The British Withdrawal from India (1945-1947). A Contribution to the Study of the Final Period of the Britsh Raj

This thesis analyses the final stage of the British reign in British India. It follows up the period since the end of the Second World War to the creation of the two dominions, whereas it deals also with the era before 1945. This thesis aims to analyse gradual change of opinion in Britain on India. There had been apparent shift of thinking in London from the fully dependence of India on the mother country to the withdrawal from this colony. Britain had to decide who to pass on the power in the country. The vision of the united state came down with the British determination to devolve the area not to one but to two political groups. As a result, two successor states were born in the half of august 1947 - India and Pakistan. Decision to divide the country, determination of strict boundaries and consequences of the division of the subcontinent had far-reaching importance. Nowadays this is very sensitive issue on the both sides of the boundary. Key words: Great Britain, India, 1945-1947, Decolonisation, Partition of India, British Raj, Independence Movemen