Assertion (A) >: According to the Wavell Plan, the number of Hindu and Muslim members in the Executive Council were to be equal. Reason (R) >: Wavell thought that this arrangement would have avoided the partition of India.

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Q: 85 (IAS/2007)

Assertion (A): According to the Wavell Plan, the number of Hindu and Muslim members in the Executive Council were to be equal.
Reason (R): Wavell thought that this arrangement would have avoided the partition of India.

question_subject: 

History

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,41,169,122,24,41,23

keywords: 

{'hindu': [1, 1, 1, 0], 'muslim members': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'wavell plan': [0, 0, 5, 1], 'executive council': [0, 1, 0, 0], 'wavell': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'india': [8, 1, 7, 13], 'partition': [2, 6, 10, 8]}

"Option 3: A is true but R is false.

The Wavell Plan, also known as the Wavell's Proposal or the Viceroy's Plan, was a proposal put forth by British Viceroy Lord Wavell in 1945 to resolve the political deadlock between the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League. The plan aimed to form an interim government for India and establish the framework for writing a new constitution.

Assertion (A): According to the Wavell Plan, the number of Hindu and Muslim members in the Executive Council were to be equal.

This assertion is true. The Wavell Plan did propose the formation of an Executive Council with an equal number of Hindu and Muslim members. The plan suggested the inclusion of nine members in the council, with five members representing the Hindus and four members representing the Muslims.

Reason (R): Wavell thought that this arrangement would have avoided the partition of India.

This reason is false. Lord Wavell did propose the equal representation of Hindus and Muslims in the Executive Council, but his intention was not to avoid the partition of India. In fact, the Wavell Plan did not aim to prevent partition but rather to create a framework for political dialogue and the transfer of power from British rule to Indian self-rule.

The Wavell Plan was formulated in response to the mounting communal tensions and political impasse between the Indian National Congress, which predominantly represented the Hindu community, and the All India Muslim League, which advocated for the interests of Muslims. The plan sought to accommodate the demands of both communities and encourage their participation in the political process.

However, the Wavell Plan ultimately failed to gain the support of both the Congress and the Muslim League. The Congress criticized the plan for not offering complete independence, while the Muslim League rejected it for not ensuring adequate safeguards for Muslim interests. These differences, along with other political factors, eventually led to the partition of India in 1947 and the creation of the separate nations of India and Pakistan.

In conclusion, while the assertion that the Wavell Plan proposed an equal number of Hindu and Muslim members in the Executive Council is true, the reason stating that Wavell thought this arrangement would have avoided the partition of India is false. The Wavell Plan aimed to address the political deadlock in India but was unable to prevent the eventual partition. Therefore, Option 3 is the correct answer."

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