Mountbatten Plan

By March, 1947, the situation in India had taken a turn for the worst. British authority had almost evaporated. The interim government was virtually defunct because the pro-Indian and pro-Pakistan members of the Executive Council could not cooperate in the matter of governance of the country even as a short-term measure. The observance of Direct Action Day on June 29, 1946 by the Muslim League had started a trail of blood in the country. Hindu-Muslim riots took the form of open group fights between the two communities, particularly in Pubjab. In other areas, the Hindus and the Sikhs were always at the receiving end. The European officers in the service of the undivided Government of india felt demoralised and became apathetic. The British Government recalled Lord Wavell, and sent Lord Mountbatten, a celebrated Admiral of the World War II fame and a close relative of the Kind of England as the Viceroy with the mandate to arrange the transfer of power to Indian hands. Lord Mountbatten arrived in India in March 1947 and immediately started consultations with the Congress and Muslim League leaders. With a couple of months, he came to the conclusion that any compromise between the Congress and the Muslim League leaders on the basis of United India was impossible. He, therefore, sought the agreement of both the parties on the proposal of partition of the country. He soon found that there was a certain measure of agreement between the two parties on the question of partition. Having made up his mind on partition, in May 1947, he went to England to hold consultations with the British Government. On his return to India, he announced his plan on June 3, 1947 to partition India into two dominions-- India and Pakistan. The scheme announced by him on that day is popularly known as the Mountbatten Plan after his name which had the approval of both the contenders--the Congress leadership and the Muslim League led by Mr. Jinnah.

(1) The Congress accepted the principle of self-determination for those parts of India which did not want to remain within the Indian Union, subject to the condition that a similar right was given to those parts of the breakaway provinces which desired to remain in the Indian Union. In practical terms it meant partition of Pubjab and Bengal, while Sind, North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) and Baluchistan had a right to make their own choice. In the Punjab and Bengal, the representatives of the Muslim and non-Muslim-majority Districts of their respective legislative assemblies were given the right to decide separately whether they wanted to join India or Pakistan. In the case of NWFP and the Muslim majority District of Sylhet in Assam, this was left to be decided by a referendum by an adult suffrage.

(2) Independent Boundary Commission was appointed to decide the boundaries of the divided provinces of Bengal and Punjab. It comprised two judges each from each of the two dominions and was headed by Sir Cyrill Radcliffe, an English lawyer.

(3) Assets and liabilities of undivided India were also to be divided between the two dominions.

(4) The two States were to be given the dominion status to start with. They were given the right to withdraw from the British Commonwealth at their will.

(5) The earlier decision to transfer power in June 1948 was changed. It was now decided to effect the transfer of power at once. Accordingly the date was fixed as Aug. 15, 1947.

Partition of the Country

On June 3, 1947, while recommending the proposal of partition to the people affected, Jawaharlal Nehru said : “ For generations, we have dreamt and struggled for a free, independent and undivided India. The proposal to allow certain parts to secede from the Indian union is painful for any of us to contemplate. Nevertheless, I am convinced that our present decision is the right one. From this it appears that the Congress had to accept the partition as a necessary evil.

Historians have expressed different opinions regarding the consequences of the partition. Prof. Percival Spear says that it was inevitable and proved advantageous to India in the long-run. He said that “if there had been no partition of India, the Hindu-Muslim riots would have continued unabated. In that event, industrial development of India could not have been built”.

Many other scholars have supported this view. Dr. Lal Bahadul feels that the history of the Congress makes it clear that in the absence of partition, the Muslims would have enjoyed more privileges than were their legitimate due. The Unity of the country could be safeguarded only when instead of appeasing the Muslims, a policy of equal treatment to all could be pursued. The Congress could not pursue such a policy in partnership with the Muslim League. He said : “ It was choosing between two evils – Muslim domination over the country or vivisection of Mother India and in accepting the latter position, perhaps a lesser evil was chosen.”

