Goyal Brothers Prakashan Class 10 History Solutions Chapter 8 The Cripps Mission and The Quit India Movement
Question 1.
What was that grave situation which urged British Government to send Sir Stafford Cripps on a Mission to India?
Answer:
The grave situation which urged British Government to send Sir Stafford Cripps on a Mission to India in March 1942 was to consult the Indian leaders on the questions of the transfer of power and to solve the problems of Indian Constitution.
Question 2.
What name was given to the Mass Uprising of 1942?
Answer:
The Mass Uprising of 1942 was named as Quit India Movement.
Question 3.
On which day did the All-India Congress Committee pass the Quit India Resolution? What was Government’s immediate reaction to it?
Answer:
All India Congress Committee passed the Quit India Resolution on 8th August, 1942. The British government arrested Gandhi Ji on 9th August 1942 along with Azad and other prominent leaders of the Congress.
Question 4.
Name a prominent person who became a legendary figure because of the role he played in the Quit India Movement.
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi was a prominent person who played an important role in the Quit India Resolution.
Question 5.
Which proposal in the Cripps Offer was sure to lead to a partition of India?
Answer:
Immediately after the War a Constituent Assembly would be set up. The Princely States would be free to choose whether to join the Indian Union or to stay out.
The British Government would accept the Constitution so framed subject to the condition that any Province or Provinces which did not accept the New Constitution could frame a Constitution of their own. They, singly or together, would be accorded the same status as the Indian Union had. Such a Proposal was sure to lead to a partition of India.
Question 6.
Which proposal in the Cripps Offer regarding Indian States (or Princely States) went against the principles of democracy and self-determination?
Answer:
The Provinces would be free to join the Indian Union. If they would not join the Indian federation, they would formulate their own constitutions which could have the same status as the Union of India.
Question 7.
Mention any one point that would stress the significance of the Quit India Movement.
Answer:
There was nothing to stop Indians from attaining their freedom. It was just a matter of time. The movement hastened the British decision to quit India.
Structured Questions
Question 1.
By the end of 1941 the situation became so critical that Britain had to make some gestures to win over Indians. In this context answer the following questions :
(a) Why did Sir Stafford Cripps come to India in March 1942 ?
(b) Mention any four Proposals which Sir Stafford Cripps brought in order to negotiate an agreement with Indian leaders.
Answer:
(a) Japan was advancing outside the eastern borders of India and the fall of Burma was a jolt to the British in the war. The threat of a Japanese invasion on India was looming and Indian support Was essential for Britain’s war efforts.
When the 2nd World War broke out in 1939, the Viceroy Lord Linlithgow declared India a party to the war as part of the British Empire, This was done without consultation with Indians and this led to massive protests from the Congress Party. The party leaders, who were heading 7 provincial governments resigned from their posts. The Muslim League celebrated it as ‘Deliverance Day’.
Britain was facing pressure from the US and other allied leaders over its own imperial policies in India and also to secure Indian cooperation for the Allied war effort. This also led the British government to send Cripps to India.
Sir Stafford Cripps was sent to India to break the political deadlock between Indian Leaders and the British Government.
(b) Sir Stafford Cripps, a member of the British Cabinet after having detailed discussions with the Indian leaders, announced the following proposals.
1. After the War, India would be granted the Dominion status on the lines of Dominion Status granted to Canada and Australia
2. Immediately after the war, a Constituent Assembly would be set up. It would consist of members from British India, elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies and nominated representatives of Princely States.
3. Until the new constitution, Executive Council would be set up, composed of Indian leaders though the British government would retain control of the defence of India as a part of their war effort.
4. The Constituent Assembly would conclude a Treaty with the British Government. This Treaty would cover “all matters arising out of the complete transfer of responsibility from British to Indian hands.” Beside other matters, they would guarantee the protection of racial and religious minorities in India.
Question 2.
The failure of Cripps Mission was due to many reasons. In this context answer the following questions :
(a) Mention any four reasons why the Cripps Proposals were rejected by the Congress ?
(b) Why were the Cripps Proposals rejected by the Muslim League?
Answer:
(a) Failure of the Cripps Mission :
Rejection of the Cripps Proposals by Congress was due to these reasons :
(i) Cripps did not bring with him the promise of Independence in the near future, because the Constituent Assembly to frame India’s Constitution was to be set up after the War.
(ii) Cripps proposed that any Province or Provinces which did not accept the new Constitution could frame a Constitution of their own. Such proposals could naturally divide India into a number of Independent states.
(iii) The people of the Princely States had not been given the right to elect their representatives to the proposed Constitution-making body. Their representatives were to be selected by the rulers. That was a negation of the principle of democracy.
(iv) Until the New Constitution was framed the Government desired full participation of Indian leaders in Viceroy’s Executive Council. But the problem about this proposal was that the Viceroy was to retain full control over matters like War and Defence. Infact, in war times defence covers almost the whole of administration.
(b) The Muslim League, rejected the Cripps, proposals on two grounds.
- It did not recognise separate electorates for the constitution- making body
- Demand for the partition of India had not been conceded. In other words, prospect of achieving Pakistan was bleak.
Question 3.
On August 8, 1942 the All-India Congress Committee passed the famous Quit India Resolution. Mention the Japanese threat to India’s security as one of the main reasons that led to the passing of this Resolution.
Answer:
The failure of Cripps Mission, created a feeling that the government was unwilling to concede the right of self- government to India. National leaders wanted that until the new constitution was framed, the Viceroy should act as a constitutional head.
On the other hand, this was not acceptable to the government. Secondly, the Muslim League session at Lahore in 1940, set its official seal on the idea of Pakistan. The communal situation was all the more worsened when League proclaimed that Muslims could not expect any justice at the hands of the Congress.
