Chapter 12 - India gains Independence
1. Rewrite the statements by choosing the appropriate options.
(1) ………….. was the head of the Interim Government.
(a) Vallabhbhai Patel
(b) Mahatma Gandhi
(c) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Barrister Jinnah
Ans: (c) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(2) The plan of creation of two independent nations, India and Pakistan, was made by ………….. .
(a) Lord Wavell
(b) Stafford Cripps
(c) Lord Mountbatten
(d) Pethick Lawrence
Ans: (c) Lord Mountbatten
2. Answer the following questions in one sentence.
(1) Which demand was advocated by Barrister Jinnah?
Ans: The two-nation theory and demand for a separate Muslim nation named Pakistan were advocated by Barrister Jinnah.
(2) Write the name of the ministers participating in the Cabinet Mission.
Ans: Pethick Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Aleander were the ministers participating in the Cabinet Mission.
3. Explain the following statements with reasons.
(1) The Indian National Congress approved the partition.
Ans:
(i) Lord Mountbatten prepared a plan for the creation of India and Pakistan as two independent nations.
(ii) The Indian National Congress opposed the plan of partition, as unity of the nation was its basic stand.
(iii) However, the Muslim League remained adamant about the creation of Pakistan.
(iv) So, the Indian National Congress was left with no option but to accept the partition with complete helplessness.
(2) The working of Interim government could not run smoothly.
Ans:
(i) Muslim League demanded a separate Muslim nation of Pakistan.
(ii) The followers of the Muslim League resorted to violent ways.
(iii) Though the Muslim League declined to participate initially, they later participated in it.
(iv) However, the leaders of the Muslim League adopted a policy of obstruction, and therefore the Interim Government could not run smoothly.
(3) The Wavell Plan could not become successful.
Ans:
(i) Barrister Jinnah insisted that only the Muslim League should have the right to suggest the names of Muslim representatives to the Viceroy’s Executive Council.
(ii) The Congress opposed this, and as a result, no consensus could be reached at the meeting called by Lord Wavell.
(iii) Hence, the Wavell Plan could not succeed.
4. Write the events on the following timeline
Ans:
1945: In June 1945, Lord Wavell, the Viceroy of India, drew up an arrangement. There were various arrangements in this arrangement. Appropriately, a portion of its arrangements were that in focal and commonplace governing bodies Muslims, Dalits, and minorities ought to be given legitimate portrayal, and there will be an equivalent number of Hindu and Muslim individuals in the Viceroy’s Executive Council.
1946: In March 1946, an appointment of British pastors, specifically Pethick Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander, set forth England’s arrangement with respect to India before the Indian chiefs. This is called ‘Bureau Mission’. 16 August 1946 was pronounced “Immediate Action Day” by the Muslim League.
1947: On July 18, 1947, based on the Mountbatten Plan, the Indian Independence Act was passed in the British Parliament. On August 15, 1947, the two free countries, India and Pakistan, will appear. According to the Indian Independence Act, India was granted freedom on August 15, 1947.
1948: On January 30, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse. England’s Prime Minister Atlee had reported that England would leave its domain in India before June 1948.