Page 140 - Swatantrata to Atmanirbharta : Lokmanya Tilak’s legacy

In 1946, two events had far-reaching effects. The first event was
that most of the Congress committees of the Muslim dominated
provinces in West and East India, voted against partitioning of
India. This reinforced British resolve to grant independence
with dominion status to India without partitioning it. The
second event was that out of the fourteen Congress provincial
committees, thirteen voted for enterprising Sardar Vallabhai
Patel, one voted for Kriplani, to be the Prime minister of an
Independent India, but none voted for Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru. This irked Mahatma Gandhi who wanted Jawaharlal
Nehru to become the Prime Minister. Gandhiji asked Vallabhai
Patel to withdraw his candidature. Subsequently, the Congress
provincial committee representatives elected Nehru as the
Prime minister of India after independence.

This culmination of the second event shook British policy
makers who were aware of Nehru’s leanings towards socialism
and Russia. They realised that a socialist pro-Russia Prime
minister of India would severely compromise their geopolitical
interests in Central Asia against Russia. They thought that
despite Nehru’s pro-Russian and socialist leanings, geoeconomic
interests could still be taken care of, but not geopolitical interests.
Therefore, they decided on partition, where Jinnah and Pakistan
would serve their geopolitical interests. This was the origin of
challenges to our national security.

There were also other events which would have a far-reaching
impact.

Just before independence the princely state of Baluchistan
wanted to join the Indian union because its prince felt that his
state’s best interest would not be served by joining Pakistan.
Tibet was de facto an independent country since 1909 but
under the administration of the Government of India. Tibetans
were culturally closer to Indians than to the Chinese whom
they intensely feared. Therefore, Tibet which was already a
part of the Indian administration, wanted to de jure join India.
However, the Government of India, at that time, ambiguously
recognized Chinese suzerainty over Tibet. Nepal considered
itself at par but just above other princely states in India. It sent
feelers for joining India because being a Hindu State, it felt very
close to India.
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