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• The League began to think that Muslims were a minority and they would always
have to play second fiddle in any democratic structure. The Congress’s rejection
of the Leagues desire to form a joint Congress-League government in the United
Provinces in 1937 further annoyed the League.
• In 1945, the British opened negotiations between the Congress, the League and
themselves for the independence of India. The talks failed because the League
then wanted Pakistan.
• In March 1946, the British cabinet sent a three-member mission to Delhi to
examine the League’s demand for Pakistan and to suggest a suitable political
framework for a free India.
• The Mission suggested that India should remain united and constitute itself as a
loose confederation with some autonomy for Muslim majority areas. Neither the
Congress nor the League agreed to it. Now, partition of India became inevitable.
• Finally, Pakistan came into existence. The violence of partition shook both the
newly- independent countries—India and Pakistan. It marred the joy of
independence.

Beginning of Gandhian Era:

• Some times in the history of nationalism an individual with his contribution is
identified with the making of a nation. Mahatma Gandhi is regarded as the father
of Indian nation.
• Gandhi came back to India in January 1915 after leading successful struggle
against discriminatory and oppressive policy of British in South Africa. For the first
time, Gandhi started Satyagraha in South Africa (non-violent protest ) and
promoted harmony between different religious communities.
• When Gandhi came back to India, he realised that India become politically more
active. Congress had made its reach to major towns and cities and Swadeshi
Movement greatly broadened National Movements appeal among middle classes.
• Gandhiji’s first major public appearance in India was at opening of Banaras Hindu
University (BHU) in 1916. During his speech, Gandhiji charged the Indian elite
with a lack of concern for the labouring poor sections of our society.
• Gandhiji said “There can be no spirit of self-government if we take away or allow
other to ’ take away from the peasant almost the whole result of their labour.”
• Gandhiji’s speech at one level was a statement of the fact that Indian nationalism
was an elite phenomenon in which lawyers, doctors and landlords were mostly
involved. But he wanted that Indian National Movement should represent Indian
people as a whole.

Gandhi as a People’s Leader:

• Gandhiji made the freedom struggle and National Movement representative of
masses.Movement transcended from elite to peasants, working class and
encompassed every section of society. People started venerating Gandhiji refering
to him as ‘Mahatma’. People started appreciating the fact that Gandhiji lived like