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Third June Plan, 1947: Background

The Third June Plan of 1947, also known as the Independence Act of 1947, was Lord Mountbatten's plan to partition British India and grant independence. It proposed dividing British India into two new independent dominions - India and Pakistan. Muslim-majority provinces would vote whether to join Pakistan or India. The plan was rushed through with little time for implementation, exacerbating tensions and violence during the partition process. Mountbatten aimed to grant independence more quickly in order to avoid further conflict between Congress and the Muslim League.

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714 views2 pages

Third June Plan, 1947: Background

The Third June Plan of 1947, also known as the Independence Act of 1947, was Lord Mountbatten's plan to partition British India and grant independence. It proposed dividing British India into two new independent dominions - India and Pakistan. Muslim-majority provinces would vote whether to join Pakistan or India. The plan was rushed through with little time for implementation, exacerbating tensions and violence during the partition process. Mountbatten aimed to grant independence more quickly in order to avoid further conflict between Congress and the Muslim League.

Uploaded by

Fatima Zulfiqar X-S-B
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Third June Plan, 1947

Background

 It was decided that the British would leave India by June 1948.
 A new Viceroy Lord Mountbatten was sent to deal with the partition plan.
 Short time span was deliberately planned so that riots and insurgencies could be avoided.
 Problem emerged when riots and killings took place in Punjab and spread to other provinces
 Therefore, a quick partition seemed the only solution to Mountbatten.

Note:

 Role of Mountbatten is crucial


 There is considerable evidence that support the claim that he was hostile to Quaid e Azam but
admired Nehru.
 He was a much influential figure in Britain – a war hero and from a royal family.
 His wife Edwina accompanied him to India. Her influence over her husband may have been
significant as far as partition is concerned.

Factors that led Britain leave India in haste:

 Labour party had come to power in Britain and had disliked imperialism. It wanted to grant
independence quickly.
 Britain was irritated that Indians could not agree over the future of India.
 By forcing the plan quickly Britain hoped to make Indians work together
 Delay might lead to even more conflict between Congress and Muslim League.
 British were afraid that if there was a civil war due to the mass killing (that started in Punjab and
spread to other areas ) before they could get out then they would be caught up in it.
 Worry over the future of India was not of great concern to the British who were coping with
serious post war economic problems in their own land and the start of Cold War had hampered
the situation there.

The Plan:

Mountbatten announced the Partition Plan on 3 rd June, 1947 came to be known as Independence Act of
1947.

It proposed:

 Two states to be set up – India and Pakistan


 Both states will implement the Act of 1935 as Interim constitution
 Both will have Dominion status
 Muslim majority provinces would vote either to stay in India or join Pakistan.
 In NWFP referendum was held in favour of Pakistan.
 Sindh and Balochistan voted for Pakistan.
 Sylhet and Assam joined the East wing of Pakistan.
 Punjab and Bengal had two decisions to make – whether to vote for Pakistan. If voted, whether
to be partitioned in Muslim and non-Muslim areas. It was decided that non-Muslim areas would
remain in India.
 It is noteworthy that the plan of partition which had to take place in June 1948 was suddenly
shifted to August 15, 1947. There were now only 7 weeks left to deal with the partition issue
(72 days total).

Issues Involved:

 Boundaries to be drawn between Muslims and non-Muslim areas of Bengal and Punjab
 Accession of princely states to be confirmed which country to join.
 Issues related to division of assets – army, civil service and finance – had to be solved.
 Mountbatten would be the first Governor General of India and Jinnah would be of Pakistan. This
later created serious problems as seen in Radcliff’s Award.

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