Question

With reference to the given picture answer the questions that follow:

1. Identify the person in the picture. State any two features of the Plan devised by him.
2. How did he plan to solve the communal problem existing in India?
3. Why did the Congress accept the Plan? State three reasons to justify its acceptance.

Answer 1

1. Lord Mountbatten.
   1. Partition: India would be divided into two dominions, India and Pakistan.
   2. Boundary Commission: A Boundary Commission would be set up to determine the borders of the two new dominions if partition was decided.
   3. Bengal and Punjab: The partition of Bengal and Punjab would take place if the legislative assemblies of these provinces voted in favour of it.
2. Lord Mountbatten found it difficult to resolve the deadlock between the Congress and the Muslim League.
   1. He realised that the Cabinet Mission Plan was unworkable and that partition was inevitable.
   2. To avoid further delays, he sought to transfer power without any postponement.
   3. Mountbatten shared his partition plan with seven key leaders: Nehru, Patel, Kripalani, Jinnah, Liaquat, Nishtar, and Baldev Singh.
   4. The Congress accepted the plan, and Jinnah committed to making it work.
   5. The plan was announced on June 3, 1947.
   6. The country would be divided into two dominions, India and Pakistan.
3. The Congress accepted the plan because, as Maulana Azad pointed out, they had no other viable alternative.