GS1 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): The Freedom Struggle and Modern Nationalism | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1: Assess the role of British imperial power in complicating the process of transfer of power during the 1940s. (UPSC MAINS GS-I Paper)

Answer:

Introduction
Initially, the British did not pay any attention to the demand of transfer of power by India, but when World War II started, Britain came under immense pressure, as it needed full Indian support to counter this challenge. British came up with different plans and mission in 1940s. But these plans were not made with noble intention in favor of India, hence making the process of transfer of the power difficult.
Why it complicated the process of transfer of power:
Cripps Mission- 1942:
The main proposals of the mission were as follows:

• An Indian Union with a dominion status would be set up; it would be free to decide its relations with the Commonwealth and free to participate in the United Nations and other international bodies. 
• After the end of the war, a constituent assembly would be convened to frame a new constitution. Members of this assembly would be partly elected by the provincial assemblies through proportional representation and partly nominated by the princes. 
• The British government would accept the new constitution subject to two conditions: 
  • Any province not willing to join the Union could have a separate constitution and form a separate Union, and 
  • The new constitution- making body and the British government would negotiate a treaty to affect the transfer of power and to safeguard racial and religious minorities. 
  • In the meantime, defence of India would remain in British hands and the governor-general’s powers would remain intact.
• Various parties and groups had objections to the proposals on different points:
  • The Congress objected to the offer of dominion status instead of a provision for complete independence; 
  • Representation of the princely states by nominees and not by elected representatives; 
  • Right to provinces to secede as this went against the Principle of national unity; and absence of any plan for immediate transfer of power and absence of any real share in defence; the governor-general’s supremacy had been retained, and the demand that the governor-general be only the constitutional head had not been accepted.
• The main proposals of the Wavell Plan were as follows:
  • With the exception of the governor-general and the commander-in-chief, all members of the executive council were to be Indians. 
  • Caste Hindus and Muslims were to have equal representation. 
  • The reconstructed council was to function as an interim government within the framework of the 1935 Act (i.e. not responsible to the Central Assembly). 
  • The governor-general was to exercise his veto on the advice of ministers. Representatives of different parties were to submit a joint list to the viceroy for nominations to the executive council. If a joint list was not possible, then separate lists were to be submitted. 
  • Possibilities were to be kept open for negotiations on a new constitution once the war was finally won.
• Why Wavell Plan complicated the process of transfer of power:
• Congress Stand:
  • The Congress objected to the plan as “an attempt to reduce the Congress to the status of a purely caste Hindu party. 
  • It insisted on its right to include members of all communities among its nominees”. 
  • Muslim League’s Stand: The League wanted all Muslim members to be League nominees, because it feared that since the aims of other minorities—depressed classes; Sikhs, Christians, etc.—were the same as those of the Congress, and this arrangement would reduce the League to a one-third minority. (Wavell wanted Khizr Hyat Khan as the Muslim representative from Western Punjab.) 
  • The League claimed some kind of veto in the council with decisions opposed to Muslims needing a two-thirds majority for approval.

Conclusion
The end of colonial rule in 1947 was undoubtedly a defining moment in the modern South Asian history. Though it was difficult due to the British policies in 1940s for transfer of power, the event can be treated as the twin process of independence and partition - both affecting the future trajectories of the two nations.

Q2: Why did the 'moderates' fail to carry conviction with the national about their proclaimed ideology and political goals by the end of the nineteenth century? (UPSC MAINS GS-I Paper)

Answer: 

Congress politics during the first twenty years of its history is known as moderate politics. They did demand equality. They equated liberty with class privilege and wanted gradual or piecemeal reforms. British rule for most of them seemed to be an act of providence destined to bring in modernisation. Indians needed some time to prepare themselves for self-government. Their politics was very limited in terms of goals and methods. They believed in peaceful and constitutional agitation as opposed to popular means of agitation.

• They had a two-pronged methodology 
  • to create a strong public opinion to arouse consciousness and spirit and to unite and educate people on common political questions 
  • Persuade the British to introduce reforms in India on the lines laid out by nationalists. 
• Their immediate demand was not for full self-government or democracy. They demanded democratic rights for the educated members of the Indian society, Why did they fail? 
• They did not understand the true nature of the British rule. 
• The social composition of the moderate politicians resulted in social orthodoxy as social questions were not to be raised in the congress sessions till 1906. 
• Narrow social base and did not penetrate down to the masses as the leaders also did not have faith in them. 
• They failed to realise that the masses could prove to be the real driving force in the movement. The contradictions in moderate politics made it more limited and alienated from the greater mass of the Indian population. This was related to the social background of the mostly belonged to propertied classes. So, congress could not take a logical stand on peasant questions. 
• Pray, petition and protest type of politics could not turn to be effective. 
• Bengal was divided against the will and wish of people. 
• Rise of extremist leaders like Tilak appealed more to the masses than moderates Despite the failures, their contribution was enormous in legislative councils even though they had no real official power till 1920. They played significant role in the Indianisation of civil services, demanding that military expenditure should evenly be shared by the British, economic critique of imperialism, defence of civil rights.