Mountbatten Plan

About the Mountbatten Plan (1947)
The 3 June Plan was the final constitutional arrangement proposed by Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India.

It accepted partition as the only practical option and created:

Dominion of India, and

Dominion of Pakistan

Mountbatten, who arrived in March 1947, aimed to end British rule swiftly while attempting to control intensifying communal unrest.

Background of the Mountbatten Plan
By early 1947, India was engulfed in severe political and communal crises:

The Cabinet Mission Plan had failed due to disagreements between the Congress and the Muslim League.

Communal tensions escalated after Direct Action Day (1946), leading to widespread riots.

The British government acknowledged that maintaining control was no longer feasible.

Mountbatten was entrusted with transferring power quickly and peacefully, even if that meant partition.

Key Provisions of the Mountbatten Plan
The plan provided the constitutional and administrative framework for independence and partition.

1. Partition of Key Provinces

Punjab & Bengal:
Their Legislative Assemblies would vote on whether they preferred partition. A simple majority would decide division.

Sindh:
Its Legislative Assembly would independently choose between joining India or Pakistan.

North-West Frontier Province (NWFP):
A referendum would settle its future.

Sylhet (Assam):
A referendum was held to decide if Sylhet would join East Bengal (Pakistan) or remain with Assam.

2. Boundary Commission
If Punjab and Bengal opted for partition, a Boundary Commission—led by Sir Cyril Radcliffe—would demarcate borders between the two new dominions.

3. Dominion Status
India and Pakistan would become independent dominions within the British Commonwealth.

Each dominion would have its own Constituent Assembly responsible for drafting its constitution.

4. Princely States
Princely states could not claim independence.

They were required to accede to either India or Pakistan, based on geographic and political considerations.

5. Timeline for Independence
The transfer of power, originally planned for June 1948, was advanced to 15 August 1947, reflecting the urgency of the situation.

6. Interim Government
An Interim Government, consisting of leaders from major political parties, would manage administration until independence was formalised.

Implementation and Outcomes
The plan received acceptance from the Congress, Muslim League, and other political groups.

Key developments:
Punjab and Bengal were divided;

East Punjab & West Bengal remained in India

West Punjab & East Bengal became part of Pakistan

NWFP and Sylhet voted in favour of Pakistan.

Most princely states acceded to India or Pakistan, though Hyderabad and Kashmir later became major points of conflict.

Reasons for the Early Transfer of Power
Several factors led Mountbatten to fast-track independence:

To avoid further communal violence and prevent British responsibility.

The Congress supported an immediate transfer to contain unrest and prevent additional fragmentation.

The British Empire was financially and administratively overstretched after World War II.

Challenges of the Mountbatten Plan
The hurried implementation resulted in several severe problems:

1. Communal Riots

Partition unleashed large-scale violence, particularly in Punjab and Bengal, resulting in massive casualties and migration.

2. Boundary Commission Delays

The Radcliffe Line was announced just days before independence, causing confusion and conflict.

3. Inadequate Administrative Preparedness

Both dominions lacked sufficient resources or institutions to handle:

Refugee movements

Food shortages

Breakdown of law and order

The Indian Independence Act, 1947
Passed on 18 July 1947, the Act:

Legally formalised the provisions of the Mountbatten Plan.

Ended British sovereignty over India.

Gave full independence to India and Pakistan.

Abolished the authority of the British Crown in Indian affairs.

Legacy of the Mountbatten Plan
While the Plan successfully ended British rule, it also reshaped South Asia with far-reaching consequences:

It triggered one of the largest human migrations in history.

The hurried partition contributed to unresolved issues such as the Kashmir conflict.

It marked the dual legacy of freedom and tragedy, defining relations between India and Pakistan for decades to come.

Conclusion
The Mountbatten Plan of 1947 stands as a defining chapter in India’s modern history. It expedited independence but also ushered in the painful reality of partition. Despite the administrative flaws and the humanitarian crisis that followed, the plan formally ended colonial rule and opened a new political era for both India and Pakistan.

FAQs
Q1. What is the Mountbatten Plan?
A proposal by Lord Mountbatten to divide British India into the two dominions of India and Pakistan.

Q2. When was the Mountbatten Plan announced?
It was announced on 3 June 1947.

Q3. What is another name for the Mountbatten Plan?
It is also known as the 3 June Plan.

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