22nd January 1946, the decision to send Cabinet Mission was taken and on 19th February 1946, the British PM C.R Attlee Government announced in the House of Lords about the mission and the plan to quit India. A high-powered mission of three British Cabinet members- Lord Pethick-Lawrence, the Secretary of State for India, Sir Stafford Cripps, President of the Board of Trade, and A. V. Alexander, the First Lord of the Admiralty reached Delhi on 24th March 1946.
Proposals of Mission
• The Mission proposed to secure an agreement on the method of framing the Constitution to the discussions with elected representatives of British India and the Indian states on Preceding and preparing.
• Proposes to set up a constitution body
• Proposes to set up an Executive Council with the support of the main Indian parties.
Purpose of the Mission
• To resolve political deadlock between the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim League at their stance to prevent a communal dispute whether British India would be better-off unified or divided.
• The Congress party wanted to obtain a strong central government with more powers as compared to state governments.
• All India Muslim League under Jinnah wanted to keep India united but with political safeguards provided to Muslims such as ‘guarantee’ of ‘parity’ in the legislatures.
• On 16 May 1946, this plan was announced and preceded by Shimla Conference of 1945.
Recommendations of Mission
• The unity of India had to be retained.
• It proposed a very loose union of all the Indian territories under a centre that would control merely defence, the Foreign Affairs and the Commucation. The Union would have the powers necessary to raise the finances to manage these subjects.
• All subjects other than Union subjects and residuary power would vest in the provinces of British India
• The proposed Constituent Assembly was to consist was to consist of 292 member from British India and 93 from Indian States.
Conclusion
The main objective of Cabinet Mission was to find out ways and means for the peaceful transfer of power in India, to suggest measures for the formation of a Constitution making machinery and also to set up the Interim Government.