Cripps Mission (March 1942) - Modern India History Notes
In March 1942, the Cripps mission led by Stafford Cripps was dispatched to India with constitutional proposals in order to gain Indian support for the war effort. Stafford Cripps, the leader of the House of Commons and a member of the British War Cabinet, was a left-wing Labourite who actively supported the Indian national movement. In this article, we will discuss the important features of Cripps Mission which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation. Indians were agreed on dominion status after the war in exchange for their support.
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Cripps Mission - Background
- Japan pushed beyond the eastern borders of India, and the fall of Burma was a war jolt against the British.
- There was an imminent threat of the Japanese invasion of India and Indian support was crucial to the British war effort.
- The Viceroy Lord Linlithgow declared India a war party in the British Empire when the Second World War broke out in 1939. It was done without the consultation of the Indians and led to major congressional demonstrations.
- The party leaders, who ruled 7 provincial governments, resigned. It was celebrated as "Deliverance Day by the Muslim League.
- Britain was under pressure from the US and other allied leaders to implement its own colonial policies in India, as well as to gain Indian participation in the Allied war effort.
- This has also prompted the British Government to send Cripps to India.
Reasons for Cripps Mission to come to India
- The British suffered setbacks in South-East Asia. As a result of this, India faced an invasion by the Japanese.
- The British allies, namely the United States, the Soviet Union, and China, forced Britain to obtain Indian cooperation for the war.
- India agreed to support Britain in the war in exchange for complete independence from Britain soon after the war.
Cripps Mission - Main Proposal
- There would be the formation of an Indian union with Dominion status.
- That Indian union would be free to choose its relations with the Commonwealth and international organizations such as the United Nations.
- The Indian defence sector was to be under British control.
- The governor general's powers were preserved.
- A constituent assembly was formed to draft a new constitution, and it was to be partly elected by provincial assemblies and partly nominated by the Princes.
- The British government would accept the new constitution under two conditions:
- any province unwilling to join the Union could have its own constitution and form its own Union, and
- the new constitution-making body and the British government would negotiate a treaty to effect the transfer of power and to protect racial and religious minorities.
Cripps Mission - Significance
- The creation of the constitution was to be solely in Indian hands (rather than 'primarily' in Indian hands, as stated in the August Offer).
- The constituent assembly was given a concrete plan.
- Any province could have a separate constitution—a blueprint for India's partition.
- Free India could withdraw from the Commonwealth.
- Indians were given a large share of administration during the interim period.
Failure of Cripps Mission
- The Cripps Mission proposals failed to satisfy Indian nationalists and turned out to be nothing more than a propaganda tool for the US and China.
- The British saw the proposals as too radical, while the INC, which desired complete independence, saw them as too conservative.
- The INC, the Muslim League, and other Indian organizations all opposed the Mission.
- The Hindu Mahasabha and the Liberals were both opposed to the states' right to secede.
- The Depressed Classes objected because they were concerned about their position in a country where they would be a minority.
- The mission is also thought to have failed due to a lack of support from Viceroy Linlithgow, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Secretary of State for India, Leo Amery.
- The explanation that the proposals were intended to supplement rather than replace the August Offer cast doubt on the British intentions.
- Cripps' inability to go beyond the Draft Declaration and his rigid "take it or leave it" attitude exacerbated the impasse.
- Cripps had previously mentioned "cabinet" and "national government," but later clarified that he only meant an expansion of the executive council.
- The procedure for joining was not well defined. A resolution in the legislature with a 60% majority was to be used to decide on secession.
- If less than 60% of members voted in favour, the decision would be made by a plebiscite of adult males in that province with a simple majority.
- If Hindus in Punjab and Bengal wanted to join the Indian Union, this scheme worked against them.
- It was unclear who would implement and interpret the treaty that resulted in the transfer of power.
- The issue of the viceroy's veto stymied negotiations.
- Gandhi referred to the scheme as a "post-dated cheque."
Causes of INC’s Rejection
- The offer of dominion status rather than a provision for complete independence.
- Representation of the princely states by nominees rather than elected representatives.
- Right of provinces to secede as this violated the principle of national unity.
