Direct Action Day – Sequence of Events

The Sequence of events of the Direct Action Day are as follows:

• In 1946, a mission from the British government was sent to India to address the ongoing dispute between the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Muslim League over the matter of independence. The INC aimed for a unified India, while the Muslim League sought a separate homeland for Muslims, referred to as Pakistan.
• Despite the efforts of the mission, a resolution was difficult to achieve because the League and the Congress could not agree on the idea of a united India with a strong central government. Frustrated by the deadlock, the Muslim League declared 16th August as a day of direct action, urging a general protest against the INC’s position and strongly advocating for a separate homeland.
• At that time, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, a member of the Muslim League, served as the Chief Minister of Bengal. The League announced a large gathering presided over by Suhrawardy, with processions converging at the Ochterlony Monument for the event. The gathering started at noon, accompanied by incidents of forced shop closures, stabbings, and stonings from the early hours of the day.
• While it is thought that Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of the Muslim League, did not anticipate the violence to escalate when he called for the suspension of all business, the outcome of the day of direct action proved to be exceedingly violent, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives in both India and Pakistan.

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.