Direct Action Day

UPSC Civil Services Examination
Subject – UPSC GS-III

Topic – Direct Action Day
What is the Direct Action Day?
The Muslim League Council proclaimed 16th August 1946 as ‘Direct Action Day’ in order to accentuate
their demand of a separate Muslim homeland after the British left the Indian subcontinent. Their main
aim was to attain a different country with a Muslim majority.
Candidates preparing for the UPSC 2020 exam should study about the riots and revolts that took place
during the independence struggle in India as it is a very important topic for the IAS exam.
Get relevant facts about Direct Action Day in this article and also download its notes PDF.
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To complement your preparation for the upcoming exam, check the following links:
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o UPSC Notes PDF
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Direct Action Day - Series of Events
 In 1946, the Cabinet Mission was sent to India by the British government to find a resolution to the
conflict between the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Muslim League on the issue of
independence. The two parties were the largest in India’s Constituent Assembly.
 The League wanted a separate homeland for the Muslims they called Pakistan while the INC wanted a
united India.
 The Mission was not successful since the League and the Congress could not agree on the point of a
united India with a strong centre. The Mission had earlier suggested a plan to divide the Muslim-
dominated provinces and the Hindu provinces into groups with considerable autonomy which would be
under a central administration. This was rejected by the INC.
 Since the Mission failed, the Muslim League announced 16th August as Direct Action Day and called for
a general hartal in order to protest the INC’s stand and demand vehemently a separate homeland.
 The Chief Minister of Bengal at that time was Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy of the Muslim League. The
League announced that there was to be a mass rally presided over by Suhrawardy. Processions of people
would come from different places and meet at the Ochterlony Monument to attend the rally.
 The rally started at noon, although there were instances of forced closing down of shops, stabbing and
stoning from morning itself.
It is believed that when Muhammad Ali Jinnah asked the people to 'suspend all business', he did not
expect the riot to get so violent. Their aim was not to completely drive Hindus out of their nation but to
form a nation with a Muslim majority. However, the outcome of this Direct Action Day turned out to be
extremely violent and took the lives of hundreds of people in both countries.
Direct Action Day - Outcome

 League leaders gave fiery speeches at the rally which got the massive crowd excited.
 This was followed by large-scale rioting in Calcutta. Around 4000 people were killed on the first day. The
riots involved killing, rape, forced conversions and looting.
 Many people blame Suhrawardy for inciting the people and then failing to put an end to the violence as
Chief Minister.
 Some also put the blame on the Governor of Bengal, Sir Frederick John Burrows for not taking control of
the situation.
 This communal violence soon spread to other parts of northern India particularly Bihar. Noakhali (now in
Bangladesh) saw gruesome violence.
 The violence witnessed during and after the Direct Action Day has also been called the Great Calcutta
Killings. Some of the places saw rioting on the scale of what can be termed genocide.
 India’s independence was overshadowed by thousands of people getting killed or tortured in various riots
particularly in eastern, northern and north-west India. The Calcutta killings were the first of such pre-
independence rioting.
 All this bloodshed and communal tensions ultimately led to the INC’s acceptance of the partition of the
country in order to suppress the violence and blood bath.
Impact of Direct Action Day - Emergence of Riots throughout India
The impact of the Direct Action Day was severe. This triggered violent riots in many places across
India. The major ones took place at Noakhali, Tippera district. The violence was so extensive that the
number of casualties is still unknown. As per sources, 50000(approximately) Hindus were killed as an
impact of direct action day.
The riots were spread across parts of Bihar - Munger, Bhagalpur where the intensity of violence was on
peak. There were riots across Punjab and Northwestern Frontier province in 1946-47.
Also on This Day
1886: Death of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Guru of Swami Vivekananda. 1932: British government in
India gives separate electoral representation for the 'Depressed Classes'.
Also read:
Indian National Congress Non-Cooperation Government of India Morley Minto

Simon Commission
Sessions Movement Act 1919 Reforms
Rowllat Act &
Governors General of Quit India India and
Jallianwala Bagh Charter Act 1813
Bengal & India Movement Pakistan Partition
Massacre
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UPSC Civil Services Examination

Subject – UPSC GS-III

Direct Action Day - Series of Events

Direct Action Day - Outcome

Impact of Direct Action Day - Emergence of Riots throughout India

Also on This Day

Indian National Congress Non-Cooperation Government of India Morley Minto

UPSC Admit Card 2020 Government Exams UPSC Syllabus

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