Leading up to the Partition
1885 The first meeting of the Indian National Congress, Bombay
1905 The first partition of Bengal
1906 Formation of the Muslim League
1920 Mahatma Gandhi leads the Congress; Non-cooperation Movement
1922 Civil Disobedience Movement
1929 Lord Irwin promises Dominion Status for India
1935 The Government of India Act receives Royal Assent
1937 Elections held for provincial assemblies
1938
July - Gandhi-Jinnah negotiations for the settlement of the communal problem, which began in February, fail
Dec - The Muslim League forms a committee of enquiry into alleged Congress persecution of Muslims
1939
18 Oct Viceroy's Statement on War Aims and the War Effort: reiterates that goal of British policy is Dominion status for India, but that the 1935 Act is open to modification at the end of the war, in the light of Indian opinion. Offers association of Indian opinion in war effort through consultative group representing the major political parties in British India and the princes.
Oct Resignation of Congress Ministries
22 Dec Observed as 'Deliverance Day' from Congress rule by the Muslim League.
1940
23 Mar Lahore Resolution of the Muslim League demands for a separate state for the Muslims of India
1941
Dec Congress civil disobedience prisoners set free
1942
8-9 Aug Congress launches 'Quit India movement' and is declared an unlawful organization; Gandhi and all members of the Congress Working Committee are arrested
1943
Oct Wavell succeeds Linlithgow as Viceroy
1944
9-27 Sep Gandhi-Jinnah talks end in failure
1945
Dec-Jan General Elections in India
1946
16 Jun Cabinet Mission presents scheme for the formation of an interim government at the Centre
25 Jun Congress rejects 16 June proposals for an interim government but accepts 16 May scheme, agreeing thereby to join the proposed Constituent Assembly. Muslim League accepts the 16 June scheme and agrees to join the interim government
29 Jul Muslim League passes resolutions retracting its acceptance of the Cabinet Mission plan and calling upon Muslims to observe 16 August as 'Direct Action Day'
16-18 Aug The 'Great Calcutta Killing'
2 Sept Congress forms the interim government with Nehru as the Vice-President
13 Oct Muslim League decides to join the interim government
25 Oct Interim Government reconstituted
3-6 Dec Aborted London conference of major Indian leaders
9 Dec Constituent Assembly meets without Muslim League members
1947
29 Jan Muslim League demands dissolution of Constituent Assembly.
February Communal rioting in Punjab
20 February Prime Minister Attlee announces the British intention of leaving India by June 1948, and Mountbatten to succeed as Viceroy.
23 February Jinnah declares that the Muslim League will not yield an inch in their demand for Pakistan
4-5 March Outbreak of communal disturbances in Lahore, Multan and other Punjabi towns.
18 March Prime Minister's letter sent to Viceroy-designate on the policy and principles in accordance with which power should be transferred
15-16 April Conference of Governors; approval for draft proposals for the transfer of power
15 April Issue of joint Gandhi-Jinnah appeal for abstention from acts of violence and disorder
2 June Mountbatten meets Indian leaders and gives them Partition Plan
4 June Mountbatten gives a Press Conference on the Plan
5-7 June Mountbatten discusses partition machinery with Indian leaders and Indian Cabinet
12 June First meeting of Partition Committee
20 June Votes in Bengal Legislative Assembly result in decision that Province should be partitioned
4 July Indian Independence Bill is published
19 July The Executive Council (Transitional Provisions) Order, reconstituting the Interim Government into two separate groups representing the two successor governments of India and Pakistan, published
11 August Jinnah elected President of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan
14 August Pakistan Independence Celebrations in Karachi; Viceroy addresses Pakistan Constituent Assembly
14 - 15 August midnight Power transferred
15 August Jinnah sworn in as Governor-General of Pakistan; Mountbatten sworn in as Governor-General of India; Independence Day Celebrations in Delhi
Timeline Source: http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indianindependence/chronology/
Image source: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~ngpopat/Partition.htm
Published March 2016