Question

With reference to the picture given above answer the following:

1) Identify the Viceroy in the picture.

2) Why was he sent to India?

3) How did he plan to solve the communal problem existing in India?

4) Why did the Congress accept the Plan? State three reasons to justify its acceptance.

Answer 1

1) The Viceroy in the picture is Lord Mountbatten.

2) Lord Mountbatten was sent to India in order to execute the transfer of power from the British crown to the Indians. The immediate task entrusted to him was to restore peace among the two warring factions – the Congress and the League – both in his executive council and the country at large.

3) Lord Mountbatten felt that the differences between the political leadership of the major religious communities in India were irresolvable. He also opined that the Cabinet Mission Plan was unworkable and a partition of India was necessary if any future trouble was to be avoided. He, therefore, intended to execute the transfer of power without any delay.

4) The following are three important reasons why the Congress accepted the Mountbatten Plan:
i. The horrific communal riots that had taken place between the Hindus and Muslims of the country had resulted in Congress leaders resigning themselves to the inevitability of the partition of the country.
ii. The Muslim League had joined the interim government to obstruct and not to cooperate. The experience of working with its ministers had made the Congress realise that it would be impossible to work with them.
iii. The only alternative to partition was a Federation with a weak Centre. The Congress felt that a smaller India with a strong central authority was better than a bigger State with a weak centre.