The Congress was anxious that the constitution of free India should be framed ‘with the goodwill of all parties concerned’.

The Constituent Assembly met on December 9, 1946, the elected members of the Muslim League absenting themselves from it though representatives of different provinces and communities participated in its work. The Constituent Assembly met again in the third week of January 1947, with Dr. Rajendra Prasad as its President, when it passed Jawaharlal Nehru’s resolution on the declaration of objectives and appointed committees to draft several parts of the constitution.

Meeting at Karachi or January 31, 1947, the Working Committee of the Muslim League however, repudiated the proceedings and decisions of the Constituent Assembly.

At this extremely tense and uncertain situation the British Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, made a momentous declaration of February 20, 1947, stating therein the intention of the British Government for transfer of power into ‘responsible India hand’ not later than June 1948. This announcement was received with enthusiasm in all circles, except in the Muslim League.

It once again started ‘Direct Action’, as a result of which communal riots with arson, lootings, murders and violence broke out in the Punjab and the North-West Frontier Province.

        The irresistible force of circumstances accelerated India’s march to a new status. Gifted with keen political sagacity and statesmanship of a high order, the new Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten who had assumed office on March 24, 1947, issued on June 3. 1947, containing the method by which power will be transferred from British to Indian Hands.’

This plan suggested India’s partition and expressed a desire on the part of the British Government to anticipate the date and month of June 1948 for ‘transference of power’ that year on a Dominion Status basis to one or two successor authorities according to the decisions taken as a result of this announcement.

The plan of June 3, 1947. had certain obvious limitations. Its proposal regarding partition shattered the ideal of a united and free India which had to pay for her freedom. The plan was accepted by the Congress leaders due to some very practical considerations.

The Muslim League also agreed to it. Two Commissions, appointed by the British Government, with Sri Cyril Radcliffe as Chairman of both, arranged the partition of the Punjab and Bengal. According to the Indian Independence Act, passed by the British Parliament in July 1947, without any dissent, two independent dominions of India and Pakistan came into existence on August 15, 1947.

Lord Mountbatten continued as the Governor – General of India and Jinnah became the first Governor-General of Pakistan. The first Indian Governor-General of the India was C. Rajagopalachari who took over form Lord Mountbatten.

        August 15, 1947, is indeed a memorable day in the history of India as it marked her deliverance from alien domination by the mutual consent of the British nation and the Indian statesmen.

“It fills one with a feeling of gladness”, observed Ernest Bevin a member of the British Cabinet, to live in this generation and see the fate of 400 million people handled by discussion by reason by agreement and not by gun.”