Gandhi-Jinnah Talks, September 1944

• Gandhi released from prison on medical grounds

• Lord Wavell, new Viceroy proposed to Jinnah that he meets Gandhi to discuss the future of
India, given that the British now seemed to be on the brink of leaving the sub-continent.

• The meetings were at Jinnah's house in Bombay and the first took place on 9 September,
followed by a series of meetings until 27 September. The expectations were high. An
exchange of letters is the record that details the events.

Talks failed for the following reasons:

1. Jinnah was irritated by Gandhi's claim that he spoke for all of India. Jinnah made it clear
that he thought that Gandhi was the spokesman for Congress and the Hindus.

2. Gandhi said that Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP were Muslim majority provinces but he
said that Punjab, Bengal and Assam were only partly Muslim and so should be divided
along communal lines. Jinnah refused to agree and said that all 6 provinces should be
given to Pakistan.
3. Gandhi insisted that the British should depart first and then there should be talks about
partition between Congress and Muslim League. He wanted the League, to aid the
Congress in its pressure tactics on the British to leave right away. Jinnah, however, insisted
that Pakistan should come into existence before the departure of the British.
(Congress rule convinced him)

4. Gandhi wanted areas like defence and foreign affairs to be in the hands of a central
Indian union whereas Jinnah felt that there should be two independent sovereign states.

5. Gandhi confessed that he disagreed with the Two Nation Theory. At best, there could
only division of certain rights. Jinnah disagreed as was now the official League Policy.
Political Gains (IMPORTANCE) of the Talks:

• Until now, Congress had refused to negotiate with the Muslim League. Now, through its
leader, it was forced to do so.

• The Congress Party, by negotiating possible terms of a partition, was accepting the
Muslim League claim that it spoke for the Muslims, and refuting its own claim that it spoke
for all Indians.

• Jinnah proved himself to be the leader of Muslims by representing the claims of his
people very intelligently and assertively. He was clear and unshaken in his stance.