Tag: the national movement (1935-42)

In 1940, the Muslim league passed a resolution demanding the partition of the country and creation of a state called Pakistan. The name Pakistan was derived from the letter of the provinces and communities that the new country would comprise Punjab, Afghan, Kashmir, Sind, and Baluchistan.

The international compulsions forced the British government and the British Indian government to seek some settlement or understanding with the Congress. So on August 8, 1940, Lord Linlithgow, the Viceroy of India made a new offer known as August Offer.

A change of government took place in Britain in May 1940. Winston Churchill became Prime Minister and Amery took over as Secretary of State for India.

The All-India Congress Commitee met at Bombay on August 8, 1942 and passed the Quit India Resolution adopted at Wardha in July 1942. The Congress proposed to start a non-violent mass struggle under Gandhiji's leadership if this demand of immediate and complete independence was not conceded by the British.

The government resorted to severe measures to crush the 1942 Movement, Gandhiji was detained at the Agha Khan Palace in Pune; the other leaders were sent to jail in Ahmednagar Fort. In the end, the government succeeded in crushing the movement.

With the Japanese army rapidly advancing towards India, it became necessary for the British to break the political deadlock in India. Churchill announced in March 1942, that Sir Stafford Cripps, a member of the War cabinet, would go to India for consultation with all the parties. The Cripps' Mission proposed the Constitutional reforms that India would be given a dominion status when the war would end.

All Congress ministries resigned in October 1939.  When World War II started in 1939 , the British were fighting against the Axis Powers. The Viceroy of India annouced India's involvement without consulting its representative political leaders. Congress asked for transfer of power in repayment of their cooperation in war , which the British government denied. As a result , Congress ministries resigned. Thus came to an end the nightmarish rule which had terrorized Muslim community beyond imagination. Quaid - i - Azam asked the Muslims to observe it as a 'Day of Deliverance' with peace and without any harmful intent towards any other nation.

Britain had an all party government headed by Winston Churchill. Winston Churchill was an inspirational statesman , writer, orator and leader who led Britain to victory in the Second World War. He served as Conservative Prime Minister twice - from 1940 to 1945 and from 1951 to 1955. Churchill , who also adopted the self - created position of Minister for Defence , was active both in administrative and diplomatic functions in prosecuting the British was effort. Some of his most memorable speeches were given in this period, and are credited with stimulating British morale during periods of great hardship.

The Government of India act was  passed by British Parliament in August  1935. With 321 sections and 10 schedules, this was the longest act passed by British Parliament so far and was later split into two parts viz. Government of India Act 1935 and Government of Burma Act 1935. The Government of India Act 1935 derived material from four key sources viz. Report of the Simon Commission , discussions at the Third Round Table Conference , the White paper of 1933 and the reports of the Joint select committees. The act ended the system of dyarchy introduced by GOI Act 1919 and provided for establishment of a Federation of India to be made up of provinces of British India and some or all of the Princely states.

• In 1937 Congress win eight out of eleven provinces of British India. Congress decided to contest the elections to the assembles in the provinces under the new Act of 1935. In the elections, Congress obtained an overwhelming majority in most of the provinces. Congress ministeries were formed in July 1937 in several provinces, including the United Provinces , Madras , the Central Provinces , Bombay , Bihar , Orissa and after sometime in the North - West Frontier Provinces. It also formed coalition ministries in Sind and Assam. Only Bengal and Punjab had non - congress ministries.