Modern-indian-history / Quit India Movement, Demand for Pakistan, and the INA / Rajagopalachari Formula
Rajagopalachari Formula
- The Rajagopalachari Formula, also known as the C. R. Formula or Rajaji Formula, was a proposal put forward by C. Rajagopalachari to address the political deadlock between the All India Muslim League and the Indian National Congress regarding the independence of British India. The League demanded the creation of a separate Muslim nation, while the Congress was opposed to the idea of partition.
Main Points of the Rajagopalachari Formula:
- Muslim League to endorse Congress's demand for independence.
- League to cooperate with Congress in forming a provisional government at the centre.
- After the end of the Second World War, a plebiscite would be conducted in the Muslim-majority areas in North-West and North-East India to decide whether a separate sovereign state should be formed.
- If the partition was accepted, both parties would reach an agreement on safeguarding defence, commerce, communications, etc.
- The above terms would be operative only if England transferred full powers to India.
Reactions to the Formula:
- The Rajagopalachari Formula was seen as a tacit acceptance of the League's demand for Pakistan, and Mahatma Gandhi supported the proposal.
- However, Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted Congress to explicitly accept the two-nation theory, which advocated separate nations for Hindus and Muslims.
- Jinnah disagreed with the idea of the entire population voting in the plebiscite and preferred only the Muslims in the Muslim-majority areas to have a say.
- Hindu leaders, led by Vir Savarkar, condemned the CR plan as well.
Causes of Failure:
- While the formula seemed to support the principle of Pakistan, it aimed to demonstrate that the provinces claimed by Jinnah as part of Pakistan had significant non-Muslim populations.
- Jinnah claimed provinces like Punjab and Bengal as Muslim-majority regions. Conducting a plebiscite risked partitioning these provinces, as the entire population, including non-Muslims, would vote in the plebiscite.
- Jinnah was not in favour of a common centre with Congress and was primarily interested in creating a separate Muslim nation. The Rajagopalachari Formula did not align with his vision of Pakistan and, therefore, was rejected by Jinnah.
- In conclusion, the Rajagopalachari Formula was an attempt to find a middle ground between the Congress and the Muslim League regarding the demand for Pakistan. However, Jinnah's refusal to accept the proposal led to its failure, and the partition of India eventually took place in 1947, resulting in the creation of India and Pakistan as separate nations.
