Masterpiece Theatre: Lord Mountbatten - The Last Viceroy

- Season 1

(1986)

Mountbatten decides to attempt the challenge of becoming Viceroy of India with the aim of fulfilling the Labor Party's promise of Indian independence. He is optimistic, despite news of escalating violence between Muslims and Hindus, and his wife, Lady Edwina, shares his enthusiasm for returning to India.

The fight over the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan heats up. Gandhi believes partition would make a mockery of his life's work and suggests turning over all of India to Jinnah to avoid dividing the country. Mountbatten believes partition is inevitable and the only way to avert civil war.

Mountbatten accelerates the timetable for withdrawal and settles on a date just months away. The princely states clamor for independence, providing another stumbling block. To establish boundaries for the partition, Mountbatten calls on Sir Cyril Radcliffe and gives him only five weeks for the task.

After the jubilation of independence day, tensions continue to mount. Mountbatten agrees to stay on as governor general as long as he is needed. A refugee crisis erupts as Hindus flee Pakistan. Gandhi goes on a hunger strike to protest the violence.

As whole sections of Delhi rage out of control, Nehru calls on Mountbatten to head an emergency committee to quell the insurgency. When the tribesmen loyal to Jinnah invade Kashmir, Nehru begins to lose hope and falls ill.

Edwina facilitates supplies to the refugee camps, but with up to 1,000 new refugees arriving every day at each camp the situation is dire. Pakistan will not recognize the accession of Kashmir to India, tipping the scales toward war. Then the unthinkable happens.