Question

Name the last viceroy of India. State any one of the provisions of the Indian Independence Act of 1947.

Answer 1

Hint: The last viceroy of India from 1947-48 is famously known for his achievements of the June 3rd plan and the task of transfer of power from British Prime minister to India. He was involved in the diplomatic division of British India into India and Pakistan. He was also the first governor-general of independent India.

Complete answer: In May 1947, Lord Mountbatten came with a plan known as ‘Dickie Bird Plan’. Under this plan, all the princely states were given autonomy to choose whether they want to join constituent assembly or want to remain independent. Then he introduced another plan known as ‘June 3rd Plan’. Under this plan principle of partition, sovereignty, autonomy and right to make their own constitution were written. This was the last plan for independence, also called the Mountbatten Plan. The plan was accepted by both parties. These plans were put in the Independence act of 1947 and received royal assent on 18 July. With this British India was divided into India and Pakistan. Among the many provisions introduced in the Indian Independence act of 1947, one was the division of the legislative assemblies of Bengal and Punjab. It was decided that the west part of these provinces would belong to India and east to Pakistan. This led to major havoc among the people, not everybody wanted to migrate to Pakistan, including Muslims. These two provinces were divided into religious lines.

Note: In 1971 the east Pakistan or East Bengal was liberated and became an independent nation like Bangladesh. It is interesting to note that during partition not only people and states were divided, rather books, chairs, tables etc were also divided between the two nations. Lord Mountbatten became the first governor-general of India and M.A Jinnah became the first governor-general of Pakistan.