- Absence of any plan for immediate transfer of power and absence of any real share in defence; the governor general's supremacy had been retained, and the demand that the governor general be only the constituency governor.
Causes of Muslim League’s Rejection
- They criticized the concept of a single Indian Union.
- They objected to the machinery for forming a constituent assembly and the procedure for deciding on provinces' accession to the Union.
- They believed that the proposals denied Muslims the right to self-determination and the establishment of Pakistan.
Conclusion
Stafford Cripps returned home, leaving behind a frustrated and enraged Indian people who, while sympathizing with the victims of Fascist aggression, felt that the country's current situation had become intolerable and that the time had come for a final assault on imperialism. Following the mission's failure, the Congress, led by Gandhi, launched their new campaign, the Quit India Movement, in August 1942. The Quit India Movement is a famous phase in India’s struggle for independence in its own right.
FAQs
Question: What was the Cripps Mission?
Answer: The Cripps Mission was a British diplomatic mission sent to India in March 1942, headed by Sir Stafford Cripps. Its objective was to secure Indian support for the British war effort during World War II by offering a draft proposal for India's constitutional future.
Question: Why was the Cripps Mission sent to India?
Answer: The Cripps Mission was sent to India to negotiate with Indian leaders and gain their cooperation in the war effort against the Axis powers during World War II. Britain hoped that by offering some form of self-governance after the war, Indian leaders would agree to support the British during the war.
Question: What were the main proposals of the Cripps Mission?
Answer: The key proposals of the Cripps Mission included granting India Dominion status after World War II, setting up a Constituent Assembly to frame a new constitution, and the right of provinces to opt out of the proposed Union of India.
Question: Why did the Cripps Mission fail?
Answer: The Cripps Mission failed due to opposition from both the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. The Congress rejected the proposal because it did not grant immediate self-government, while the Muslim League opposed the lack of specific provisions for the creation of Pakistan.
Question: What was the impact of the Cripps Mission on India’s freedom struggle?
Answer: The failure of the Cripps Mission led to increased dissatisfaction with British rule in India, and it played a role in the launch of the Quit India Movement by the Indian National Congress in August 1942, demanding immediate independence.
MCQs
- Who headed the Cripps Mission to India in 1942?
a) Lord Mountbatten
b) Clement Attlee
c) Sir Stafford Cripps
d) Winston Churchill
Answer: (C) See the Explanation
The Cripps Mission was led by Sir Stafford Cripps, a member of the British War Cabinet, to negotiate with Indian leaders during World War II.
- Which of the following was a key proposal of the Cripps Mission?
a) Immediate independence for India
b) Full Dominion status after World War II
c) Formation of a separate Muslim state
d) Complete withdrawal of British forces from India
Answer: (B) See the Explanation
The Cripps Mission proposed granting India Dominion status after World War II and setting up a Constituent Assembly to frame a new constitution.
- Why did the Indian National Congress reject the Cripps Mission proposals?
a) It lacked a clear plan for independence
b) It proposed the partition of India
c) It granted full powers to the Muslim League
d) It offered immediate independence
Answer: (A) See the Explanation
The Indian National Congress rejected the Cripps Mission because it did not offer immediate self-government or full independence, which was the primary demand of the Congress.
- What was the main demand of the Muslim League in response to the Cripps Mission?
a) Immediate independence
b) Greater representation in the Constituent Assembly
c) Creation of a separate state of Pakistan
d) Continuation of British rule
Answer: (C) See the Explanation
The Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, demanded specific provisions for the creation of Pakistan, which were not addressed in the Cripps Mission proposals.
- What major event in India’s freedom struggle followed the failure of the Cripps Mission?
a) Partition of India
b) Quit India Movement
c) Non-Cooperation Movement
d) Cabinet Mission
Answer: (B) See the Explanation
The failure of the Cripps Mission led to the launch of the Quit India Movement in August 1942 by the Indian National Congress, demanding an end to British rule.
GS Mains Questions and Model Answers
Q1: "The Cripps Mission was an important but failed attempt by the British to negotiate with Indian leaders during World War II." Discuss the proposals of the Cripps Mission and the reasons for its rejection by Indian leaders.
