Question

What was the effect of India's independence on other colonized areas?​

Answer 1

The spirit of independence spread to other countries as well. Burma and Sri Lanka too gained independence after India and Pakistan.

The British PM in 60's, Mr. Harold Macmillan visited some of the British colonies. And he made the significant 'Winds of change' speech. He said:

The wind of change is blowing through this continent. Whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact.

Britain then announced their departure from Palestine where the Jews and Palestinians fought like in undivided India. In Malayan peninsula also the people asked for freedom. But there communists also played a role. With support from USA, the British crushed the communist insurgency effectively. The countries Sudan, Gold coast and Malayan peninsula was granted independence in 50s.

Reluctance of Churchill and Conservative party to grant independence

When Winston Churchill's conservative party won elections in 50's his party was still not in favor of granting independence. He declared that he didn't want to preside over another decolonization of the empire. But events changed and that's what was mentioned by Harold Macmillan in his Winds of change speech.

In 60's Britain gave independence to colonies in Africa, except Rhodesia.

The Caribbean colonies were given independence in 60's. The case in Rhodesia was that the White leader Ian Smith announced unilateral independence. Further revolution took place in Rhodesia and in 1980 that country got a new name Zimbabwe and became independent.

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∝ Sidhdi