Examine the main aspects of Muslim League politics from 1937 to 1947. Was the partition of the country unavoidable?

1937 saw a major shift in the methodology of Muslim League(ML) after it performed badly in the provincial elections. Till 1937, it upheld the notion that the diverse communities could be welded together into one nation in one national interest.

Muslim league intensified its demand for Pakistan in last leg of Indian National movement.From 1937 to 1947,three different trends can be observed:

1937 to 1942:This was characterized by consolidation of two nation theory. This was comparatively a calm period in terms of violence and direct clashes.By 1940,the idea of Pakistan has almost taken shape.Next few years were spent in its active pursuance,using both violence and politics.

1942 to 1946:ML and Congress engaged over Cripps mission,Cabinet mission,Wavell plan etc where ML claimed itself to be the sole representative of Muslims of India.This had a major bearing during negotiation process and almost all missions came to a halt.On field level,incipient form of communal clashes were brewing.

1946 to 1947:This was marked by violent confrontation.Congress's frustration with league's non-cooperation in interim cabinet and ML's call for "direct action" were major events.Political talks almost broke down which ultimately led to Partition.

Was it avoidable:

- The Congress had stood for a united India and for the unity of Hindus and Muslims. However, the conditions of the decade of 1940 were not conducive for the same.

- There was mass mobilization by Muslim League since 1937. The DirectAction Day put India at a brink of a civil war. 

-interim government with Muslim League failed. Congress realized it was impossible to function with the League. A bigger concern was that freedom was just round the corner. Any delay and confusion just might make it slip from their hands.

-Communal violence in 1946 had reached to the point of turning into a genocide if demand for Pakistan was not met.

- Finally, it was the convincing of Mountbatten that led Congress to accept partition. He told that it was better to partition India and consolidate the rest than to indulge in bloodshed.

- Bipin Chandra believes that Congress was weary of muslim communalism since 1937 and it owned up to its failure of not being able to draw muslim masses into national movement. It thus accepted partition as an “unavoidable necessity in the given circumstances”

1937-1947 era made partition unavoidable.Congress refusal to share power with ML in united provinces was the turning point.By mid-40's ML had become "annoyingly adamant".Communal clashes had halted general life,led to breakdown of law and machinery,people's morals were down and leaders had lost energy.British were also in a hurry.All these made partition a necessary evil.

Overall, decisions are taken based on the situations of those times. Gandhi declared that India would be partitioned over his dead body. But he too accepted partition as inevitable. The Congress thus found out apt to accept partition than to continue the bloodshed.