The Cripps Mission, officially known as the Mission of 1942, was a significant initiative by the British government during World War II aimed at addressing India’s demand for self-governance.
Background: In 1942, during World War II, the British government, led by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, sought Indian cooperation and support in the war effort against the Axis powers. Simultaneously, Indian political movements, led by the Indian National Congress and other nationalist groups, intensified their demands for complete independence.
Objective: The Cripps Mission, led by Sir Stafford Cripps, a senior British politician, and a delegation, was dispatched to India in March 1942. The primary goal was to secure Indian cooperation in the war by offering a political settlement that would potentially pave the way for India’s future constitutional arrangements.
Key Features of the Proposal
- Dominion Status: The mission proposed the offer of full dominion status for India after the war, which meant that India would have the same status within the British Commonwealth as Canada, Australia, and others.
- Constitutional Proposals: It suggested the formation of an Indian Union with the right to secede, if desired, after a certain period. This union would have a constitution drafted by an elected body of Indians.
- Provincial Autonomy: The proposal assured the provinces the right to self-government and the power to decide their future relationship with the Indian Union.
- Constituent Assembly: It offered the formation of a constituent assembly after the war to draft India’s constitution, with Indian members being predominantly elected.
- War Effort Support: In return for India’s cooperation in the war, the British government promised to offer immediate Dominion status and full control over defense, finance, and communications.
Response and Outcome
- Rejection by Indian National Congress: The Congress, led by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, rejected the proposal because it did not guarantee immediate complete independence or address the immediate transfer of power.
- Criticism and Failure: The Cripps Mission failed to bridge the gap between the British government’s proposals and the Indian nationalist aspirations. It faced criticism for offering a future promise of dominion status without providing an immediate transfer of power.
- Impact: The rejection of the Cripps Mission intensified the Indian nationalist movement and led to the “Quit India” resolution by the Indian National Congress, demanding immediate and complete independence, which resulted in a massive civil disobedience movement.
The Cripps Mission, despite its attempt to offer a political settlement, failed to garner the support of Indian nationalist leaders due to its limitations and failure to meet immediate demands for independence. However, it played a role in galvanizing the independence movement and highlighting the need for a more definitive commitment to India’s self-governance.