But many others are of the view that it created more problems for India, particularly concerning defence and foreign affairs. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in his book, “India Wins Freedom” has tried to attribute the partition to the excessively cordial relations which had developed between the Nehru and the Mountbatten families. Summing up, it is felt that even if partition could have been averted in 1947, it would have taken place later under different conditions. Communal aspirations of both – the Hindus and the Muslims – could not find a self expression in a United India, with a divided legislature and a divided leadership.


Passage of the Indian Independence Act

After the Mountbatten Plan had been accepted by all concerned, the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act, in July 1947.

Provisions of the Act : (1) Under this Act, two independent Dominions were created with effect from Aug. 15, 1947. Complete control was transferred to Indian (and Pakistani) hands from that date.

(2) Indian Dominion got Bombay, Madras, UP, CP, Bihar, Eastern Punjab, West Bengal, (Minus the Muslim majority area of Sylhet), Delhi, Ajmer, Merwara and Coorg. Pakistan got the remaining territories of undivided British India. To demarcate the boundary between the two dominions in the provinces of Punjab and Bengal, the boundary line drawn by him is known as Radcliffe Line.

(3) The power in each of the two dominions was transferred to their respective Constituent Assemblies, which became fully sovereign bodies on Aug. 15, 1947.

(4) From Aug. 15, 1947, the Governor-General of each of the Dominions was to be appointed on the advice of the respective Dominion Cabinet. The Congress thus appointed Lord Mountbatten the first Governor-General of India, while the Muslim League appointed Mohd. Ali Jinnah as the first Governor General of Pakistan.

(5) Until the framing of the Constitutions of the two dominions, the Government of India Act of 1935 was to regulate the governance with suitable modifications. The Governors in the provinces became purely constitutional heads of the provinces. The Governors were also to be nominated by the Cabinet of the Dominion concerned.

(6) The provisions of the statute of Westminster were made applicable to both the Dominions. The office of the Secretary of State for India and the India office were abolished.

(7) During the transitional period, the respective Constituent Assemblises became the Dominion Parliaments.

(8) British paramountcy over Indian native states lapsed. The states were given the freedom to join either of the two dominions or even to remain independent.

With the coming into force of the Indian Independence Act, India and Pakistan emerged as independent nations.
The independence of India from the iron rule of the British government was one of the greatest events in modern history. Independence of India opened the floodgates of independence of countries in the continents of Asia and Africa and within a few years, almost all the colonies of the Western powers in these continents became independent, sometimes even without asking for it. In a way independence of India marked the end of the era of colonialism and imperialism in the world. It was for the first time in history that such a huge territory with such a big population had achieved independence, though the reasons for such an occurrence are traced to the destruction of British Military and economic power during the World War II. However, the wily English made a virtue of necessity and abdicated the power gracefully. The other circumstances which made the independence of the country at that particular point of history possible are the following:
(1) Work Done by the INC : The work done by the Congress in bringing about a political awakening among the Indian masses played a significant role in the transfer of power. In the last phase, World War II, Quit India Movement, INA trial, Naval Mutiny and the general discontent intensified the spirit of nationalism. After the end of the War, the cry on every body's tongue was, "Now or Never".

(2) The Sword Wielding Hand of Britain had Become Paralysed : As already stated, war had weakened British government so much that it could no more wield any effective power abroad.

(3) Progressive Movements : Second World War had awakened the whole of Asia. The Asian people everywhere rose against the western colonial powers. Progressive Movements started in most of the Asian countries. Among all the under-developed countries in the region, India was the most developed one and, therefore, was the first to become independent.

(4) Loyalty of the Indian Army Became Suspect : In the 18th and early 19th centuries, the British had conquered India bit by bit with the Indian soldiers, who were paid out the Indian revenues and remained loyal to the British government because of the salt they ate. Now people realised that they were being exploited and that the salt that they ate was not the English salt but the Indian salt, which came from the Indian tax-payers. The stories of the adventures of the INA and the revolt of the Indian Naval Ratings at various places made the loyalty of the Indian troops suspect in the eyes of the British rulers. They now realised that they could no more rely on the blind loyalty of the Indian soldiers, particularly when it came to controlling the Indian masses by use of force. They, therefore, thought it fit to leave gracefully before they were kicked out.

