Clement Attlee
Topic: Framing the Indian Constitution · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Framing the Constitution"
Meaning
Clement Attlee was the Labour Party Prime Minister of Britain from July 1945. His government decided that Britain would leave India. It sent the Cabinet Mission to India in 1946. In February 1947 it announced that the British would leave India by June 1948. It also passed the Indian Independence Act of 1947, which created India and Pakistan. His years in power cover the whole background to the framing of the Indian Constitution.
Example
In February 1947, Attlee told the British Parliament that power would pass into Indian hands by June 1948. Soon after, Lord Mountbatten came as Viceroy to carry out this plan. Power was actually handed over earlier, on 14-15 August 1947.
Don't confuse with
- Winston Churchill: the Conservative wartime Prime Minister. He opposed giving up India. Attlee's Labour government replaced him in July 1945.
Related concepts
- Princely states
- Pethick-Lawrence
- Interim Government 1946
- Liaquat Ali Khan
- Indian Independence Act 1947
- Tryst with Destiny