What is the Direct Action Day?
Direct Action Day refers to a significant event that took place on August 16, 1946, in British India. It was a call for a day of mass protest by the Muslim League, a political party in India led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The purpose of Direct Action Day was to emphasize the demand for a separate Muslim state, which eventually led to the creation of Pakistan.
The background of Direct Action Day is rooted in the political and religious tensions between the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Muslim League regarding the future of British India. The Cabinet Mission Plan, proposed in 1946, aimed to address the constitutional framework for an independent India. However, the INC and the Muslim League had fundamental disagreements, particularly concerning the nature of representation and power-sharing between Hindus and Muslims.
Direct Action Day
Direct Action Day: The Muslim League Council demanded a separate Muslim homeland after the British left the Indian subcontinent. They wanted a different country with a Muslim majority. Chosen by the Muslim League Council, on the 16th of August 1946, Direct Action Day was announced as a day of many important measures to emphasize their request for a distinct Muslim territory following the departure of the British from the Indian subcontinent. The main aim was to form a separate nation for Muslims.
The topic of Direct Action Day is part of the Contemporary Indian History section of the UPSC Exam syllabus. Contemporary Indian History is a component of the Prelims and Mains GS 1 History syllabus.
In this article, you will learn about the Direct Action Day chosen by the Muslim League on 16th August 1946, its series of events, and its consequences.
Table of Content
- What is the Direct Action Day?
- Facts about the Direct Action Day
- Direct Action Day – Sequence of Events
- Direct Action Day – Consequences and Outcome
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