The Meerut Session and Attlee’s Announcement (1946–47)

This section takes us from the Interim Government towards the final announcement of British withdrawal.
It covers two key moments: the Meerut Session of the Congress (1946) and Clement Attlee’s Announcement (1947) — both symbolizing that the countdown to independence had truly begun.

Meerut Congress Session (1946): The Last Congress Before Independence

Background – Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s Long Tenure

Let’s first recall the leadership context before Meerut.
In 1940, at the Ramgarh Session, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was re-elected as the President of the Indian National Congress (INC).

Now, because of the disruptions of World War II, no sessions of the Congress were held from 1941 to 1945.
Thus, Azad continued to serve as Congress President for six consecutive years (1940–46) — making him the longest-serving President of the Congress before independence.

And historically, he had already created a record earlier:

In 1923, at the age of just 35, Maulana Azad had become the youngest-ever President of the Indian National Congress — a testament to his intellect, eloquence, and commitment to Hindu–Muslim unity.

The Meerut Session – November 1946

After this long gap of six years, the next full session of the INC was held in November 1946 at Victoria Park, Meerut — and this turned out to be the last session before independence.

• Presided by: Acharya J. B. Kripalani (a veteran Gandhian and close associate of Gandhi).
• Kripalani, importantly, was also the President of the Congress when India actually became independent in August 1947 — but he soon resigned after independence, reflecting internal differences over power-sharing and the direction of the party.

Key Highlights of the Session

1. INA Functionaries Honoured:
   For the first time, members of the Indian National Army (INA) — those who had fought under Subhas Chandra Bose — participated in a Congress session.
   Their presence was deeply symbolic. It reflected how the national movement had broadened to include multiple streams of patriotism — Gandhian, revolutionary, and militarist.
2. Nehru Hoisting the Tricolour:
   Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted a massive 9×14-foot khadi Tricolour, with a full Charkha (spinning wheel) at the centre — symbolizing the essence of swadeshi and self-reliance.
   This act, on Indian soil, by Indian hands, under Indian authority — was itself a prelude to independence.

Thus, the Meerut Session marked an emotional culmination — the Congress standing at the threshold of freedom.

Clement Attlee’s Announcement – February 20, 1947

Now, from Indian hopes, we shift to British decisions.
The Meerut Session reflected internal readiness; Attlee’s statement revealed external confirmation.

The Announcement

On 20 February 1947, Clement Attlee, the British Prime Minister, made a historic statement in the British Parliament.
He announced three decisive points:

1. Definite Date of Withdrawal:
   Britain would leave India by 30 June 1948 — putting, for the first time, a final deadline to colonial rule.
2. New Viceroy:
   Lord Mountbatten would replace Lord Wavell as Viceroy, to supervise the transfer of power.
3. Possibility of Multiple Governments:
   If the Constituent Assembly (then functioning with Congress but boycotted by the League) was not fully representative,
   the British would transfer power to more than one central government — implicitly acknowledging that Partition was now a real option.

Why Did the British Set a Withdrawal Date?

This was not an act of generosity, but a response to reality.
The British Empire was collapsing internally and politically exhausted:

• Administrative Breakdown: Lord Wavell himself admitted that there was an “irreversible decline of Government authority” in India.
  The British were losing control — politically, militarily, and morally.
• Pressure for a Settlement: By fixing a date, they hoped to force both Congress and League to come to an agreement and avoid constitutional chaos.
• To Convince Indians of British Sincerity:
  For years, the British promises of freedom had been viewed with suspicion.
  This formal announcement was intended to restore trust that independence was indeed forthcoming.

The Indian Response

1. Congress Reaction:
   The Congress welcomed the announcement.
   It viewed it as a definite assurance that independence was imminent, and extended a gesture of cooperation even towards the Muslim League — hoping to maintain unity.
2. Muslim League Reaction:
   The League rejected the statement outright.
   It refused to join the Constituent Assembly and demanded its complete dissolution.
   For Jinnah, this announcement was proof that his hardline tactics were working — and that Pakistan was within reach.

The Broader Significance

Attlee’s statement, in essence, marked the official countdown to the end of British rule.
Its implications were profound:

• The final date of withdrawal was now fixed — Britain was definitely leaving.
• It implicitly legitimized Partition, by hinting that power could go to “more than one central government.”
• Yet, it did not resolve the fundamental deadlock — the League still boycotted the Assembly, and communal tensions continued to rise.