Question

Lord Mountbatten came to India as a Viceroy along with specific instructions to

• A. Balkanize the Indian sub-continent
• B. Keep India United if possible
• C. Accept Jinnah’s demand for Pakistan
• D. Persuade the Congress to accept partition

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Keep India United if possible

• The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Clement Attlee announced on 20 th February, 1947 in the House of Commons that he wish to transfer powers to Indian but also said that if in time the decision related to the constitution is not made British Empire has the power to transfer Government to any of them.

• Thus, to effect the transfer of power, Atlee decided to send Lord Mountbatten as Viceroy to India.

• Lord Mountbatten armed with vast powers became India’s Viceroy on 24 March, 1947.

• Mountbatten became Viceroy of India with a mandate to oversee the British withdrawal.

• Lord Mountbatten came to India as Viceroy of India along with specific instructions to keep India United if possible however he was authorized to make decisions according to favourable Indian circumstances and minimum British loss.

• Mountbatten concluded that a United India was an unachievable goal and resigned himself to a plan for partition, creating the independent nations of India and Pakistan.