(5) Rise of Labour Party to Power in England : After the war, Labour Party, led by Clement Atlee came to power in England. The absolute majority which Labour enjoyed in England, brought Indian independence nearer. Even Churchill now did not seriously oppose the Labour action in accelerating the pace of transfer of power to Indian hands. Perhaps he had also realised that the time of the British power was up.

(6) Keeping India in Bondage had ceased to be Profitable : During War time, India had made remarkable progress in industrialisation and modernisation. Therefore, after the end of the war, India ceased to be very profitable market for the British goods. The English therefore soon realised that it would be more profitable to have a friendly independent India rather than have a hostile slave India. This prompted the British statesmen to speed up the process of Independence of the country.

(7) Compromise on Pakistan : In the past, progress of institutional reforms had always been hampered by the differences between the Congress and the Muslim League leaders. This time, both the parties suddenly came to agree on parting ways once and for all. Now English had no excuse to stay on in the sub-continent. No Indian leader liked the idea of partition, but they found that it was inevitable. They, therefore, accepted it as a lesser evil. Jinnah also realised that there was a limit to which he could dictate terms. He, therefore, reluctantly agreed to have mutilated, moth eaten and truncated Pakistan. But for this compromise over Pakistan between the Congress and the Muslim League, the process of independence would certainly have been somewhat delayed.

Advent of Independence :

Finally the crucial day arrived. On Aug. 14, 1947, Pakistani leaders and Lord Mountbatten flew to Karachi and inaugurated the separate Independent state of Pakistan on the other side of the Padcliffe Line, and installed Mohd. Ali Jinnah as its Governor-General. Liaqat Ali Khan became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan. At midnight on August 15, a special session of the Constituent Assembly was held in New Delhi where Jawaharlal Nehru, delivered his famous speech and India had its tryst with destiny. In the morning the Tricolour was hoisted on the Red Fort to proclaim to the world that India was a free nation, no more subservient to any foreign power. But it was a blood-stained freedom. Lakhs of people were killed on both sides of the Radcliffe Line and crores of people had to leave their hearths and homes to seek a shelter in their newly independent and divided homelands, because they had become foreigners in their own homes and were left with only two alternatives "to face inhuman man-slaughter or to flee".

Career Options/Guidance

Q. I have done my B.Sc with Botany Honours. I want to appear in the Indian Forest Services (IFS) Examination. Please guide me.

Ans: Indian Forest Services (IFS) Examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission every year generally in the month of July. Only those with a Bachelor's degree with atleast one of the following subjects viz., Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics and Zoology or Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering or equivalent in the age group of21-30 years on the 1st July of the year of examination are eligible.

Q. I am a student of B.Sc. (IInd Year) with Physics Honours. I want to know about National DEfence Academy Examination. Please guide me.

Ans: National Defence Academy (NDS) Entrance Examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year, generally in the months of April and October of admission to the courses commencing in the following January and July respectively for the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA. A candidate must be an unmarried male and have attained the age of 16 ½ years and must not have attained the age of 19 years on the Jan. 1 or July 1 of the year succeeding the years of examination. For Army Wing of the NDA, a candidate must have passed 12 Class of the 10+2 pattern of school education. For Airforce and Naval Wings, a candidate must have passed 12th Class with Physics and mathematics.

KNOW THE FACTS-12

1. Q. What is Bovine Epidemic?

Ans: Bovine Epidemic is a disease that spreads among the buffalo and the cow population at a given time. The MadCow Syndrome which spread in Britain in 1999, was an instance of bovine epidemic, as a result of which beef and veal imported from non-european countries was banned in stores there. Recently, the German Government announced that it would slaughter an estimated 4,00,000 heads of cattle in an attempt to curb the mad-cow disease. This would cost some £ 120 million to the exchequer.

2. Q. What are Probiotics ?

Ans: Probiotics simply means "for life". A probiotic is the term to denote a naturally occurring group of organisms. These cultures of micro-organisms or biological products are able to multiply in the pet's intestinal tract to create a balanced microflora. This prevents undesirable organisms (pathogens) to colonies in the intestine.