Answer: The Cripps Mission of 1942 was a British attempt to secure Indian cooperation in World War II by offering constitutional reforms after the war. The key proposals included granting India Dominion status, the formation of a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution, and the option for provinces to opt out of the proposed Indian Union. While the mission intended to appease Indian demands for greater self-governance, it was met with rejection by both the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League.
The Congress opposed the mission primarily because it did not offer immediate self-rule or independence, and the provision allowing provinces to opt out raised fears of partition. The Muslim League rejected the proposals as they did not address their demand for a separate Muslim state of Pakistan. As a result, the Cripps Mission failed, and its rejection set the stage for the Quit India Movement, further intensifying India’s struggle for independence.
Q2: Analyze the impact of the failure of the Cripps Mission on the relationship between British authorities and Indian nationalist leaders.
Answer: The failure of the Cripps Mission significantly strained relations between British authorities and Indian nationalist leaders. The mission’s rejection by the Indian National Congress, which was dissatisfied with the lack of immediate self-governance, and by the Muslim League, which was unhappy with the absence of specific provisions for Pakistan, highlighted the deepening distrust between the British and Indian political leadership.
The mission’s failure led to increased nationalist sentiment and dissatisfaction with British rule. The Congress, under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership, launched the Quit India Movement in August 1942, calling for an end to British rule and immediate independence. This mass movement marked a turning point in the Indian freedom struggle, leading to widespread civil disobedience and protests. The British responded with repression, further alienating Indian leaders and exacerbating the conflict between the two sides. The failure of the Cripps Mission thus contributed to the breakdown of political negotiations and intensified the demand for complete independence.
Q3: Critically evaluate the proposals of the Cripps Mission and their significance in the context of the broader Indian freedom struggle.
Answer: The Cripps Mission’s proposals were significant as they represented one of the most concrete offers for Indian self-governance made by the British during World War II. The mission proposed granting India Dominion status after the war, allowing for the formation of a Constituent Assembly to frame a new constitution, and giving provinces the option to opt out of the proposed Indian Union. These proposals were intended to secure Indian cooperation in the British war effort, particularly in the face of advancing Japanese forces.
However, the mission’s failure revealed the limitations of British willingness to grant immediate independence. The Indian National Congress viewed the proposals as inadequate, as they did not offer full self-governance or address the immediate demand for independence. The Muslim League rejected the proposals because they did not sufficiently address the demand for a separate Muslim state of Pakistan. Despite its failure, the Cripps Mission had significant implications for the Indian freedom struggle, leading to the launch of the Quit India Movement and further intensifying the push for independence.
Previous Year Questions on Cripps Mission
1. UPSC CSE 2018
Q1: Analyze the reasons for the failure of the Cripps Mission and its impact on the Indian freedom struggle.
Answer: The Cripps Mission failed primarily due to the rejection of its proposals by both the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. The Congress opposed the mission because it did not offer immediate self-rule, instead proposing Dominion status after the war, which was seen as insufficient. Additionally, the provision allowing provinces to opt out of the Union raised fears of partition. The Muslim League, on the other hand, rejected the plan because it did not address their demand for a separate state of Pakistan.
The failure of the Cripps Mission significantly impacted India’s freedom struggle by increasing frustration with British rule. It paved the way for the Quit India Movement, a mass civil disobedience campaign launched by the Congress in 1942, demanding immediate independence. The movement intensified nationalist sentiment and resistance to British colonialism.
2. UPSC CSE 2019
Q2: Discuss the significance of the Cripps Mission in the context of British efforts to secure Indian cooperation during World War II.
Answer: The Cripps Mission was significant as it represented Britain’s attempt to secure Indian cooperation in the war effort against the Axis powers during World War II. With Japan advancing toward India, British authorities realized the need to gain Indian support, both politically and militarily. The mission’s proposals, which included granting Dominion status and convening a Constituent Assembly, were intended to placate Indian leaders.
However, the failure of the mission underscored the growing divide between Indian nationalist aspirations and British imperial interests. By offering only post-war constitutional reforms, the British failed to address the immediate demand for self-governance. This, in turn, led to a breakdown in cooperation, with the Indian National Congress launching the Quit India Movement later in 1942. The Cripps Mission thus highlighted the limitations of British diplomacy in India during the war.
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