Declassified 1946 Naval Mutiny Records: Re-evaluating the Final Blow to British Rule

The National Archives of India (NAI) recently made public a significant collection of declassified records pertaining to the 1946 Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Mutiny. This digital repository, comprising intelligence reports, internal British correspondence, and administrative responses, offers a fresh perspective on one of the most pivotal yet often under-discussed episodes of the Indian freedom struggle.

The RIN Mutiny began on February 18, 1946, when ratings (sailors) on the HMIS Talwar in Bombay went on strike to protest against racial discrimination, poor food, and the trial of Indian National Army (INA) personnel. The strike quickly escalated into a full-blown revolt, spreading to 78 ships and 20 shore establishments across Bombay, Karachi, and Calcutta.

The newly released records underscore the British administration's profound alarm at the 'unprecedented' civilian support the sailors received. Intelligence reports detail how thousands of workers and students in Bombay took to the streets, leading to violent clashes with British troops. Crucially, the documents highlight a rare moment of communal harmony, noting that the flags of the Indian National Congress, the Muslim League, and the Communist Party were often flown together by the protesters. This unity challenged the prevailing narrative of communal polarization that the British had often utilized to justify their continued presence.

For the British, the mutiny was a watershed moment. The records suggest that the realization that the armed forces—the ultimate pillar of colonial rule—could no longer be relied upon was a decisive factor in the decision to send the Cabinet Mission to India. The mutiny effectively signaled that the British could no longer hold India by force, thereby accelerating the negotiations for the transfer of power.