TRYST WITH DESTINY: THE QUESTION OF EMPERIAL INDIA

Transcription

1 TRYST WITH DESTINY: THE QUESTION OF EMPERIAL INDIA

2 Dear Delegates, On behalf of all the staff and directors of this committee, I would like to welcome you to one of the most exciting and engaging weekends at ; and our committee, Tryst with Destiny. This committee will take you to explore the mannerisms in which colonial India was administered, and the events that led up to independence in 1947 through a unique take. The rest of the detailed information regarding the committee is given below, in the background guide, but before you do that, I wished to briefly introduce myself. I am currently a junior pursuing a History major at Mount Holyoke College. I am from a bunch of places around the word, one of them being New Delhi, India, home to very many colonial historical events. A part from being a regular member of the MHCMUN team, and heading this year FCMUN Secretariat, I dabble in quite a number of sports and love any, and everything, chocolate related (sending me some would not be a bad idea..). Being a history major, it is no surprise then that I enjoy teleporting myself - and in this case the entire committee - back in time to relive, and re-enact, some of my favorite History scenes. In this committee we shall be transported back to 1942 in pre-partition India, at the start of the Quit India Movement, in August. Each committee session will be equivalent to one year, forward. By mathematical calculations, we should hopefully reach the much awaited 1947 by the time we head into the last committee session! I have no doubt that each and everyone of you will bring your MUN skills, and historical knowledge to the forefront in this committee, and show some of our previous colonial leaders how to run imperial India, MUN-style! If you have any questions pertaining to this committee, FCMUN, or any other life issues, please do contact me at puri23n@mtholyoke.eduor just find me on Facebook! I m sure you all will have a blast, defying scientific discoveries, and being teleported back in time! Warm wishes, Nooria Puri 15 Committee Director Co-Secretary General

3 Historical Background India has been under British rule for more than 80 years at the start of this committee. During this time, there have been several opposition groups that have arisen out of the colonial situation, against the imperials. One of the most formidable opposition groups is the Indian National Congress that began in The leadership of this party has seen several changes since then, and the current leader of the party is Maulana Azad. However, the INC is not the only party that is active during this time period. The All India Muslim League, headed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, is also very active especially for greater advocacy for Muslims in the political sphere. But while there are these different political parties that are arising, the British government still controls all aspects of domestic and political sphere, in imperial India. The Government of India Act 1935, gave the Indian politicians a degree of freedom of control, through legislative elections, it was not complete control for self-rule. In 1942 the world, including imperial India, was caught up in World War II. Indians were the largest colonised country to provide troops for the war efforts, on the side of the British. Due to this, in 1942, Sir Stafford Cripps came to India in order to gather greater support for the war efforts, from the Indians, in promise for dominion status and representation for the minorities. However this proposal was shot down by many Indians, including Gandhi, who wanted self - governance, and Jinnah, who found no mention of the creation of Pakistan. Based of the failure of the Cripps mission, Gandhi launches the Quit India Movement on the 8th of August 1942, and this committee will look into the after effects of such a declaration in the wider scheme of independence.

4 Timeline of certain events to keep in mind: May 1940: Winston Churchill comes to power - strongly against independent India March 1942: Cripps mission announced August 1942: INC announces the Quit India movement - top leaders are arrested - August uprising begins in cities across India September 1942: Subhash Chandra Bose establishes the Indian National Army (INA) December 1943: All India Muslim League adopts a Divide and Quit movement : Bengal famine - British government refused to give aid to the dying poor January 1945: Red Fort trials - treason trials against INA officers who went against the British June 1945:Simla conference - meeting to discuss future of India with INC and Muslim League September 1945: World War II ends December 1945: General Elections held in India June 1946: British Raj presents a proposal for an interim India Government October 1946: Interim government reconstituted after disruptions February - March 1947: Communal riots begin in Punjab regarding partition of India Map of current India (1942)

5 Committee structure/procedure This committee is a single crisis committee. It will adhere to all parliamentary procedures, and motions. This committee will remain in a default moderated caucus with speaking time of two minutes, unless altered by a motion from either the chair or a delegate. All motions have to have final approval by the chair. Note passing between both delegates, and the crisis room is highly encouraged. This will help offer a more stimulating discussion within the committee room too. Directives can only be passed with atleast 1/3rd majority. Directives that deal with the current issue at hand, will be looked upon favourably. Logistics for the committee As earlier stated, this committee moves forward by one year, per committee session. Delegates need to keep in mind that issues from the previous years need to be given priority, before trying to resolve future conflicts. The chair of this committee shall be Mahatma Gandhi who has called together different leaders, across the platform, to discuss the future of imperial India. Gandhi s cabinet meets every year to discuss what the current situation is of imperial India, and the best decision forward for the betterment of all the different parties involved in these discussions. Delegates also have to make sure that they remain within the portfolio powers that have been assigned to them. While the events in this committee may not necessarily follow the factual course of History, the characters in this committee will be expected to adhere to their roles, unless there has been any change, upon which crisis will inform the concerned character.