The intestinal tract contains receptor sites. When probiotics enters the digestive system, they will occupy these receptor sites, restricting the attachment of destructive bacteria. Probiotics keep the gut at a desirable pH thus allowing for the growth of "good" bacteria. Also these "friendly bacteria" produce a natural antibiotic like substance called Bactericine which helps to eliminate unwanted coliforms. The end result is healthy, viable intestinal lining that can maintain optimal nutrient absorption capabilities.

3. Q. What are Super Bugs ?

Ans: In Super Bugs the non-indigenous microbes to a contaminated site are added to enhance the actual degradation of the contaminant. But by latest research, it has been seen that it is not true. It has been observed that money may be better spent determining the degradation potential for the existing microbial community, looking for cometobolic enzyme potential, and then stimulating those mocroorganisms. Many studies have been performed that demonstrate commercial 'super bugs' typically are not the ones doing the degrading at a site.

4. Q. What is the concept of Fatherland?

Ans: It is the same as that of Motherland. We call India our Motherland because it is deep-rooted in our culture and ethos. However, the Nazis started calling Germany their Fatherland in the 1930s with the rist of Adolf Hitler. The term Fatherland is also used in many other European nations for their native land.

5. Q. What is meant by Terminator Seed Technologies?

Ans: The Terminator Gene Techniques suggest that the technology creates transgenic plants in which expression of certain traits is introduced either by the application of an external stimulus through hybridisation or by the direct introduction of an enzyme. Transgenic plants are transformed into Terminators by introducing into their genomea series of functionally inter-related DNA sequences or genes.

'Terminator' technology, a biotechnological innovation patented in the United States, could deal a fatal blow to millions of resource-poor farmers in developing countries as it portends great dange to food security world wide. The patent titled "Control of Plant Gene Expression" is meant to alter seeds genetically so that crops raised using them do not yield seeds that germinate.

6. Q. What is Hibernation ?

Ans: Hibernation generally refers to animals which spend the winter in a state like deep sleep. Any person or process that reaches an almost stagnation point for a long period of time is said to be in hibernation.

7. Q. What is Homeopathy and who founded it ?

Ans: Homeopathy is a system of medicine that was introduced by a German Physician Hahnemann in 1796. It is based on the belief that "like cures like", and that the action of drugs are potentiated by dilution.

8. Q. What is Fabianism?

Ans: Fabianism is another kind of socialism. It believes in establishment of socialism through evolutionary methods. It aims at the promotion of the general welfare of society through peacefuland democratic method. It justifies socialism from economic, moral and personal grounds. It believes in the improvement of the conditions of the labourers of society. It also advocates the abolition of private property in land and transfer of industrial capital to the community so fare as possible. On the whole, Fabianism advocated the elimination of social injustice. Progress is, therefore, very slow here. Fabianism first originated in Great Britain towards the last part of the 19th century. A group of intellectuals like G.B. Shaw, graham Walls, Annie Besant, sidney and Beatrice Webb, formed the Fabian Society in Great Britain.

9. Q. What is Euthanasia ?

Ans: Euthanasia means mercy-killing. It is the process of bringing about of gentle and painless death for a person suffering from a painful and incurable disease or extreme old age. On Nov. 28, 2000, the Netherlands became the first country to allow mercy-killings after Parliament passed a Bill legalising euthanasia. Elsewhere in the world, only the US State of Oregon allow a form of Euthanasia.

10. Q. What is Cloud-Sedding?

Ans. Cloud-sedding is a process in which silver iodide is sprayed on the monsoon clouds. The chemical acts as condensation material and effects precepitation of clouds or in otherwords in formation of water drops and subsequently effects rainfall. The process is considered environmentally safe and is practised in a number of countries to enhance crop productivity.

11. Q. What is alienation ?

Ans: Alienation means unfriendly or hostile. However, in legal system it means power of disposing of or transferring an interest in property to another person.

