Movements in 1947
February 20
Historic Announcement
The British Prime
Minister, Lord C. AttIee. made the historic announcement saying that the
British Government intends to transfer power into responsible Indian
hands by the date not later than June, 1'948.
February 28
National Budget
Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan
presented the budget for the financial year April 1947 - March 1948. The
budget affected adversely rich traders and factory-owners of Bombay,
Calcutta and New Delhi. The traders were mostly Hindus and contributed
heavy amounts to the funds'of the Congress. The budget was a severe blow
to the interests of the Hindu traders and money-lenders. The Congress
expressed its anger on the budget whereas the poor classes of India
welcomed this budget. The budget was hailed as the "Poor Man's Budget"
March 3
Muslim League Movement
in the Punjab
In the elections of 1946,
the Muslim League had captured 79 seats out of 175 seats in the
Legislative Assembly of the Punjab, The Unionist Party of Sir Khizar ,Hayat
Kahan was in power and wanted to remain in power although it had been
able to secure only twenty seats in the Assembly. Therefore. with the
support of the Congress and the Akali Dal Sikh members. it tried to
retain its hold. Of the Punjab Government. The Muslim League started its
Civil Disobedience Movement against the Khizar Government. As a result
of this movement the Khizar Government had to resign. However, the
Muslim League was not invited to form the Government and "Governor Raj"
was imposed on the Punjab.
March 22-23
Wavell leaves for
London
Lord Wavell left for
London and Lord Louis Mountbatten came to India as the last Viceroy.
June 3
3rd June Plan
This was a plan for the
partition of India prepared byLord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy
of India, in consultation with the British Government. It was based on
the fundamental principle that transfer of power' should take place
according to the wishes of the people. It provided for ascertaining the
wishes of the people with regard to the framing of their constitution
by:
The existing
Constituent Assembly or
A new and, separate
Constituent Assembly consisting of the representatives of those areas
which decide not to participate in the existing Constituent Assembly.
The members of the provincial legislatures of Bengal and the Punjab were
to decide on the issue of partition and as soon as the decision
involving partition had been taken. separate Boundary"Commissions would
be set up which would demarcate the boundaries of the two parts of the
provinces. In North-West Frontier Province referendum was to be held to
ascertain the wishes of the people and in Sind the Indian members of the
Legislative Assembly were to take their own decision. In his broadcast
statement the Quaid-i_Azam said that the Plan did not meet, in some
respects, our point of view.He.however, expressed his satisfaction on
some of the matters dealt within the Plan. But it is for us now to
consider whether the Plan should be accepted by us as a compromise or a
settlement.
June 10
League Accepts 3rd
June Plan
In a resolution adopted
by the Council of the All India Muslim league it was stated that
although the Council could not agree to the partition of Bengal.and the
Punjab, it accepts the fundamental principles of the Plan as a
compromise.
July 18
Indian Independence
Act, 1947
A bill providing
independence was introduced in the House of Commons on 4 July, 1947, and
was passed on 15 July, 1947. On 16 July, 1947, it was passed by the
House of Lords and received the Royal assent on 18 July, 1947. It
provided that "from the fifteenth day of August, nineteen hundred and
forty-seven. two independent Dominions shall be set "up in India. to be
known respectively as India and Pakistan. The Act provided that for each
new Dominion there would be a Governor General. The Act also provided
that as long as the Constituent ASsembly docs not prepare a constitution
of its own, the new Dominioi1s will be governed by the Government of
India Act, 1935.
August 11
First Constituent
Assembly of Pakistan
Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali
Jinnah arrived in Karachi on 7 August, 1947. and addressed the
Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on 11 August, 1947, as its first
President. He said that the Assembly had to main functions to perform.
The first was to frame the future Constitution of Pakistan and the
second was to,act as a Federal Legislature of Pakistan.
August 12
Radcliffe Award
The Boundary Commission
appointed under the Indian Independence Act 1947,submitted its report
commonly known as the Radcliffe Award. The Punjab Boundary Commission
was constituted on 30 June,1947, as under:
Lord Cyril
Radcliffe (Chairman)
Mr.lustice Din
Mohammad
Mr. lustice
Mohammad Munir
Mr. lustice Mehr
Chand Mahajan; and
Mr. lustice Teja
Singh
It worked from 21 July, 1947, to 30 July, 1947, and produced the Award
in which the Muslim majority areas of Gurdaspur, Batala, Ferozepur, Zira
and lullundhar were given to India. The Quaid-i-Azam said that it was an
unjust, incomprehensible and even perverse Award. He futher said that as
he had agreed to abide by it it was binding on us.
August 14
Transfer of Power
The transfer of power
ceremony took place at Karachi. Lord Mountbatten and Quaid-i-Azam
Mohammad Ali Jinnah addressed the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
August 15
Prime Minister of
Pakistan
On 15 August Quaid-i-Azam
Mohammad Ali Jinnah was sworn in as the first Governor General of
Pakistan.Mr. 'Liaquat Ali Khan was appointed as the first Prime Minister
of Pakistan
|
