Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a prominent freedom fighter and India’s first education minister, dedicated his life to securing the nation’s independence. However, as India stood on the brink of freedom, Maulana Azad advocated for a two-year delay in achieving independence to prolong British rule on Indian soil. Maulana himself disclosed this intent in his autobiography, “India Wins Freedom,” where he outlined his reasons for this seemingly counterintuitive stance.
The Genesis of Maulana Azad’s Proposal for Delayed Independence
Maulana Azad’s motivations stemmed from his strong opposition to a partition plan proposed by Lord Mountbatten, then the Viceroy of India. Despite his lifelong commitment to India’s freedom struggle, Maulana Azad believed that the partition plan, which sought to divide India into separate nations, was not in the country’s best interest. He saw the potential consequences of a hasty partition and sought to prevent them by advocating for a delay in achieving independence.
Maulana Azad’s Plea for Patience
In his efforts to delay independence, Maulana Azad approached Mahatma Gandhi with a plea to consider extending the timeline for India’s independence by two years. He believed that this extra time would allow for a more peaceful and amicable resolution between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. Maulana Azad argued that Congress and the League needed more time to negotiate and reach a consensus regarding the nation’s political future.
The Struggle Against Imminent Partition
Maulana Azad’s stance was aligned with his support for the Cabinet Mission Plan proposed by Lord Wavell, the former Viceroy of India. However, as World War II ended, tensions between the Congress and the Muslim League escalated, while the British government was determined to transfer power to India at the earliest. The mounting discord between these factions and the urgency of the British government’s timeline created a complex and challenging political landscape.
The Misleading Assurances of Lord Mountbatten
Maulana Azad’s last-ditch efforts to halt the impending partition led him to engage in discussions with Lord Mountbatten, who was tasked with overseeing India’s transition to independence. Despite Maulana’s plea for patience, Lord Mountbatten assured him that he would present Maulana’s views to the British cabinet. However, Maulana Azad later discovered that Lord Mountbatten had already decided to proceed with the partition plan, leaving Maulana feeling deceived and betrayed.
The Outcome: India’s Partition and Independence
Ultimately, Maulana Azad’s efforts to delay independence were in vain. Lord Mountbatten returned to India with a partition plan in May 1947, dividing India into two nations: Pakistan and India. West Pakistan and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) were created as Muslim-majority states, while various provinces were left to determine their fate. Pakistan gained independence on August 14, 1947, and India followed suit on August 15, 1947.
Maulana Azad’s earnest desire to delay independence emerged from his conviction that a slower and more thoughtful approach could mitigate the potential fallout of a hurried partition. His opposition to the partition plan and his lifelong dedication to India’s freedom highlight the complexity and depth of the political landscape during that pivotal period in history.
