112. Independence Was Just Ahead

From 1942 onwards it was quite clear that independence of India was only a matter of time now.New Delhi, the new capital of India, was hardly seven years old then. The British did not live long in the beautiful New Delhi they created.

Thus, again fulfilling the age-old prophecy about those who build Delhi don’t live in it for long.In 1946, Lord Mountbatten arrived in Delhi amid a buzz of political activity. The British, following their World War II concerns, wanted to basically wash their hands off India.


Also, the Indians wanted to get back what was rightfully theirs. However, there were too many emotional ties – the British and the Indians went too far back together for the British to just pack up and leave. They had a responsibility. Unfortunately Mountbatten, although a favorite with the Indians because of his youthful good looks, was the wrong man for the job.


He was in such a hurry to get back to England that he seemed to just go along with the first proposal that found favor with both the Congress and the Muslim League without taking into account what the people really wanted.