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of the Subcontinent. The major political parties adopted the last option which was to
accept the British writ in all the affairs.
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Second chapter highlights the political environment which pushed the League
to pass the Lahore Resolution in 1940 and its effects relating particularly to the
Muslims and Sikhs. It also gives a picture of the Punjab where a big hue and cry was
raised against it and threats to resist the Pakistan scheme. The Sikhs also cried against
the Achari formula which displayed that the Congress leadership had planted a group
to induce the League to abandon their struggle for Pakistan till the departure of the
British from India. The Cripps Mission is of course of unique importance which
accelerated the pace of the Muslim and Sikh movements. The demand for Pakistan
and the Sikh state was about to be accepted officially but the Sikh leadership seemed
disunited on any common point. The Sikandar-Baldev Singh Pact has been discussed
which highlights different turns in the Sikh politics.
Third chapter deals with the Muslim-Sikh politics from 1943 to the elections
of 1946. The popularity of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah forced the Congress
to come to terms with the League. The parleys on the Achari formula and Jinnah-
Gandhi Talks took place but all this increased apprehensions of the Sikhs. The Sikh
politics had been based on the traditional heritage with a weak consideration of
ground realities. The Sikhs merely focused on their military strength rather than
concluding negotiations with the stakeholders to reach some reasonable alternatives.
They demanded Azad Punjab or Khalistan but faced severe criticism by their own
community along with the Congress and Hindu Mahasabha. The British continually
provided several occasions to the local leaders to arrive at any agreed demand but
they could not show any harmony. The Simla Conference arranged by the Viceroy
Lord Wavell was very significant for the Sikhs because Master Tara Singh got a place