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Do You Agree with the View That by 1940 the Main Obstacle to Indian Independence Was Not British Imperialism but Divisions Within India?

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Do You Agree with the View That by 1940 the Main Obstacle to Indian Independence Was Not British Imperialism but Divisions Within India?
Do you agree with the view that by 1940 the main obstacle to Indian independence was not British imperialism but divisions within India?

Many people believe that in the 1940’s most of India’s problems involving independence was to do with divisions within India rather than British imperialism. In this essay I will be looking at both points of view and finally giving my opinion. I will be using three sources also to help me show both sides of the story. I will also be using my further knowledge to add a wider range of knowledge.
Source 15 is a statement made by Viceroy Linlithgow during discussions with Muhammad Ali Jinnah in August 1940, concerning arrangements for the wartime administration of India. In this source he is both for and against the view of the question. “His Majesty’s Government could not contemplate transfer of their present responsibilities for the peace and welfare of India to any system of Government”. This is suggesting that England can’t even imagine giving any real power to India. Which means England is withholding any peace for India by not giving them any power. England are also holding back any welfare for India by keeping all the power.
However, the Viceroy also says afterwards, “Whose authority is directly denied by large and powerful elements in India’s national life”. This quote is saying that divisions within India are slowing down the progression of gaining power for India. Even England’s power over India is being disrupted by the divisions within India. If a specialist governing country is struggling to stay in control how is an inexperienced country going to handle one of the largest countries in the world? Linlithgow made the August offer in 1940; along with Jinnah they discussed a whole range of issues regarding India and the war. The Viceroy did make an effort to involve the Muslim community with the proposals in the august offer as well. One of the proposals was “an assurance that the government would not adapt any new
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