Eternal India Encyclopedia

FREEDOMMOVEMENT

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Labour Government

Meanwhile in Britain there was a change

of government with the Labour Party win-

ning the General Election held in July 1945.

Clement Attlee replaced Winston Churchill

as Prime Minister.

The new Government made a serious

attempt to end the political deadlock in India.

The King Emperor announced in his speech

from the throne ‘

that his government are de-

termined to do their utmost to promote in

conjunction with the leaders of Indian opin-

ion the early realisation of full self-govern-

ment in India.'

The first step in this direc-

tion was the announcement, on August 21,

1945 that elections to the various Indian

legislatures would be held and that the

Viceroy, Lord Wavell, would proceed to

London for consultations.

Wavell left for London on August 24

and returned on September 16. Three days

later he made an announcement in which he

said:

‘It is the intention of His Majesty's

Government to convene as soon as possible

a constitution-making body, and as a pre-

liminary step they have authorised me to

undertake, immediately after the elections,

discussions with representatives of the Leg-

islative Assemblies in the provinces, to ascer-

tain whether the proposals contained in the

1942 declaration are acceptable or whether

some alternative modified scheme is prefer-

able.

Discussions will also be undertaken with

the representatives of the Indian States with

a view to ascertaining in what way they can

best take their part in the constitution-making

body....

During these preparatory stages the Gov-

ernment of India must be carried on, and

urgent economic and social problems must

be dealt with. Furthermore India has to play

her full part in working out the new World

Order.

His Majesty's Government has therefore

authorised me, as soon as the results of the

provincial elections are published, to take

steps to bring into being an Executive Council

which will have the support of the main

Indian parties.’

On the same day Prime

Minister Attlee broadcast an appeal to the

Indians to make a united effort to evolve a

constitution which would be accepted as fair

by all parties and interests in India.

NAVALMUTINY - 1946

There was an explosive situation in India

in 1946 after the end of the war. There was

a strike wave which intensified with the par-

ticipation of hundreds of thousands of non-

industrial workers like the middle-class

employees of banks, post and telegraph

workers and other government employees. In

July, the railwaymen were about to go on an

all-India strike.

There were a number of mutinies in the

armed forces. In early 1946, there were strikes

by pilots and other Air Force personnel in

Karachi, Bombay, Calcutta and several other

air bases in the country. There was a strike

by the Indian Signal Corps at Jabalpur. Even

the police and the bureaucracy had begun to

reveal nationalist leanings.

The gravest incident was the mutiny of

the ratings of the Royal Indian Navy. It began

with a mutiny by the ratings on the HMIS

Talwar Signal Training Ship in Bombay on

18th February 1946 as an expression of anger

against intolerable service conditions and the

racial discrimination of their British officers.

Within 48 hours, it affected a large part of the

navy in Bombay, Calcutta, Karachi and other

places.

The rebels demanded the release of the

INA soldiers and the withdrawal of Indian

troops from Indonesia. They took possession

of some of the ships, mounted the guns and

prepared to open fire on the military guards.

The government threatened with overwhelm-

ing forces at its disposal even if it meant the

destruction of the navy. Troops were sent to

Bombay where there were fierce clashes be-

tween the British army and the mutineers.

About 300 persons were killed and about

1500 injured during 21-23 February. It was

largely due to the efforts of Vallabhbhai Patel

that on 23rd February, the ratings surrendered.

R.I.N. MUTINY LEADERS

TO BE TRIED -

No collective punishment

National Herald, 26, Feb 1946

The revolt of the naval ratings in India

was of special significance in the context of

the existing circumstances. It was for the first

time after 1857 that a section of the Defence

forces openly rebelled against the British on

a political issue.

Demands of the Talwar strikers: at a

meeting of the strikers of the HMIS, Talwar,

one of their leaders, presenting the demands,

stated,

"When we started the strike, we never

thought that we would get such enthusiastic

support from all our fellow ratings. We have

received news that practically all the ratings

of the Royal Indian Navy have joined in our

struggle. We are all proud of our unity.

I have just been told that when you were

coming here in a procession some of you

behaved very badly. I do not blame you for

that. I know how we have suffered insults

and humiliations. I know today it is a bit

difficult for us to control our feelings. But we

must not forget that our fight is a non-violent

one...These are the demands we propose to

place before the authorities today.

Release all political prisoners including

those of the INA.

Take action against Commander King,

C.O. of the Talwar for using insulting

language against the ratings.

Speedy demobilisation and provision

for resettlement in peace-time employ-

ment.

Same scale of pay, allowances etc as

those of Royal Navy ratings.

Access to NAAFI Canteens.

Better food.

No return of clothing kit at the time of

release and

Withdrawal of Indian troops from Indo-

nesia.

A call to the people: The central strike

committee of the strikers in the Indian Navy

makes this earnest appeal to the leaders of the

political parties in India and the Indian people.

We have all of us been in the Indian Navy

for several years. During this time we have

been undergoing untold hardships, low pay,