Assess the role of British imperial power in complicating the process of transfer of power during the 1940s.

Earlier, the British did not pay much attention to the demand for transfer of power by India, but when World War II started, Britain came under immense pressure, as it needed full Indian support to counter this challenge. The British came up with different plans and missions in the 1940s. But these plans were not made with noble intention in favour of India, hence making the process of transfer of power difficult.

Events that made the process of transfer of power complicated are:

1. August Offer of 1940.

a). After the war, a representative body of India would be formed to draft the Indian Constitution and state the goal of India as ‘dominion status’. 

b). At the Wardha session in August 1940, the INC rejected this proposal as Congress demanded complete freedom from colonial rule.

 2. Cripps Mission of 1942: The British government put the following conditions.

a). Any province not willing to join the Union could have a separate constitution and form a separate Union.

b). The new constitution- making body and the British government would negotiate a treaty to affect the transfer of power and to safeguard racial and religious minorities. The Congress objected to the offer of dominion status instead of a provision for complete independence.

3. Shimla Conference of 1945.

a). The Viceroy’s Executive Council consisted of all Indians except the Viceroy and the Commander-in-Chief.

b). The Viceroy/Governor would still have the veto, but its use would be minimal.

c). If this plan works, similar councils will emerge from local leaders in each province.

4. Cabinet Mission of 1946.

a). The cabinet mission was sent to India in Feb,1946 to transfer the power from the British to Indian leaders.

b). Its major aim was to establish a constituent assembly that could form its own constitution.

c). This mission also failed to transfer complete powers to the Indian leaders.

The end of colonial rule in 1947 was undoubtedly a defining moment in the modern South Asian history. Though it was difficult due to the British policies in 1940s for transfer of power, the event can be treated as the twin process of independence and partition - both affecting the future trajectories of the two nations.