Cripps Mission of 1942: Between Compromise and Conflict
The Cripps Mission of 1942 is one of the major incidents in the Indian struggle against British rule. It was a mission that was formulated after Sir Stafford Cripps, a well-known British politician of the Labour Party, had visited India in search of finding a friendly solution to India’s political discontent within the period of World War II. It has often been considered as an important milestone during the Indian freedom movement. This paper shall go deep into the Cripps Mission with regard to its historical background, objectives, some key people involved, and the propositions, reactions, and outcomes in the light of India’s freedom struggle.
Historical Background
British Colonial Rule:
It was over one hundred and ninety years since Britain had taken India under its governance in 1942. The INC and all other political parties demanded Indians more freedom.
Effects of Second World War:-
Second World War started in 1939, however it had already flamed the existing tensions. This was also a decision by the British government to take India into the war, though without taking an Indian leaders’ opinion on it. This led to widespread indignation and wrath against the British.
Political Atmosphere of India
Indian Nationalism Movements:
The INC had already hardened its claims for freedom by the leadership of notable personalities like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.
Demand for Home Rule :-
Frustrations went ahead with the policies of Britain, so there was a demand for Home Rule and gave the Quit India Movement in 1942.
British Strategy
Required Cooperation :
The British government wanted to work in tandem with the Indian administration to stay in power as well as to be stable with the severe military defeats India suffered at the hands of Asia.
Negotiation Strategy:-
The Cripps Mission was one of the negotiation types through which they agreed to offer the Indians a chance to take part in the war in the aftermath in lieu of post-war promises of self-governing.
Objectives of the Cripps Mission
Political Reforms:
The main objective of this was to negotiate constitutional reforms under which Indian provinces were supposed to have more powers with a view to getting Indians on their side as partners in the war.
Nationalist Agitations:-
To meet the demands of nationalist Indians and to include INC into the government apparatus both during and after the war
British Supremacy:
To keep the supremacy of Britain in India, and at the same time, to appease the Indian leaders so that they do not raise hue and cry or organize resistance against British rule.
Important Personages
Sir Stafford Cripps:-
Being a senior British politician, Cripps was appointed for his position in the war-time coalition government. Gandhi was regarded as a moderate to whom they could discuss their terms with Indian leaders.
Indian National Congress Leaders:-
Mahatma Gandhi:
He was the key leader of the INC and an adherent of non-violence against British rule.
Jawaharlal Nehru: He eventually became India’s first Prime Minister, a major figure of the INC, and a staunch votary of absolute independence for India.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: An organizational wizard and fierce nationalist, Patel was considered one of the important leadership figures.
Other Political Figures:-
B.R. Ambedkar:-
The man of Dalits, he also had a significant contribution in the social justice and political representation talks.
M.A. Jinnah:-
He was the president of the All-India Muslim League. He had his own concept for the future political structure of India, as he used to speak for the rights of Muslims.
Cripps Mission Proposals
Constitutional Framework:-
He formulated a new constitutional framework with an Indian dominion, which was to be entrusted with powers of self-government.
The proposed constitution provided for the provinces to opt out of it and therefore conferred autonomy.
Legislative Assembly:-
A new legislative assembly was to be constituted consisting of equal numbers of Indian and British members.
The legislative assembly was to enact laws but defense and foreign affairs were to be kept in the hands of the British government.
Role of Indian Leaders:-
The mission suggested participation of Indian leaders in wartime administration. It was a means of enlisting Indian leaders into the policy-making machinery.
After the war, Cripps assured India of dominion status after the war with the right of self government if it agreed over the war.
Indian National Congress
The INC outright opposed the proposals as no guarantee for an independent India existed. Gandhi, Nehru, etc, regarded Cripps Mission to be nothing less than a delaying action considering the unavoidable.
Gandhi called the proposals as a “post-dated cheque”. He demanded full independence instead of that.
Muslim League:-
The Muslim League, led by Jinnah, reacted cautiously. Though some leaders accepted the proposals, they expressed their concern about representation and rights of Muslims in the proposed framework.
Jinnah pleaded for the establishment of a separate nation for Muslims, which would set up a basis for future demands for Pakistan.
Other Political Groups:-
Many regional as well as political parties came highly reacting to the proposition to such measures as inadequacies and a colony regime.
The All India Forward Bloc and Communist Party of India criticized the mission, arguing that it took upon itself nothing on socio economic condition of the people.
Conclusion from the Cripps Mission
Failure in Talks: –
But no agreement could be reached in Cripps Mission between British government and Indian leaders. INC rejected the proposals which the British government was not ready to accept further autonomy demands.
Nationalism:
Following the failure of the Cripps Mission, Indian nationalists felt very bitter and frustrated. In protest the INC began the Quit India Movement on August 8, 1942.
More Repression :-
The British government now adopted complete repression by detaining thousands of leaders of the INC, even Gandhi and Nehru.
The Political Scene was now Altered:-
Failure of the Cripps Mission brought a great change in the Indian political scene. It clearly reflected how Indian politics was divided in a deep chasm. In this, the political leadership of India was between the INC and the Muslim League.
Foreword to Independence:-
Though the Cripps Mission was unsuccessful, it opened the door for further discussions and discussions regarding India’s independence. The British government realized that there was a political solution to the deteriorating crisis in India.
Legacy of the Cripps Mission
Historical Importance:-
The Cripps Mission is sometimes regarded as a significant landmark in India’s independence movement. It demonstrated how Indian leaders were getting more assertive and asking for self-rule.
Effect on British Policy:
The failure of the mission led the British government to rethink its strategy for India. It finally culminated in a series of negotiations and proposals, which eventually resulted in the independence of India in 1947.
Foundation for Future Movements:-
The frustration and disappointment from the Cripps Mission and the Quit India Movement provided the ground for future nationalist movements and accelerated the call for independence.
Lesson in Negotiation:
Cripps Mission is the historical example of the political negotiation in a colonial set-up, which underlined the need to address local aspirations.
Conclusion:-
Cripps Mission of 1942 is shining example of the difficulties in negotiating political reform in the colonial India. This campaign, though failed to produce the desired result, laid down a vital role in guiding the course of India’s freedom struggle. It is the political dynamics that came out of the mission and the responses of leaders in India that played a great role in culminating into independence in 1947. It gives deep insight into colonial politics and how nationalism emerged and how the Indian people were pursuing self-government relentlessly.
Also Read:- Unity in Diversity: The Moderate Congress’s Journey Towards a New India (1885-1905)