Role of Mountbatten in the Partitioning of India

Immediately after his arrival on 24th March, Lord Mountbatten started discussions with Indian political leaders.

A man with grasp, forecast and understanding he analyzed the complexity of the political situation of India. He tried to work out a political solution of the problem.

Mountbatten became extremely hurry to come to a conclusion that partition of India was inevitable. Gifted with high imagination, sharp intellect he started his drive in this regard.

Son of the British royal family (son of Queen Victoria’s grand-daughter) an able sailor-soldier Mountbatten knew the art of dealing with the political leaders of India in a dignified way.

In a diplomatic way he also tried to make himself very popular among Indians. As the last British Viceroy Mountbatten enjoyed enough freedom to solve the problems without interference from home. Since the time was very short at his disposal he wanted to prepare for the transfer of power without wasting time.

He held free and frank discussions with Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Gandhiji and other prominent leaders. He had talks with the members of the League. With the objectives to persuade the Congress and the League for an acceptable plan, to end the British ion with the Indian princes, to work out the withdrawal of the British and to try to keep India in the Common Wealth of Nations he worked very sincerely. Time was favourable for him. India was passing through a moment of terrible crisis of Communal War. Brutality and human sacrifice had reached beyond limit.

Under this circumstance Sardar Patel agreed to the proposal of Mountbatten because he was convinced that it was not possible to work with the Muslim League. Patel’s argument influenced Jawaharlal. Jawaharlal was also own over by Mountbatten. Gandhiji was vehemently opposed to the partition proposal.

He said “If the Congress wishes to accept partition it will be over my dead-body. So long I am alive I will never agree to the partition of India. Nor will I if I can help it allow Congress to accept it.” But ultimately he changed his opinion and with a deep sense of sorrow accepted Mountbatten’s suggestion. The bitter experience of working with the Muslim League, the total breakdown of administration and Jinnah’s uncompromising attitude on the issue of partition influenced mostly the Congress to accept the partition.

After holding discussions with the Congress and the League members Lord Mountbatten announced the plan on 3rd June, 1947. On the same day the British Prime Minister announced the partition plan in the House of Commons.

The next day the Viceroy in a Press Conference announced the probable date (15th August) for the transfer of power on the following points:

1. If the people of the Muslim majority areas so desire they would be allowed to form a separate dominion. A new Constituent Assembly would be constituted for that purpose.

2. In case there is partition, there will be a partition of Bengal and the Punjab if the representatives of the non-Muslim majority districts of the two provincial Legislative Assemblies so desire.

3. The Legislative Assembly of Sind would decide as to whether its constitution should be framed by the existing or a new and separate Constituent Assembly.

4. “In view of its special position” a referendum would be taken in the North-West Frontier Province to ascertain whether it would join Pakistan or remain in India.

5. In case of partition of Bengal there will be a referendum in the district of Sylhet (Assam) to ascertain whether the people would join the new province of East Bengal.

6. In case of partition of the Punjab and Bengal a Boundary Commission will be set up to demarcate the exact boundary line.

7. Legislation would be introduced in the current session of the parliament “for a transfer of power in 1947 on Dominion status basis to one or two successor authorities according to the decision taken under the plan. This will be without prejudice to the right of the Constituent Assemblies to decide in due course whether the parts of India which they represent will remain within the British Commonwealth.

The congress accepted the plan with some objections. Jawaharlal Nehru in his broadcast speech commended the Mountbatten proposal. He said “For generations we have dreamt and struggled for a full independent and united India.

The proposal to allow certain parts secedes if they so will, is painful for any of us to contemplate. Nevertheless I am convinced that our present decision is the right one even from the larger view point.” The Hindu Mahasabha also opposed the partition of India but all such oppositions did not have any effect on the Government policy.

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, his brother Dr. Khan Saheb, the Chief Minister of North-West Frontier Province and other Red shirt leaders strongly opposed the decision of the Congress to accept the partition. The Khan Brother’s argued that if at all there was a plebiscite, the pathans of the Frontier should have also the right to opt for Pakhtoonistan. Immediately Jinnah shouted against this proposal of Frontier Gandhi (Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan). The British Government also turned down the demand. The Red Shirt then boycotted the referendum.

In the plebiscite East Bengal, the West Punjab, Sind and Baluchistan opted for Pakistan. West Bengal and the East Punjab voted for joining India. In July the Indian Independence Bill was introduced in the British Parliament and was passed without any objection from any quarter.

As the day of Independence was getting nearer the Congress High Command and the Interim Government faced a stupendous problem from the side of the Indian States. Several of the Indian princes had the idea that after the end of the British rule their states would become independent kingdoms. At the same-time Winston Churchill was very much hopeful to see India divided into three parts — Hindustan, Pakistan and Princestan.

He thought of the independence of some princely states like Hyderabad, Kashmir, Bhopal, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Indore, and Travancore etc. which will remain as British pockets in India. The Congress High Command had to proceed to decide the fate of 565 princely states very quickly. Under its pressure, Mountbatten closed the British Political Department in India which was in charge of these states.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was asked by the Interim Government to head the newly created States Department. Patel asked the princes to forget their demands for independent existence. He declared “The India States will bear in mind that the alternative to co-operation in the general interest in anarchy and chaos which will overwhelm great and small in a common ruin.” Advised by Nehru Mountbatten summoned a meeting of the Chamber of Princes on 25th July, 1947 only 20 days before the declaration of Independence. The fearful princes one by one came up to join the Indian union before 15th August.