Ides of March and India

We all know that Julius Caesar's assassination took place on the Ides of March, changing the fate of the Roman Republic. But this date is also significant in Indian history. Read on…

After the February 1946 Naval, Airforce, Army rebellion, the British Government of India was worried, so a three-member delegation was sent to India to investigate and report on the situation.

The delegation included Sir Stafford Cripps, Lord Pethick Lawrence, Secretary of State for India, and Albert Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty. Their mission was to discuss the composition of the new executive council of the Viceroy and the establishment of a constitutional assembly to determine the future and methods for framing the constitution. Given how past promises were made and British strategy, the constitution-making process would have kept Indians occupied for at least another decade.

In His speech on March 15^th, Atlee said that when Cripps was scheduled to leave London on the mission, the new addition in a statement was giving freedom to India:

‘Although in many circumstances, there might be such stress on communal claims as it might seem almost to exclude the concept of nationalism. Yet, we found that Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, or Mahratta, the politician or civil servant – among all of them, that conception of nationalism had been growing stronger and stronger. Today I think that national idea has spread right through and, not least, perhaps, among some of those soldiers who have given such wonderful service in the war. I should like today, therefore, not to stress too much about the differences between Indians. Let us all realize that whatever the difficulties, whatever the divisions may be,there is this underlying demand among all the Indian peoples[i].

He continued: ‘My colleagues are going to India with the intention of using theirutmost endeavors to help her to attain that freedom as speedily and fully as possible.' ’[ii]

Commenting upon the possibility of Independence to India, he said:

‘But if she does so elect, it must be by her own free will. The British Commonwealth and Empire are not bound together by chains of external compulsion. It is a free association of free people. If, on the other hand, she elects for Independence, in our view, she has a right to do so.It will be for us to help to make the transition as smooth and easy as possible.’[iii]

He talked about discussions with Congress and Muslim league and proposed ‘We have accordingly decided that immediate arrangements should be made whereby Indians may decide the future constitution of India and an interim Government may be set up at once to carry on the administration of British India until such time as a new constitution can be brought into being ..’[iv]

Regarding the type of Government, he had declared,' What form of Government was to replace the present regime was for India to decide. We are mindful of the rights of the minorities; on the other hand, we cannot allow a minority to place a veto on the advance of the majority..’[v]This was to show British support and encouragement for the partition of India.

Therefore, March 15^th is the date when the first formal announcement of the British leaving India was made.

[i]https://www.cvce.eu/en/obj/address_given_by_clement_attlee_to_the_house_of_commons_15_march_1946-en-1c712462-349f-4319-9b3b-fadf8e198aad.html

[ii]https://www.cvce.eu/en/obj/address_given_by_clement_attlee_to_the_house_of_commons_15_march_1946-en-1c712462-349f-4319-9b3b-fadf8e198aad.html

[iii]Ibid.

[iv]Full proposal is given in Phillips C.H.The ,Evolution of India and Pakistan ,PP 378,379

[v]Sarila Narinder Singh the Shadow of the great game. P 205