Mountbatten Plan was announced on 3rd June, 1947. Hence, this plan is also known as June 3rd Plan. It was the last and
final blueprint for independence and partition of British India. The plan explained about the principles related to independence, partition,
sovereignty and the right of both countries to formulate their own constitutions.
Apart from this, it also provided the princely states the right to accede either to India or Pakistan or to remain independent.
Lord Mountbatten Plan was accepted by all the political parties in British India. The plan was executed through the Indian Independence Act,
1947 that was passed by the British Parliament on July 5, 1947 and got approval from the Monarch on 18 July 1947. The plan envisaged the
partition of British India and the creation of two independent countries, India and Pakistan. The Act ended colonial rule in the British India
by granting full sovereignty to the two newly formed nations on 15 August 1947.
Background of the Mountbatten Plan
The British Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced a declaration on 20th February, 1947, in the British Parliament known as Attlee's
Declaration. According to this Declaration, the British would "Quit India after transferring power into the responsible hands not later than
30th June, 1948 and the position of the Princely States would be settled when the final transfer date was determined".
After this declaration, Lord Mountbatten was sent to India as the Viceroy and Governor General in March, 1947. During his rule, as the
situation got worsened due to communal violence, he proposed the partition plan, known as the Mountbatten Plan. The main objective of the
Mountbatten Plan 1947 was to divide the British India and quickly transfer the responsibilities, first in the form of Dominion Status.
Features of Mountbatten Plan
The Mountbatten Plan, which was approved by the British Parliament as Indian Independence Act of 1947, had many important provisions having
significant implications on the future of India and Pakistan. It ended the British sovereignty over India and redefined the governance
structures. Some of the features of the Plan are given below:
- There will be partition of British India into two dominions, namely India and Pakistan, each having the right to break away from the
British Commonwealth if they want.
- Punjab and Bengal will be divided, where as in the North Eastern Frontier Province (NEFP) and the Sylhet district of Assam, a referendum
will be held.
- Two Boundary Commissions, one for Punjab and one for Bengal, were appointed. For both Commisions, Cyril Radcliffe was the chairman. He was
asked to draw the boundary between India and Pakistan in one month.
- British authority over Princely States will be ceased and they can join either India or Pakistan or can remain independent.
- The British Monarch's title of 'Emperor of India' will be abolished.
- The Indian Independence Act of 1947 got rid of the position of Viceroy and created a Governor-General for each Dominion, appointed by the
Queen on the advice of the cabinet of each Dominion. The Queen's Government is not responsible to the Governments of India and Pakistan.
- There will not be any law enactment by the British Parliament in the territories of the newly formed dominions.
- The Indian Independence Act of 1947 got rid of the position of Secretary of State for India and transferred his responsibilities to the
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs.
- As the post of Secretary of State for India was abolished, all the appointments to the civil services by him were also abolished. However,
civil servants, who were appointed before 15th August, 1947, will continue to receive all the emoluments.
- The Constituent Assemblies of both India and Pakistan were free to make their Constitutions separately.
- The Governor General was to be vested with sufficient powers until March 1948 for effective implementation of the Indian Independence Act, 1947
and new constitutions were formed.
Consequences of Indian Independence Act 1947
The Indian Independence Act of 1947 was a watershed Act in India's struggle for freedom and the subsequent partition. Although the Act
was meant to serve a peaceful transfer of power, it led to communal violence, immense human suffering, mass migration and ultimately the
creation of India and Pakistan as independent countries.
- The partition led to widespread communal violence, numerous deaths and the largest wave of mass migration in history, with Muslims moving
to Pakistan and Hindus and Sikhs moving to India, giving rise to a huge human crisis with lasting impacts.
- It allowed the Princely states to join India or Pakistan or to remain independent. This option had long-lasting effects for both the
countries. The process of integrating the Princely states into India or Pakistan was a difficult one, and the Kashmir issue remained
unresolved till today, acts as source for the ongoing conflicts.
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home Minister of India, used an iron fist in the merger of the Princely states.
By 15th August, 1947, all the Princely states signed the Instrument of Accession, with the exception of Jammu and Kashmir, Hyderabad and
Junagadh. Goa remained under the Portuguese and Pondicherry under the French.
- The Indian Independence Act of 1947 resulted in unresolved matters like Kashmir issue and border disputes with China, Nepal and Bangladesh,
affecting bilateral relations with these countries.
- Both India and Pakistan started drafting their respective constitutions. India brought in its constitution by 26th, January 1950. The
constitution of India became one of the most comprehensive one as it took reference from many sources.
The legacy of Mountbatten Plan remains etched in the national memory as a reminder of the challenges, difficulties and impacts of
decolonization in the pursuit of self-determination.
