Direct Action Day (1946) & Attlee’s Declaration

Direct Action Day, observed on 16 August 1946, marked a major communal riot triggered by the Muslim League’s demand for Pakistan, highlighting the growing Hindu-Muslim divide in British India. Attlee’s Declaration on 20 February 1947 set a definitive timeline for British withdrawal and acknowledged the potential partition of India, accelerating the decolonisation process. This article aims to study in detail the events, causes, and consequences of Direct Action Day and Attlee’s Declaration, shedding light on their role in shaping India’s independence and partition.

Direct Action Day

• The mid-1940s were volatile in Indian history, marked by deep communal divisions and political uncertainty.
• One of the most significant and tragic events of this era was Direct Action Day, which occurred on 16 August 1946, leading to widespread communal violence and laying the groundwork for the partition of India.
• Direct Action Day was called by the Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, to press for the demand for a separate state of Pakistan.
• The League declared the day as a strike or hartal to emphasize its rejection of the Congress’s leadership and its insistence on the creation of Pakistan.
• The call for Direct Action Day led to widespread communal riots, particularly in Calcutta, which was governed by a Muslim League ministry at the time.
• The violence quickly spiralled out of control, leading to:
  • The deaths of over 5,000 people and injuries to thousands more.
  • Significant destruction of property and displacement of communities.
  • A communal divide that further deepened in other regions, including Bombay, Noakhali, Tipperah, Bihar, and the United Provinces.
  • The scale and brutality of the violence underscored the inability of the British government to maintain law and order in India, adding urgency to the demand for a political resolution.

Formation of the Interim Government (1946)

• In response to rising tensions, Viceroy Lord Wavell initiated steps for a transitional government to contain the situation.
• He invited the Congress President, Jawaharlal Nehru, to form the Interim Government, which assumed office on 2 September 1946.

Muslim League’s Participation and Tensions

Initially, the Muslim League refused to cooperate but later decided to join the Interim Government on 26 October 1946 after renewed negotiations with the Viceroy. However, their participation led to:

• The League used obstructionist tactics, questioning Congress decisions and boycotted informal cabinet meetings.
• There was increasing friction between Congress and League ministers, as the League viewed the government as a platform to further its demand for Pakistan.
• The Congress demanded the British either force the League to cooperate or dissolve the Interim Government altogether.

Thus, the interim government became an arena for political confrontation rather than collaboration, further illustrating the growing divide between the Congress and the Muslim League.

Attlee’s Declaration and the Countdown to Independence

Recognising India’s worsening political and communal climate, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee made a landmark announcement on 20 February 1947, outlining Britain’s plan for decolonisation.

Key Points of Attlee’s Declaration

• Deadline for Power Transfer: The British government set 30 June 1948 as the deadline for transferring power to Indian hands.
• Provision for Partition: Attlee acknowledged the possibility of partition, allowing for the transfer of power to provincial governments if a central authority could not be agreed upon.
• New Leadership: Lord Louis Mountbatten was appointed to replace Lord Wavell as the Viceroy of India, who was tasked with ensuring a smooth transition of power.

Implications of Direct Action Day and Attlee’s Declaration

Political and Social Impact

• Intensification of Communal Divide: The violence on Direct Action Day and the League’s stance in the Interim Government exacerbated communal tensions.
• Momentum for Partition: The events made it increasingly clear that a unified India was unlikely, bolstering the case for creating Pakistan.
• Accelerated Decolonization: Attlee’s declaration marked the beginning of the end of British rule, with a clear timeline and acknowledgement of partition.

Role of Mountbatten

• As the new Viceroy, Mountbatten would oversee the final stages of the power transfer, including the partition of India.
• His tenure culminated in the Indian Independence Act of 1947, formalising the creation of India and Pakistan as separate nations.

Conclusion

Direct Action Day of 1946 was a turning point in India’s struggle for independence, underscoring the depth of communal divisions and the urgency of a resolution. Subsequent events, including the Interim Government’s challenges and Attlee’s declaration, set the stage for the final push towards independence. While these developments brought freedom to India, they also came at the cost of immense human suffering and the traumatic partition of the subcontinent.

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