Did we ‘win’ our freedom or the British ‘gave’ it to us? Reading history from diplomats’ lens

News Snapshot:

For Britain, leaving India was primarily about the loss of its value in strategic terms. India had been a vast reservoir of military manpower for Britain and its empire. But this crucial resource was becoming increasingly unreliable as demonstrated by the creation of the Indian National Army (INA) and mutinies in the Royal Indian Navy. India’s importance in maintaining communication lines with the white dominions of Australia and New Zealand had declined dramatically as airpower had assumed increasing importance. Airbases in India might be valuable. But rights to overfly may in fact be sufficient and even that may not be...