1945: Key Events

• The Indian National Army, hit by desertions and disease, surrenders, and several members are publicly tried. Bose is believed to have been killed in an air crash over Taipei.

• Central and provincial legislature elections: Congress wins majority but loses to the Muslim League in all Muslim-dominated provinces except the North West Frontier Province.

• A pact between Bhulabhai Desai of the Congress and Liaqat Ali of the Muslim League envisages joint control of an interim government, but both parties quickly repudiate any such understanding.

• Labour comes to power in Britain. C. R. Attlee sponsors a new initiative to break the Hindu- Muslim deadlock with the Simla Conference chaired by Lord Wavell. Jinnah rejects all compromise offers.

• The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) is inaugurated (it became operational only in 1954); it later pioneered India’s nuclear and space research programmes.

• The best known Prithvi Theatres play, Inder Raj Anand’s Deewar, addresses the communal divide in the context of India’s impending Partition.

• M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and N. S. Krishnan are arrested on murder charges and imprisoned.

• Film trade representatives resign from the Film Advisory Committee. The government withdraws state control on raw stock distribution (imposed in July 1943).