Leaving Certificate History

British withdrawal from India, 1945-1947:helping students to think critically

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dPillar 6 Ancient Greek/Latin

Art

Classical Studies

CSPE

Environmental & Social Studies

Geography

HISTORYMusic

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Administrator

Angela Thompson

Tel: 053 - 923 9121

Fax: 053 – 923 9132

E-mail: angelathompson@eircom.net

National Co-ordinator

Conor Harrison

Mobile: 087 – 240 5710

E-mail: conorharrison@slss.ie

Co. Wexford Education Centre

Milehouse Road

Enniscorthy

Co. Wexford

Cultural & Environmental Education

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Helping students to think critically

• Increasing focus on students’ ability to think critically

• The enquiry-focused approach: rationale

• The multi-perspective approach

• A critical skills exercise

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The enquiry-focused approachAims

• To give a clear focus to a series of lessons

• To clarify for all concerned what the learning purposes are

• To ensure that the sequence of lessons is leading to improved understanding on the part of the students

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The multi-perspective approachAims

• To gain a more comprehensive understanding of historical events and developments

• To gain a deeper understanding of the historical relationship between nations … or majorities and minorities within national borders

• To gain a broader understanding of the dynamics of what happened through examining the interactions between the people and groups involved and their interdependence

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Introducing the case study

• The broader context of colonialism

• An overview of the case study

• British withdrawal from India, 1945-1947: glossary (key terms, episodes)

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A chronological overview

• The ‘Raj’

• The independence struggle

• The ‘Pakistan’ movement

• World War II and its aftermath

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Profiles

• Congress Party leaders

• Muslim League leaders

• British administrators and politicians

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A possible enquiry

• What happened between 1945 and 1947 that led to the creation of two states as the British withdrew from India?

• Potential benefits of using this question to focus on the subject matter of the case study?

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British withdrawal from India

Image: http://www.thehindu.com/fline/fl1910/19100781.jpg

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A possible ‘hook’

A newsreel film clip showing the establishment of the two states

may be downloaded atwww.harappa.com/wall/wall.html

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYRY6hmcOns

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India before independence and partition:http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indianindependence/map1/large14213.html

Source:

British Library

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Enquiry question: What happened between 1945 and 1947 that led to the creation of two states as the British withdrew from India?

• Stage 1 of the enquiry: In 1945, what circumstances, already existing, made moves towards British withdrawal, Indian independence and the creation of Pakistani likely?

• Stage 2 of the enquiry: What developments during 1945 made moves towards British withdrawal, Indian independence and the creation of Pakistan more likely?

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Enquiry question: What happened between 1945 and 1947 that led to the creation of two states as the British withdrew from India?

• Stage 3 of the enquiry: What actions by, and interactions between, the British government, the Congress Party and the Muslim League had a significant impact on developments during 1946?

• Stage 4 of the enquiry: Why did British plans for India undergo a number of changes during 1947?

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Strategy for the enquiry• Identification of significant developments/trends

• ‘Show your critical awareness’ questions

• Use of primary source materials, including speeches, newspaper reports, newsreel footage, cartoons

• Consideration of historians’ judgements

• Questions to interrogate the primary and secondary sources

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Stage 1 of the enquiry

In 1945, what circumstances, already existing, made moves towards British withdrawal, Indian independence and the creation of Pakistan likely?

• Relevant circumstances• Show your critical awareness• Related sources• Questions on the sources

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The Cripps Mission, 1942Image: http://www.ivu.org/history/europe20a/cripps.html

Cripps with Gandhi,

1942

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Stage 2 of the enquiry

What developments during 1945 made moves towards British withdrawal, Indian independence and the creation of Pakistan more likely?• Relevant developments/trends• Show your critical awareness• Related sources• Questions on the sources

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The Simla Conference, 1945

Wavell greets Jinnah at Simla, 1945Image: www.pakistan.gov.pk/Quaid/images/leader/06.jpg

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The Simla Conference, 1945Our stand has been, and we have repeatedly made it clear to the British government several times since 1940, that we cannot consider or enter into any provisional government unless a declaration is made by the British government guaranteeing the right of self-determination of Muslims and pledging that after the war, or as soon as it may be possible, the British government would establish Pakistan having regard to the basic principles laid down in the Lahore resolution of the Muslim League passed in 1940.

From a press conference given by Jinnah in Simla, 14th July, 1945

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The Red Fort Trials, 1945-46Image: /www.s1942.org.sg/s1942/indian_national_army/_images/remember_redfort.jpg

There has seldom been a matter which has attracted so much Indian public interest, and, it is safe to say, sympathy.

Director of the Intelligence Bureau

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Stage 3 of the enquiry

What actions by, and interactions between, the

British government, the Congress party and the

Muslim league had a significant impact on

developments during 1946?• Significant actions and interactions• Show your critical awareness• Related sources• Questions on the sources

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The Cabinet Mission, March-June, 1946Acknowledgement: Daily Mail. Illingworth, 19 March: “Civil war and famine are heading towards India”

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Cabinet Mission proposals, 1946• Long-term

– 1st tier: federal union (foreign affairs, defence, communications)

– 2nd tier: autonomous provinces, able to form subordinate unions of their own

• Short-term– Setting up of interim government– Elections for Constituent Assembly (to work out

details of constitution), with provinces grouped to reflect communal differences)

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Direct Action Day, 16 August, 1946

Even before 10 o’clock Police Headquarters had reported that there was excitement throughout the city, that shops were being forced to close, and that there were many reports of stabbing and throwing of stones and brickbats. The trouble had already assumed the communal character which it was to retain throughout … Later reports indicate

that the Muslims were in an aggressive mood from early in the day and that their processions were well armed with the lathis, iron rods and missiles. Their efforts to force Hindu shops to close as they passed through the streets were greeted with showers of brickbats from the roofs above – indicating that the Hindus were not unprepared for trouble – and from this sort of exchange of missiles, matters soon degenerated into arson, looting and murder.

Letter from Sir Frederick Burrows to Lord Wavell, 22nd August, 1946

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Indian politics, November 1946Acknowledgement: Daily Mail. As seen by Illingworth, Daily Mail, 29 November: “Indian politics”

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Stage 4 of the enquiry

Why did British plans for India undergo a number

of changes during 1947?

• Relevant developments• Show your critical awareness• Related sources• Questions on the sources

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February 1947: a new ViceroyImage:http://www.tree.familyhistory.uk.com/showmedia.php?mediaID=5

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Mountbatten’s initial plan for withdrawal, May 1947Image:http://www.masters-of-photography.com/B/bourke-white/b-w_nehru_full.html

Nehru wrote that the plan would Balkanise India,

lead to a breakdown of the central authority, provoke civil conflict (Narendra Singh Sarila, 2005)

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Communal violence and the mounting pressure for a solutionAcknowledgement: Daily Mail. As seen by Illingworth, Daily Mail, 20 May: “Free India”

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Mountbatten’s plan, 3 June, 1947INDIA WINS INDEPENDENCE AND PARTITIONSo India is to have independence – and partition. That is the effect of the plan announced by the British prime minister. Before the end of this year the British will leave India. They will hand over power not to one government but two,It was the only solution, but it has brought little joy to any party …

The Irish Times, 14th June, 1947

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The transfer of power, 14-15 August, 1947

Film clip: A New India

Transcript: page 14

Provenance: Universal Newsreel was one of thefive major US newsreel companies from 1929 until1967.Newsreels appeared semi-weekly in US andinternational movie theatres; most India storieswere a minute long. (Source: http://www.harappa.com/film/u0.html)

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Group activity

Critical skills exercise