Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Cripps Mission (contd-1)


The entry of US in the  WWII was gradually intensifying the gravity of the situation as by that time he procured Atom Bomb making critical for the future survival of Britain and European nations. The British Govt desired to to enlist the full cooperation and support of Indian political leaders in order to recruit more Indians into the British Indian Army, which fought Imperial Japan in South East Asia and fascist Italy and Nazi Germany in Europe and North Africa alongside the British Army and its Australian, New Zealander,  and the American Allies. In 1939, the Viceroy Lord Linlithgow, had declared India a Belligerent state on the side of the allies without consulting Indian political leaders or the elected provincial representatives. This caused cosiderable resentment in India and provoked the resignation en masse  of elected Congress party .
Debate over Cooperation or protest
The leaders of the Congress were divided upon its response to India's entry into WW II. There were mainly three opinions on this issue ;
  1. RajaGopal Achari, along with Sarder Patel, Maulana Azad, and Jawarlal Nehru held talks with Cripps and offered full support in return for immeddiate self-govt., and eventual Independence,
  2. Mohandas Gandhi with the major section of common Indians are against war and opposed Indian involvement in the war effort,
  3. Subhas Chandra Bose was of opinion that " Britain's difficulty is Indian's opportunity", he formed INA after going outside India and declared war against Britain.
The leader of the Muslim league , M.A.Jinnah, supported the war effort and condemned Congress policy,. Insisting on a separate Muslim State , he resisted Congress calls for pan-India cooperation and Immediate Independence.
Jinnah's Muslim league condemned the Quit India Movement, participated in the provincial Ministries and occupied all important portfolios.
Cripps Mission had limited success.