Wavell Plan and Shimla Conference - General Knowledge Of Modern India

Wavell Plan and Shimla Conference - General Knowledge Of Modern India

By the first half of 1945, events in India and abroad were changing rapidly. Lord Wavell became the new Viceroy of India in October 1943, replacing Lord Linlithgow. As you know, in 1945 the Second World War was over. New elections were about to be held in England. The influence of the Labor Party was increasing in England. Churchill, who himself belonged to the Conservative Party, seeing this growing influence of the Labor Party, again tried to dramatize constitutional reforms in India. Churchill called Wavell to London for consultations in March 1945. Let's see what happens next? What is this Wavell scheme and Shimla convention?

Read more History: Aligarh Movement & Syed Ahmed Khan - General Knowledge of Modern India

Wavell Plan and Simla Conference

Under this plan, till the constitution is not made, in the central government, except the British Viceroy and the British Chief Commander, all other departments will be of Indians. This will be called an Executive Council. The plan was that similar councils would be formed in the states/provinces also.

After this Lord Wavell reached India. In June 1945, Wavell outlined constitutional reforms. A conference of Indian representatives was called in Shimla on 25 June 1945 to consider this plan. All the political prisoners were released to participate in this conference and the detention on Gandhiji was removed. On June 25, 1945, a convention started in Shimla under the chairmanship of Wavell, in which apart from the Congress and the Muslim League, representatives of the Sikhs, the Depressed Classes and the European Party of the Central Legislative Assembly were also invited.

Offer

• The communal problem should be solved.
• Hindus and Muslims will be given equal representation.
• Shudras and Sikhs will also be given representation.
• In the new council, except the Viceroy and the Commander-in-Chief, all Indian members would be kept.
• All departments will be assigned to Indians (except Defense Department).
• The functions, administration and constitution making method of the new council was to be decided.
• The Viceroy's powers will not be curtailed, but he will not exercise his powers judiciously.

Conclusion

A joint conference of political parties was to be convened so that appointments could be made by preparing common or separate lists of members of the Executive Council. Truth be told, Wavell's plan sounded fine, but instead of reducing communalism, it only worked to increase it. As we have seen in the resolution, there was talk of giving equal proportion to Muslims and Hindus. Thus 'the demand of the Muslim League for communal equality in exchange for political equality was first approved in the official declaration of British policy'.

Criticism

Controversy arose regarding the formation of the Executive Council. The leaders of the Scheduled Castes demanded the right to make separate nominations. Jinnah demanded that only the Muslim League should have the right to prepare the list. On this ground Abul Kalam Azad could also not be a member of the executive. The Simla Conference was unsuccessful due to Jinnah's insistence and Wavell's short-sightedness. On July 14, 1945, the Viceroy called off the conference as a failure.

What happened after the failure of Wavell Plan?

In July 1945, elections were held in England in which the Labor Party won a majority. Churchill was defeated and Attlee became Prime Minister of England. The Labor Party had a liberal outlook towards India. He called Wavell to England and talked to him to solve the problem of India. Attlee also announced the conduct of elections to the provincial and central assemblies in India. In the elections of 1945-46, Congress got success in general seats and Muslim League in reserved seats for Muslims. The Congress got 57 seats and the League 30 seats in the Central Assembly. In this way the Congress got majority in the provinces also. As a result, Congress ministries were formed in Hindu majority provinces. The Muslim League government was formed in Bengal and Sindh, but in Punjab a mixed government was formed under the leadership of Khizr Hayat.