12. Q. What is Acid Rain ?

Ans: Acid Rain is a form of pollution in which the rain water contains greater than normal acidity. Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen generated by burning of fossil fuels in power plants, pulp and paper mills, mining, smelting operations and other industrial processes are constantly released into atmosphere. Tall chimneys released the oxides high in the atmosphere and before they can drop to the ground, they have enough time to combine with atmospheric moisture and underthe action of sunlight to become acid. Precipitation of such particles is acid rain.

Mental Ability-4

(C.S.P.E. 2000)

1. A rectangular water tank measures 15 m x 6 m at top and is 10 m deep. It is full of Water. If water is drawn out lowering the level by 1 metre, how much water has been drawn out?
a) 90,000 litres, b) 45,000 litres, c) 4,500 litres, d) 900 litres

2. An accurate clock shows 8 o'clock in the morning. Through how many degrees will the hour hand rotate when the clock shows 2 o'clock in the afternoon?
a) 150º b) 144º c) 168º d) 180º

3. The monthly income of Komal and Asha are in the ratio of 4:3. Their monthly expenses are in the ration of 3:2. However, both save Rs. 600 per month. What is their total monthly income?
a) Rs. 8,400/-, b) Rs. 5,600/-, c) 4,200/-, d) 2,800/-

4. If X= -2, then X3(cube) -X2(square)-X-1 is equal to, a) 1, b)-3, c) -11, d) -15

5.



Answers:-

1. (a): 1 letre = 100 cu.cm., Water drawn out=15x6x1=90 sq.m.
2. (d)
3. (c): Let the total monthly income of Komal and Asha respectively be 4k and 3k. Suppose their expenses are 3l and 2l respectively. Therefore 4k-3l=600 and 3k-2l=600, implies k=600 and l=600, implies Total income of komal and Asha = 7k= 4200.
4. (c)

Tips for the Inverviews

Bearing : Walk erect and with confidence. Look into the eyes of the Chairman and Members when you talk to them. Smile and be pleasant. Be enthusiastic and interested. You must be lively, keen and cheerful. Let your optimism and energy radiate.

Conduct : Politeness pays. Be sympathetic and attentive. Observe meticulously the code of manners and etiquette. Never be rude or offensive. Do not neglect to pay compliments.

Speech : Talk slowly, deliberately and audibly. You should neither shout nor mumble. Pronounce your words clearly and crisply. Never be dull or monotonous with your words. Avoid the use of such phrases like, 'you see', 'i say', 'ofcourse', 'i mean', etc.,

Dress: Choose your dress with care. It must be befitting the occasion.

Personal Hygiene: Be neat, tidy and clean. Se that you are well groomed.

Self-Control: Do not become emotional or get nervous. Be confident and patient. Check necessary movements. The Board may deliberately try to provoke you and see how easily you could be upset. Never lost your temper.

Do not Bluff : State only what you know to be correct. Do not hazard guesses unless you are asked to do so. Shooting lions andboasting will land you in trouble. Do not try to be too clever. Remember, the Board has years of experience and has seen many candidates.

Own-up your mistakes : If the Boards pointsout that you had made a mistake and you realist it to be fact, then be couragous and own it up. Never try to cover it up. The Board will respect you for your honesty.

Initiative: Use your initiative but watch the reactions of the Board. Also be conscious of your limitations. Do not ever-shoot. Do not draw conclusions. Be discreet when you talk about your own accomplishments. These shouldbe conveyed subtly and tactfully.

Criticism and Arguments : Do not criticise. Never try to find faults. As far as possible, stress the good point of others. It is better to be silent than to criticise. Do not get involved in unproductive arguments. You have not gone to the interview to win a verbal battle but to have an enjoyable conversation. See how you can agree rather than disagree. As a last resort you may agree to disagree.

Listen and Observe : Keep your eyes and ears open. Study their reactions. You will know when to stop talking and when to listen. As a rule, do not interrupt. If the other person wishes to talk, let him do so. In fact, encourage him to talk. Be an attentive and enthusiastic listener.

Practice : Practice, practice and practice. You must have as much practice as possible. Enlish the goodwill and cooperation of your friends, colleagues, elders and family members and have practice session with them. The more practice you have, the better it is. It will guarantee your SUCCESS.