The period between 1939 and 1942 in India's struggle for freedom was a period when the whole world was at war and the Indian people were one of the few exceptions who refused to take part in the war effort. As a part of their non-co-operation movement against their colonial rulers, the Indian National Congress, the most influential party of that time, decided not to support the war effort. The British, on their side, were anxious to secure India's participation in the war, for that would mean more men and more resources, which were badly needed. To solve this somewhat intransigent situation arising out of India's demand for immediate and total independence and the British unwillingness to trust the Indians with the rule of the country at this crucial time, Sir Stafford Cripps came with his enterprising proposals. Let us first ascertain whether Cripps's proposals could have at all been accepted. And secondly, had they been accepted, whether the trauma of partition and all the serious and complex problems that are plaguing the country today could have been avoided.

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