In the winter of 1945, general elections were held in British India. Soon after, the British Cabinet Mission was formulated. The purpose of the Mission was to plan and discuss the transfer of power to Indian leadership and provide India its independence.
Here are some important dates and events from India’s final year under colonial rule.
1946
August 16
Direct Action Day initiated by Muslim League, one of the two largest political parties of India, was to be marked on this day. Also known as the Great Calcutta Killing, the day (meant to be observed as a general strike protesting the Congress’ rejection of the League’s demand for a Muslim-majority Pakistan) is marred by communal riots in the city over the next two days, leaving more than 4,000 dead.
September 2
The Interim Government of India is formed with Jawaharlal Nehru as the Vice President.
October 13
Muslim League joins the interim government.
October 25
The interim government is reconstituted after Muslim League members join.
December 9
First session of the Constituent Assembly of India is held. It was set up to draft the Constitution of India. Muslim League members, firm on their demand for Pakistan, boycott the first meet.
1947
January 29
Muslim League demands dissolution of the Constituent Assembly.
February 20
Clement Attlee, then Prime Minister of the UK, announces Britain’s intention of leaving India no later than June 1948, and Mountbatten succeeds as Viceroy.
February 23
Mohammad Ali Jinnah toughens stance on the League’s demand for Pakistan as a separate nation.
March 4-5
Fresh outbreak of violence in parts of North India between Muslims and Hindus.
March 12
Mahatma Gandhi begins a tour of the riot-affected areas.
March 24
Lord Louis Mountbatten sworn in as Viceroy and Governor-General of India.
April 15
Conference of Governors to approve the draft proposal for the transfer of power.
June 2
The Mountbatten Plan for the partition of India is presented to the Indian National Congress (INC) and Muslim League leaders.
June 4
Mountbatten announces that, according to the Partition Plan, the transfer of power would take place on August 15.
June 12
First meeting of Partition Committee.
June 20
Votes in Bengal Legislative Assembly result in decision that Province should be partitioned.
July 4: The Indian Independence Bill or Act is passed.
July 16: Last meeting of the interim government.
July 18: The Indian Independence Act, 1947 receives the Royal Assent. It is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that partitioned British India into the two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan.
July 22: The Constituent Assembly adopts the flag of the Indian National Congress as the National Flag, after replacing the spinning wheel with the Chakra .
August 14: Partition Plan is enacted and Pakistan becomes a separate nation.
August 15 (midnight): Jawaharlal Nehru addresses the nation announcing the Independence of India through his famous ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech.
Fascinating facts
India shares it Independence Day with South Korea (1945), the Republic of the Congo (1960) and Bahrain (1971).
Lord Mountbatten chose the date August 15 as it commemorated the second anniversary of Japan’s surrender to the Allied Forces ending World War II.
Mahatma Gandhi did not participate in the celebrations on August 15 as he was trying to ease the tension between the Hindus and Muslims following the communal violence in West Bengal.
