August Offer: Background, Features & More | UPSC Notes

The August Offer was an offer made by the Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow on 8 August 1940. The August Offer was widely rejected by the Indians, since most of its provisions were against the interest of Indians. Whenever the British Government faced problems, they started negotiating with the Indian leaders in order to seek the support of the masses. The August Offer 1940 was one such negotiation put forth by the British. Under the August Offer, Indians were assured to be conferred with Dominion status after the war. However, Indians demanded for complete independence. This was the major reason for rejection of the August offer in 1940.

The following article on the August Offer delves into the provisions and responses to the August Offer which will be helpful for the UPSC General Studies Paper I.

What was the August Offer 1940?

The August Offer of 1940 refers to a proposal made by the British government during World War II. It outlined significant political concessions and self-governance measures for India. The offer included provisions for the establishment of a representative body to draft a new constitution for India, increased Indian participation in the executive government, and greater autonomy for the provinces. The August Offer was an attempt to secure Indian cooperation and support for the war effort. However, it was ultimately rejected by the Indian National Congress for not meeting their demands for complete independence.

Background of the August Offer

During the Second World War, the fall of France, Belgium and Holland left Britain in the immediate danger of the Nazi Germany. The British Government announced the participation of India in war against the Nazists without consulting the Indian leaders and political parties. This agitated the Indian National Congress. They denied support in the war and also the Provincial Congress governments resigned. Later the Congress put forth two demands to the British government inorder to gain the support of Indians in the war effort.

• Complete independence of India after the war
• Formation of Interim government during the war

In response to the demands of the Indian National Congress, the British government came up with their own terms. On 8 August 1940, the Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow on behalf of the British government announced the terms put forth by them to get India’s cooperation in war. This came to be known as the August Offer.

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Features of the August Offer 1940

The August Offer announced by Lord Linlithgow had the following features:

• Expansion of Viceroy’s Executive Council and inclusion of more Indians into the Council. The Indians were to be chosen from the major political parties in India
• Dominion status would be conferred to Indians.
• Establishment of the Advisory War Council.
• Formation of Constituent Assembly after the war, to frame the Constitution for India.
• Constitution for India to be framed by Indians themselves based on the Indian conception of the social, economic and political structure of India.
• The August Offer reaffirmed that the British government would give full weight to minorities’ opinion in framing the Constitution.

In return for the above offer, the British government expected the Indians to support the British war efforts.

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Responses to the August Offer

Some of the major responses to the August Offer include the following:

• The August Offer 1940 was rejected by the Congress as they demanded for complete Independence but were offer Dominion status
•  The Congress Working Committee (the executive committee of Indian National Congress) rejected the August Offer in a meeting at Wardha on 21 August 1940.
• Though the Muslim League welcomed the veto assurance given to them, they opposed the offer and demanded for the Partition of the Nation.
• Nehru criticised the offer of Dominion status as “dead as a doornail.”
• Mahatma Gandhi said that this August Offer had widened the gulf between Indian Nationalistsand the British Government.
• Gandhi launched individual satyagraha to offer the resistance and insisted on the right to speech
• Delhi Chalo Movement was started by the Satyagrahis. However it was aborted in December 1940 due to the failure of the movement.

The August Offer 1940 was rejected by the Indian masses widely. The British government, which was very persistent to gain India’s support in the war, made modifications to the August Offer and sent the Cripps Mission to India.

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