With the separation of Burma from India, the Government of India Act, 1935 was split into two separate Acts for:

When the Government of India Act, 1935 was enacted, the British Parliament split it into two separate Acts: the Government of India Act, 1935 and the Government of Burma Act, 1935. This separated Burma (now Myanmar) from British India.

Burma under British India:

• The British conquered Burma in three Anglo-Burmese Wars (1824 to 1826, 1852 and 1885).
• After the Third Anglo-Burmese War, the whole of Burma was annexed and made a province of British India in 1886.

Separation:

• The Simon Commission (1927 to 1930) recommended the separation of Burma from India.
• Under the Government of Burma Act, 1935, Burma became a separate British colony, with effect from 1 April 1937.
• It had its own Governor and legislature.

Reasons for separation:

• Burma had a different history, culture, language and religion from India.
• Many Burmese nationalists wanted separation from India.
• The British also wanted to administer Burma separately.

After separation:

• Burma was occupied by Japan during the Second World War, from 1942 to 1945.
• The Indian National Army under Subhas Chandra Bose fought alongside Japanese forces in Burma.
• Burma became independent on 4 January 1948, and chose not to join the Commonwealth.
• Its name was changed to Myanmar in 1989.

Aung San:

General Aung San was the leader of Burma's independence movement and is called the father of the nation. He was assassinated in July 1947.

His daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi, led the National League for Democracy and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.

Present relations:

India and Myanmar share a long land border with the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Ceylon was a separate colony and was never part of the 1935 Act.
• ✗India and Pakistan were separated in 1947 by the Indian Independence Act.
• ✗The princely states were covered within the federal scheme of the 1935 Act.