Direct Action Day – Consequences and Outcome

The Consequences and Outcomes of the direct action day are given below:

• After many of the passionate addresses by leaders of the League during the gathering, a surge of enthusiasm swept through the enormous assembly, laying the groundwork for widespread turmoil in Calcutta. The initial day witnessed extensive unrest, resulting in around 4,000 casualties. The disturbances were characterised by atrocious acts such as violence, assault, compelled conversions, and plundering.
• Critique was aimed at Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, the Chief Minister of Bengal, for purportedly inflaming the public and subsequently failing to quell the disturbances. Some also attributed responsibility to Sir Frederick John Burrows, the Governor of Bengal, for inadequately managing the situation.
• The communal dispute expanded beyond Calcutta, reaching other areas of northern India, particularly Bihar. Noakhali, now a part of Bangladesh, underwent distressing violence. The occurrences during and after Direct Action Day, collectively termed the Great Calcutta Killings, reached a magnitude in certain places that could be described as genocidal.
• The independence of India was tarnished by the tragic loss of thousands of lives and widespread maltreatment, especially in eastern, northern, and north-western regions. The Calcutta killings marked the initiation of pre-independence unrest. The ensuing violence and communal tensions ultimately compelled the Indian National Congress (INC) to reluctantly endorse the partition of the country as a measure to curb the escalating turmoil and disorder.

Related Articles:

• Partition of Bengal
• Partition of India
• Impact of Partition on the Indian Economy
• All India Muslim League Notes with MCQs

Direct Action Day: The Muslim League Council demanded a separate Muslim homeland after the British left the Indian subcontinent. They wanted a different country with a Muslim majority. Chosen by the Muslim League Council, on the 16th of August 1946, Direct Action Day was announced as a day of many important measures to emphasize their request for a distinct Muslim territory following the departure of the British from the Indian subcontinent. The main aim was to form a separate nation for Muslims.

The topic of Direct Action Day is part of the Contemporary Indian History section of the UPSC Exam syllabus. Contemporary Indian History is a component of the Prelims and Mains GS 1 History syllabus.

In this article, you will learn about the Direct Action Day chosen by the Muslim League on 16th August 1946, its series of events, and its consequences.