Previous Year Question

The “C.R. Formula” was prepared by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari.

The C. R. Formula was named after C. Rajagopalachari. It was put forward in 1944 as an attempt to break the political deadlock between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League and to explore a compromise on the questions of independence and partition.

Rajagopalachari presented the proposal to Muhammad Ali Jinnah in April 1944. The scheme also had the support of Mahatma Gandhi and subsequently became one of the principal bases for the Gandhi-Jinnah talks held in September 1944.

Under the formula, the Muslim League was to endorse the Indian demand for independence and cooperate with the Congress in forming a provisional interim government for the transitional period. This provision sought first to advance the question of the transfer of power from British rule.

After the termination of the war, a commission was to demarcate the contiguous Muslim-majority districts in the north-west and east of India. A plebiscite of all inhabitants in those areas was then to determine whether they wished to separate from India and form a sovereign state.

If separation was approved, mutual agreements were to be made regarding defence, commerce, communications and other essential matters. Any transfer of population was proposed to be entirely voluntary.

These terms were to become binding only if Britain transferred the full power and responsibility for the governance of India to Indians. Thus, the scheme attempted to address both the issue of independence and the Muslim League's demand for a separate state within a negotiated framework.

Gandhi and Jinnah held talks in September 1944, but agreement could not be reached on the interpretation of the proposals and major issues including the question of Pakistan, and the talks ended without a settlement.