6 Character Profiles officials. Jawaharlal Nehru Formidable leader of the Indian National Congress and close ally of Mahatma Gandhi. Nehru believed in a secular, liberal India. He was a strong advocator for the British to leave India, however disagreed with Gandhi regarding the Quit India movement as he had different expectations from the allied powers of WWII. He believed that partition would be necessary for India s development. He did not get along well with Jinnah, but had close ties with certain British Abdul Kalam Azad President of the Indian National Congress from He was influential in the Khilafat movement in Close ally of Gandhi, but felt greater negotiations should be made with the British. He was a strong opponent of the creation of Pakistan, and felt that Muslims should be integrated within the Indian boundaries itself. Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan A close friend of Mahatma Gandhi, Frontier Gandhi as he was affectionately called, was a strong advocate for non-violent methods against the British for achieving India s independence. A devote Muslim, Khan was against the

7 partition of India, and would constantly advocate a united India. He was an active campaigner for women's movements during the independence struggle. DrRajendra Prasad A keen supporter of Gandhi, and hailing from Bihar, Dr. Prasad was an active member of the imperial movement. He was one of the leading campaigners of the Quit India movement 1942, however, was arrested soon after till He was a part of Nehru s interim government of 1946 and had a keen eye on food and agriculture. Subhash Chandra Bose Bose was a keen army official during the Indian National movement. He believed in revolutionary ideals, and different in opinion with Gandhi. Bose left the INC to join forces with the Axis Powers during WWII. He helped recreate and strengthen the Indian National Army (INA) and helped the Japanese with their plans in Southeast Asia. Bose felt that the Soviet Union was against imperial Britain and wished to join their movements during the war, as well. Muhammad Ali Jinnah Leader of the All India Muslim League, Jinnah became a strong advocator for Muslim rights in the early 1920 s, and demanded greater authority for the Muslim community during the national movements. His differing views with Gandhi regarding the satyagraha movement, and the Hindu-Muslim question, made him an outcast with the rest of the INC members. His demand for a separate Muslim state, increased his support for the British to aid him in this process.

8 Liaquat Ali Khan An influential member of the All India Muslim League, he was a close ally of Jinnah and had opposing views to Nehru on matters of Indian nationalism. He did not believe in the methods of achieving independence, according to the INC, and therefore strongly distanced himself from their ideals. He strongly believed in the concept of a separate Muslim state, and brought together several student unions in his movements. His concepts on how to run a country closely aligned with Western states, such as the US. VinayakDamodarSavarkar President of the Hindu Mahasabha, a political party based off strong Hindu ideology and in opposition towards the Muslim League. Savarkar felt that the INC was being a more secular party and therefore was in strong opposition to the ideals presented by Gandhi during the national movement. He was against the Quit India movement and believed that true Hindu s should adhere to British rules. Savarkar was also against the partition of India and believed that Muslims and Hindu s could live in the same country. Puran Chand Joshi General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) during this period, the CPI movement was not very strong in the nationalism movements that were taking place around India. The CPI was against the British war efforts, and hence would run into altercations with imperial Britain. Joshi felt that the CPI should join nationalist efforts with the INC and agreed with many principles with Nehru, even though his party did not

9 agree with him. Lord Mountbatten - Crown Representative Viceroy of India, Mountbatten was a close ally of Churchill. He was actively involved in the British armed forces during the second World War. He was initially sent to India in hopes to reunite the differences that were arising, however, ended up being an active supporter of India s partition movement. He was close with Nehru but was against Jinnah s strong political ambitions. Field Marshal Sir Archibald Wavell He was the commander in chief of imperial India during WWII. He believed in helping the Indians who were in need of help and therefore tended to work well with the Indian nationalists, for the most part. He also believed in independent India but Churchill s opposing view, resulted in strained relations between the two. Secretary of State - Leo Amery Amery was born in India and this shaped his understanding of the problems faced by the Indian people. He was Secretary of State for both India and Burma. He believed that India should be given independence, and was against the harsh treatment of imperial Britain, on the Indians. His

10 ideology made him unfavourable with Churchill, who believed in the opposite. Henry F Grady - US Ambassador He was the first US ambassador to India and believed in the ideas presented by FDR regarding imperial India. US was very vociferous in granting independence to India, however Churchill was adamant not to. This started to cause tensions between the two. India was also used as a base for US to supply aid and supplies to China during their battle with Japan.