Cripps Mission 1942: Feature, Proposals, Setbacks, and Impact on India’s Political Trajectory

Cripps Mission 1942: British Bid for Indian Support in Wartime

As World War II went on, the British government sought to secure Indian support for their war efforts and prevent the independence movement from escalating. In this regard, the Cripps Mission was dispatched to India in 1942. Here’s a more in-depth look at the Cripps Mission:

Cripps Mission 1942: British Leader’s Constitutional Bid in India

• Objective: Stafford Cripps led a trip to India in March 1942 with constitutional proposals in order to gain Indian support for the war.  
• Stafford Cripps: The House of Commons leader and a member of the British War Cabinet, was a left-wing Labourite who actively supported the Indian national cause.

Cripps Mission: Urgency Amidst Defeats, Allied Pressure, and Nationalist Support

• Britain’s defeats: In Southeast Asia, the Japanese threat to invade India became serious, and Indian cooperation became critical. 
• Pressure From Allies: The Allies (the United States, the Soviet Union, and China) put pressure on Britain to seek Indian participation. 
• Nationalists Ready To Support: Indian nationalists pledged to assist the Allies if significant authority was handed quickly and total independence was granted after the war. 

Cripps Mission 1942: Proposals for Indian Union, Constitution, and Defense

The establishment of an Indian Union with dominion status; it would be free to decide its ties with the Commonwealth and to participate in the United Nations and other international organisations. 

• Constituent Assembly: Following the war’s conclusion, a constituent assembly would be called to draft a new constitution. Members of this parliament would be chosen in part by provincial legislatures using proportional representation and in part by the princes. 
• New Constitution: The British government would adopt the new constitution if two criteria were met: 
  1. Any province unwilling to join the Union may have its own constitution and create its own Union. 
  2. The new constitution-making body and the British government would draft a treaty to complete the transfer of power and protect ethnic and religious minorities. 
• Defence In Brith Hand: In the interim, India’s defence would remain in British hands, as would the governor-powers.  

Cripps Mission Setback: Propaganda, Opposition, and Draft Deadlock

• Mission As Propaganda Device: The Cripps Mission proposals failed to satisfy Indian nationalists and were ultimately used as a propaganda tool by the US and China. 
• The objection of Various Parties: Various parties and groups had objections to the proposals, such as the offer of dominion status instead of complete independence, representation of princely states by nominees and not by elected representatives, right to provinces to secede, and absence of any plan for immediate transfer of power and real share in defence.  
• Muslim League Opposition: Nehru and Maulana Azad were the official negotiators for the Congress, while the Muslim League criticised the idea of a single Indian Union, and did not like the machinery for the creation of a Constituent Assembly. 
• Denied Creation Of Pakistan: Muslim League argued the procedure to decide on the accession of provinces to the Union and thought that the proposals denied the Muslims the right to self-determination and the creation of Pakistan.  
• Criticism From Hindu Mahasabha and  Liberals: Liberals and the Hindu Mahasabha both criticized the secession proposals as being anti-Indian unity and security, while the Hindu Mahasabha criticized the basis of the right and the depressed classes for believing that partition would leave them at the mercy of caste Hindus. 
• Inability To Go Beyond The Draft Declaration: Stafford Cripps attempted to supersede the August Offer, but his inability to go beyond the Draft Declaration and the adoption of a rigid “take it or leave it” attitude caused a deadlock.  

Conclusion

The Cripps Mission of 1942 was a British government attempt to secure Indian support during World War II. The Cripps Offer proposed dominion status, a constituent assembly, and religious and minority rights safeguards. However, the offer was met with criticism and was rejected by the Indian National Congress. The mission emphasized the difficulties of addressing the diverse aspirations of the Indian independence movement and contributed to India’s subsequent political trajectory.

Previous Year Question (Prelims)

Q1. With reference to the proposals of Cripps Mission, consider the following statements: (2022)

1. The Constituent Assembly would have members nominated by the Provincial Assemblies as well as the Princely States. 
2. Any Province, which is not prepared to accept the new Constitution would have the right to sign a separate agreement with Britain regarding its future status. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q2. The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged that after the Second World War______________ [2016] 

1. India should be granted complete independence
2. India should be partitioned into two before granting independence
3. India should be made a republic with the condition that she will join the Commonwealth
4. India should be given Dominion status 

Q3. Quit India Movement was launched in response to____ [2013] 

1. Cabinet Mission Plan
2. Cripps Proposals
3. Simon Commission Report
4. Wavell Plan

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