Cripps mission and its failure

In 1939, the Second World War broke out at that time; the political condition of India was
very complicated. Deadlock continued in the sphere of Indian politics on September in 1939,
the congress demanded that India be declared as an independent nation.

On the other hand, on the basis of Lahore resolution of 1940, the muslim league pressed their
demand for the partition of India in the creation of separate muslim homeland. During the
war period, the British govt. needed the cooperation of Indian’s hence the British govt. tried
vary actively to put an end to the deadlock in India politics for her own interest.

In this end, Sir Stappord Cripps a member of British cabinet came to India with some
proposals. It is popularly known as ‘’Cripps mission’’.

 A constitution-making body ( consisting of members elected by the Lower House of

the Indian Legislature and the representatives of the Indian States nominated by their
rulers) would be set up to draft a new constitution.
 India would be given Dominion Status immediately after the termination of the war.
 It envisaged a federation of British India and the Indian States as a dominion within
the British Commonwealth.
 Britain would accept the constitution framed by the constitution-making body, subject
to the following conditions:
1. If any British Province did not wish to join the federation, it could retain its
present position and the British Government would give it the same status as
the rest of the Indian Union.
2. A treaty would be signed between the constitution-making body and the
British Government covering all subjects regarding transfer of power,
including the rights of the minorities.
 Indian leaders were invited to participate in the Council of their country and the
Commonwealth.
 The power of Viceroy would remain as hitherto and he would be responsible for the
defence of the country.

Rejection of the Offer

Indian could not be satisfied by the Cripps proposal. There was lot of frustration in the
country against the proposal. These were rejected by every section of the Indian community.
The main causes of failure of the mission were the following:

1. Long term proposal: The congress was not so much against the long term arrangement as
to interim arrangements. The Cripps scheme amounted to opening at the door of the
possibility of an indefinite number of partitions. British govt. was not prepared to accept that
the executive council of the Governor General should work as a cabinet. Maulana Azad
said,’’ The only thing that Cripps offered was a promise which would be valid after the war.
In the existing circumstance such a promise had a little value because nobody was certain
about the consequence of the war.
2. Severe blow to Indian Unity: The congress was ready to accept the noble principle or
right of non-accession given to 562 Indian princely states. The acceptance of the principle of
Pakistan would be a severe blow to the Indian Unity.

3. Communal Bases: The Hindu Mahasabha opposes the Cripps proposal on the grounds of
elections on the Communal basis.

4. Sikhs: The Sikhs were better against the suggestions of the mission. They said, ‘’we shall
resist by all possible means separation of the Punjab from All India Union.’’

5. Muslim League: The League opposed the creation of a single Indian union.

6. Depressed Classes: The depressed classes were not ready to accept the proposals on the
ground that there was no provision for safeguarding their interests in the proposals.

7. No Scope of Negotiations: The scheme also failed because it was to be accepted or

rejected as whole. There was no scope for negotiations and adjustment.

8. Repetition of August offer: The proposals were nothing more than the repetition of
August offer of 1940.

9. Ambiguous: There was no indication in the proposals whether the British govt. was
prepared to part with power or not.

However it can be said that Cripps mission does not bring the satisfaction of the whole
Indians.