Mains Daily Question
Dec. 7, 2023
Q.1) In what aspects did Cripps Mission diverge from the August offer? (10M, 150W)
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Approach to the answer: The question talks about the difference between Cripps mission and August Offer. Both these instruments were proposed in the last leg of the Indian freedom struggle. We need to explain them and state the difference between them. Introduction: We can introduce the answer by either explaining both the proposals or by stating the environmental context which led to the emergence/constitution of these proposals. Body: The directive used in the question is ‘in what aspects’, thus, we need to state how the Cripps mission differed and to what degree from the August offer. We can start by stating the main proposals under Cripps mission and then enlist the differences w.r.t. August offer. Conclusion: We can conclude by either summarizing the arguments of body section, or state the similarities between the pro posals or why both Cripps mission and August offer were rejected by nationalists across rank and file. |
Answer:
The August Offer (1940) and Cripps Mission (1942) were both British government’s desperate proposal to seek Indian cooperation during the 2nd World War. August Offer was given when Hitler captured Belgium whereas Cripps Mission was given to negate the fear of Japan invading India.
Key aspects where the Cripps Mission diverged from the August Offer:
- Nature of Proposals:
- Cripps Mission: The Cripps Mission was a more comprehensive and specific set of proposals. It presented a detailed plan for the post-war political structure of India, including the offer of Dominion status.
- August Offer: The August Offer, on the other hand, was more of a statement of intent rather than a detailed plan. It declared the British government's intention to set up a representative body after the war, without specifying the details.
- Dominion Status:
- Cripps Mission: The Cripps Mission explicitly offered India the possibility of full Dominion status and the right to secede from the British Commonwealth if it chose to do so.
- August Offer: The August Offer did not explicitly mention Dominion status or the right to secede. It was less clear on the exact nature of the political status that India could attain.
- Constituent Assembly:
- Cripps Mission: The Cripps Mission proposed the establishment of a Constituent Assembly that would frame the constitution for a self-governing India.
- August Offer: The August Offer did not specify the creation of a Constituent Assembly with the same clarity.
- Provincial Autonomy:
- Cripps Mission: It envisaged immediate political changes, including greater provincial autonomy and the formation of an interim government at the center.
- August Offer: While the August Offer hinted at the idea of an elected representative body, it did not lay out a clear plan for immediate political changes.
- Response from Indian Leaders:
- Cripps Mission: The Cripps Mission faced resistance and was not accepted by major Indian political parties, primarily due to concerns about the limitations it placed on India's right to secede.
- August Offer: The August Offer was also met with skepticism from Indian leaders who found it vague and lacking in concrete proposals.
Cripps Mission and August offer had similarities too like both offered dominion status, both retained the governor-general’s supremacy, both laid the seeds of communal line partition etc. However, they were unable to satisfy the ambitions of nationalists across ranks and files and thereby failed.
