The Cripps Mission: A Failed Attempt at Indian Self-Governance

History Indian History

Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-02-13 08:33:42 |

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The Cripps Mission was a British initiative sent to India in March 1942 during World War II. Led by Sir Stafford Cripps, a senior minister in the British government, the mission aimed to gain Indian support for the war effort by promising self-governance after the war. The British government was under pressure due to the advancing Japanese forces in Asia, and they sought to secure India's cooperation to strengthen their position.

The proposal put forward by the Cripps Mission promised that India would be granted dominion status after the war, meaning it would have full self-government while still remaining within the British Commonwealth. It also offered the possibility for any province to opt out of the Indian Union if it chose to do so. Additionally, an elected body would be set up after the war to draft a new constitution, which would be implemented once it was approved by the British Parliament.

However, the mission failed to achieve its objective as it was rejected by major Indian political groups. The Indian National Congress, led by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, was opposed to the proposal as it did not provide immediate independence and allowed for the possibility of partition. They also saw the British government's offer as an attempt to delay real political reforms. The Muslim League, under Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was also dissatisfied as the proposal did not fully recognize their demand for a separate Pakistan.

The rejection of the Cripps Mission led to increased frustration among Indian leaders, ultimately contributing to the launch of the Quit India Movement in August 1942. This movement demanded an end to British rule and intensified nationalist sentiments across the country. The failure of the mission also demonstrated the British government's reluctance to grant India real autonomy at that time.

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