However, the immediate cause was serious threat posed by Japan to India. Gandhi and other leaders were now convinced that the situation called for complete independence – immediate and unconditional. Thus, Congress Working Committee met at Wardha in July 1942 to adopt the resolution on Quit India.
The Congress felt that the British presence in India was an invitation to Japan to invade India and that their withdrawal would remove the fait. They therefore asked the British “to leave India in God’s hands.”
Question 4.
The failure of the Cripps Mission brought about a distinct change in the attitude of the Congress, which was now asking the British to Quit India. In this context answer the following questions :
(a) What did the Quit India Resolution say?
(b) What was the Impact or Significance of the Movement?
Or
Mention any four consequences of the 1942 Movement.ss
Answer:
(a) The Quit India Movement also called the August Movement of India or the Bharat Chhodo Andolan was a civil disobedience movement that was launched in the month of August, in the year 1942. The Quit India Movement was a call by Mahatma Gandhi for the country’s immediate independence. Gandhi wanted to negotiate with the British government for the at Paunar on 17th Oct., 1940.
independence of India. Gandhi made a speech and within 24 hours the entire Congress was confined. This provoked Gandhi to launch the 1942 Quit India Movement. The main purpose of this civil disobedience movement of India was to face the British in the non-violent ways.
It was during this time that Gandhi made a statement: “We shall either free India or die in attempt; We shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery”. However, the British government declared the Quit India Movement illegal and with this arrested the major leaders. This triggered a series of revolts and marked an important phase the history of India.
(b) The Revolt of 1942 was though short-lived, but it will be a mistake to suppose that it was a dismal failure. On the contrary the movement was symbolic of a new confidence that warned British that they were no longer wanted in India. It aroused among people, a spirit of total sacrifice. Secondly, the whole- hearted response of the people hastened the British decision to Quit India.
Thirdly, in the Quit India Movement, the Indian revolution reached its climax. From school children to college going students to experienced politicians and older generation, all had joined the struggle for independence. Lastly, a significant feature of the Quit India Movement was the emergence of parallel government in Ballia in UP, Midnapur in Bengal and Satara in Maharashtra. On the whole, the movement had far reaching conseqences.
(c) The movement could not continue for long. It lacked both co-‘ ordination and sound planning. No less important was the lack of clear – cut programme of action. In Ballia, people had seized power, but they did not know what to do next. Secondly, some sections of the society including many politicians remained loyal to the government.Thirdly, of course the underground movement continued until the beginning of 1943, but the open movement was crushed by the government within two months and practically collapsed before the end of September.
Quick Revision
Act of 1935
- Creation of an All – India Federation consisting of 11 British provinces and Princely States.
- Dyarchy replaced by a system of Responsible Government in provinces.
Elections of 1937
- Congress formed ministers in 6 provinces UP, Bihar, Orissa, the Centra] Provinces and Bombay.
Bengal – Non-Congress Coalition under Fazl-ul-Haq. - Punjab-Unionist party under Sikander Hayat Khan.
Quit India Movement
- Causes
- Failure of Cripps mission
- Worsening of communal problem
- Serious threat posed by Japan
- Course
- Attack on the means of communication.
- All the sections of people jointly took part.
Movement (QIM)
- Importance
- Symbolic of new confidence
- British day are numbered in India
- Indian Revolution reached its climax
- Resolution for QIM passed on 8th August 1942
Failure
- Lack of coordination and organisation
- Certain sections remained loyal to the government
- Government suppressed the movement ruthlessly
August Offer 1940 by Lord Linlithgow
- Promise of Dominion Status for India
- Immediate expansion of the Viceroy’s Executive Council
- Formation of War Advisery Council
- After the War, a representative Indian body would to set up to frame a constitution for India.
Cripps Mission (Sir Stafford Cripps, member of British Cabinet)
- India would be granted Dominion Status on the lines of Canada and Australia
- Constituent Assembly would be set up
- Effective participation of Indian leaders in the Viceroy’s Executive Council. Only the defence of India would remain under the control of the British Government.
Extra Practice Questions
Question 1.
When and by whom was the Individual Satyagraha suspended?
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi suspended the Individual Satyagraha on December 17, 1940.
Question 2.
AIarmed by the Japanese successes in the East, the British Government sent the Cripps Mission (March 1942) to India. In this context, briefly describe :
(a) The proposals of the Cripps Mission
(b) the reasons for its rejection by the Congress
(c) the reasons for its non-acceptance by the Muslim League.
Answer:
(a) Sir Stafford Cripps, a member of the British Cabinet after having detailed discussions with the Indian leaders, announced the following proposals.
- After the War, India would be’granted the Dominion status on the lines of Dominion Status granted to Canada and Australia
- Immediately after the war, a Constituent Assembly would be set up. It would consist of members from British India, elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies and nominated representatives of Princely States.
- Until the new constitution, Executive Council would be set up, composed of Indian leaders though the British government would retain control of the defence of India as a part of their war effort.
(b) The Congress Working Committee, which met on April 11, 1942 rejected the Cripps ‘proposal, as they were not satisfied with mere promises. Thus, Congress rejected the proposals on the points mentioned ahead.’
- They objected to the composition of the Constituent Assembly in which the representatives from the Princely States would be nominated by their rulers and not elected by the people.
- Congress could have joined the Viceroy’s Executive Council, provided they had an assurance that the Viceroy would act as a constitutional head. When no such assurance was given Congress termed the Offer as a post-dated cheque.
(c) The Muslim League, rejected the Cripps, proposals on two grounds.
- It did not recognise separate electorates for the constitution making body
- Demand for the partition of India had not been conceded. In other words, prospect of achieving Pakistan was bleak.
ICSE History and Civics Class 10 Goyal Brothers Prakashan Solutions