Two months after Germany’s
surrender in May 1945, the Labour Party came into power in Britain and clement
Attlee became the prime Minister. After the defeat of Japan a few months later,
the British Government announced that they expected to grant self-government to
India as soon as her internal problems could be solved.
This was a victory for India. It
was a victory for non-violence. Britain, defeated by the peaceful revolution,
could not hold on to India any longer. Britain agreed to a planned withdrawal
from India, without bitterness and in friendship.
All through his life Gandhi had
worked for unity between the Hindus and the Muslims. But he had not had much
success. There was a large section of nationalist Muslims in the Congress, but
the heads of the Muslim League were drifting further and further away.
Gandhi was not the man to give up
hope, however, and he pursued his efforts to bring about a settlement. On the
other hand, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of the Muslim league, was hostile
to the idea of unity. HE demanded a separate Muslim State before freedom was
given to India.
The Viceroy invited all the leaders
to Simla (now shimla) and tried to find a solution and bring about Hindu-Muslim
unity. However, Jinnah insisted on having a separate State, to be called
Pakistan.
Britain announced an election in
India which was held. The Congress won most of the non-Muslim seats and the
Muslim League won most of the Muslim seats. The deadlock continued.
“We can settle the problem in ten
minutes if Mr. Gandhi agrees to the creation of Pakistan,” said Jinnah.
“Cut me in two.” Cried Gandhi, but
do not cut India in two.”
He spoke to deaf ears. In February
1946 the British government sent a Cabinet Mission to India. It consisted of
Lord Patrick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and A.V. Alexander. The task of the
Cabinet Mission was to study the situation and suggest what should be done.
After careful consideration the Cabinet Mission issued a statement proposing
the withdrawal of British authority from India. They had the idea of a united
India.