Conspiracy of Partition between Gandhi, Nehru, and the Muslim League Party
 

The partition of India in 1947 remains one of the most contentious and debated events in modern South Asian history. Many theories and conspiracy theories have emerged over the years, suggesting that the decision to partition India was not just the result of a communal conflict between Hindus and Muslims, but a calculated move by a small group of leaders to achieve their political objectives. Among the most famous theories is the one that suggests that Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the Muslim League party led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah conspired to partition India to advance their political goals.

The theory of a "Conspiracy of Partition" suggests that these leaders were not genuine in their commitment to Indian independence and unity but instead worked behind the scenes to carve up the country to suit their interests. I believe it was the greed of Nehru and Jinnah which led to the partition of India and Pakistan. Some proponents of this theory argue that Gandhi and Nehru were unwilling to share power with the Muslim League and saw partition as a way to exclude them from the government. Others suggest that Jinnah's demand for a separate Muslim state was only a bargaining tactic, and he never intended to create Pakistan.

While there is no conclusive evidence to support the idea of a "Conspiracy of Partition," some historians have analysed the events leading up to the partition and the behaviour of these leaders to try to understand their motivations. Here are some of the arguments put forth by proponents and opponents of this theory:

Arguments in favour of a "Conspiracy of Partition":

• Gandhi and Nehru were opposed to the idea of Pakistan and fought against it until the very end. However, they may have been willing to accept it as a compromise to achieve their political objectives. For example, Nehru was eager to become the prime minister of a united India, but Jinnah's demand for a separate Muslim state made that impossible. Partition allowed Nehru to become the first prime minister of India, and Gandhi to remain the moral conscience of the nation.
• Some scholars have suggested that Gandhi and Nehru were more concerned with consolidating power within the Congress Party than with national unity. They may have seen the Muslim League as a threat to their political dominance and believed that partition would weaken their opponents.
• Jinnah's demand for a separate Muslim state was seen by some as a bargaining tactic to gain more power for the Muslim community. However, when the British accepted his demand, Jinnah may have felt compelled to go through with it, even if it wasn't what he had intended.

Arguments against a "Conspiracy of Partition":

• Many historians argue that the idea of a "Conspiracy of Partition" is a myth created by those who want to discredit Gandhi and Nehru's legacies. These leaders were committed to Indian unity and independence and worked tirelessly to achieve it. While they may have made mistakes along the way, they did not conspire to partition the country.
• The demand for Pakistan was not just a political tactic but a genuine desire among many Muslims for a separate homeland where they could live according to their own cultural and religious traditions. The Hindu-Muslim conflict in India was not just a result of political machinations but had deep historical roots.
• The decision to partition India was not just the result of the actions of a few leaders but the culmination of decades of communal tensions and violence. The British also played a significant role in the partition by encouraging the formation of Pakistan and creating a situation where it was almost inevitable.

The image was taken on June 14, 1947, during the Delhi Congress session, when the decision for the division of India was approved. The decision to partition India, along with the split of Bengal and Punjab, was carried out by this resolution, which accepted the Mountbatten Plan. 

The partition of India under the Mountbatten Plan was approved by the Congress party just ten days after it was unveiled on June 3. 

India was divided into three divisions before becoming independent. The split was made based on religion, which ended up being the cause of the people's misery. Due to senseless hatred and bloodshed, millions were displaced, and many people died. Although Jinnah spread the seed of division, it was Pandit Nehru's mistakes that ultimately led to the Partition of India. These atrocities were caused by his appeasement strategy and personal ambition, which triumphed over the interests of the nation.

Using Muhammad Iqbal's two-nation thesis, the Muslim League worked closely with the British to split the country in the 1930s to legitimize Muslims. However, the Muslim league still considered the country's division to be a pipe dream. Given that the All-India Muslim League received no votes in any province during the 1937 Indian Provincial Elections, while the Indian National Congress won control of eight provinces, it is clear why the Muslim League is so popular.

Instead of finding a way to stop the communal violence, Nehru chose to partition India. His obsession with becoming prime minister caused millions of people to suffer and reduced the size of Bharat. Millions of individuals were forcibly displaced as a result of the partition decision. According to reports, this choice resulted in the deaths of over 2 million people and the displacement of about 20 million people. A move of this magnitude cannot under any circumstances be peaceful.

The issues we listed above are not all of Gandhi and Nehru's wrongdoings. In their obsessive lust for power, these leaders forced undesirable judgements upon Bharat, whether they knew it or not.