Chapter 5F: Then tragedy struck. And Subhash Chandra Bose met with an air accident. He did not survive the accident.
There was no Plan B for BN. The Congress and the Muslim league got onto the table. Not to negotiate but to make a deal.
World War II officially ended on September 2, 1945, when Japan formally signed surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. While the war in Europe concluded earlier with Germany’s surrender on May 8, 1945 (V-E Day), the September 2 date marks the final end of the global conflict. Bose died on August 18, 1945.
The Aga Khan figured out that his dream of an independent private nation could now be real. A deal had been struck between Nehru and Jinnah. Bose was dead. Now the only thorn was Lord Wavell who wanted a united India. He famously remarked “how do you care if the chicken is served as a single piece of Tandoori or in parts like Tikka” after you are gone.
Lord Wavell stuck to his promise of an interim government for a united India:
This was as per BNs plan though Nehru was not the man he wanted. Ramkrishna Dalmia went around pulling strings against Nehru. Ambedkar, Savarkar, Patel were all acceptable. But not Nehru or Jinnah.
This government was formed in September 1946.
Nehru and Jinnah had done a deal. They would each become CEO by splitting the country. They proceeded to England to seek blessings of HH the Aga Khan – the chief architect of the partition.
The Aga Khans star’s had turned. He was now back in business. He had a new trophy wife. All he needed was some money and he wanted Lord Wavell dead or indisposed.
BN had no inkling of the deal that Nehru and Jinnah had made. Lord Wavell had promised him two things:
India would not be divided.
Nehru would not be made the head.
Ramkrishna Dalmias attempts at removing Nehru got exposed. The contestants shied away fearing loss of status in the new government.
The followers of the Aga Khan decided to weigh him in diamonds. It was wealth that was unheard of.
It made women swoon. Hollywood was now making films. Diamonds are a woman’s best friend. Aga Khan always had a loyalty card at Cartiers to buy jewellery for the women he wooed. He invited Nehru to a party filled with attractive European women.
Nehru struck it off with a charming young lady. Her name:
Edwina Mountbatten.
Aga Khan was at the crown next day. He had found the man he wanted in Delhi.
Nehru was a lawyer with no practice.
BN could fix the judge.
But the Aga Khan appointed the judge.
Lord Mountbatten became Viceroy of India.
His task.
To divide India.
Between Nehru and His Holiness.