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Cripps Mission (March–April 1942) - Coggle Diagram
Cripps Mission (March–April 1942)
Context
WWII turning point: Japanese armies reached Burma (on India’s border). Britain feared invasion.
Churchill’s government needed Indian cooperation, manpower, and resources.
Americans (Roosevelt) pressured Britain to make democratic concessions in India (since US fought “for democracy”).
Proposals (The “Cripps Offer”)
Dominion Status: India would gain dominion status after the war (still tied to Britain).
Constituent Assembly: Elected by provincial legislatures + nominated princes’ representatives would draft a constitution. :
Opt-out clause: Provinces could refuse to join the Indian Union → they could remain separate (early step toward Partition).
War support: Britain wanted full Indian cooperation in exchange.
Indian Reactions
Indian National Congress:
Wanted immediate independence.
Saw opt-out clause as encouraging fragmentation.
Gandhi mocked it as a “post-dated cheque on a crashing bank.”
Muslim League:
Rejected since it did not explicitly guarantee Pakistan.
Hindu Mahasabha, Princes, Sikhs: all suspicious → no major support.
Impact / Significance
Showed Britain was unwilling to grant immediate freedom.
Widened rift between Congress and League → polarization deepened.
Exposed contradictions of Britain’s claim of fighting fascism while denying self-determination.
Directly set the stage for Quit India Movement.