Correct Option (B):
Lord Mountbatten assumed the Viceroyalty of India on March 22, 1947, with the primary directive from the British government to ensure an orderly transfer of power. His initial and explicit instruction was to explore all possibilities for maintaining the unity of India. Only if unity proved unattainable was he to proceed with an alternative plan for withdrawal. He initially attempted to secure an agreement between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League for a united India.
Incorrect Options:
- Option 1: Balkanize the Indian sub-continent.
Mountbatten's initial mandate was to prevent the fragmentation of India, often referred to as Balkanization. His 'Plan Balkan' was a contingency plan considered only after the failure to achieve unity, and it was ultimately discarded. Therefore, his instruction was not to Balkanize but to prevent it.
- Option 3: Accept Jinnah's demand for Pakistan.
Mountbatten initially sought to maintain a united India and did not arrive with instructions to accept the demand for Pakistan. He only conceded to the creation of Pakistan after extensive negotiations revealed the impossibility of preserving unity.
- Option 4: Persuade the Congress to accept the partition.
While Mountbatten eventually persuaded the Congress to accept partition, this was a consequence of the failure to achieve unity, not his initial instruction. His primary directive was to explore options for a united India.