The area first visited by this commission - Bombay (1928 February 3)
Protesting against the lack of representation for Indians in this commission, the Indian people carried out a movement called 'Simon Go Back'.
Secretary of State for India when the Simon Commission came to India - Birkenhead. The Governor-General of India at this time - Irwin.
Parties that supported this commission - Muslim League, Justice Party.
The person who lost his life in Lahore during the anti-Simon Commission movement - Lala Lajpat Rai (Lion of Punjab).
The person who fought and lost his life in the anti-Simon Go Back movement in Madras - Parthasarathy Naidu
Leader of the anti-Simon Commission movement in Madras - Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu (Andhra Kesari).
The person who was known as Guntur Kesari - Nadimpalli Narasimha Rao.
Key Points:
- The dual rule of the states should be abolished.
- Autonomy should be given to the states.
- Full autonomy for Indians in the management of the government.
- Establishment of a federal type of government.
- Ensuring that the ministers are accountable to the legislature.
- Increasing the number of members in the state legislative councils.
- Giving administrative control to the central government over the High Courts.
- Continuation of communal representation.
- Gradual extension of universal adult franchise.
In 1930, the Simon Commission submitted its report to the government in London.
Simon Commission was the first to mention the federal system in India.
The person who described the Simon Commission report as a comprehensive report on the problems in India - Coupland.
Indian States (Principalities) Committee - 1927 (Butler Committee):
The British government, along with the Simon Commission, appointed the Indian States Committee under the chairmanship of Harcourt Butler to suggest satisfactory financial relations between British India and the Indian States (Principalities).
Other members of this committee were W.S. Holdsworth and S.C. Peels.
This committee examined the financial relations in force in 16 states and submitted its report in 1929.
Suggestions :
It stated that there was only a contractual relationship between British India and the Indian states.
It stated that the relations between British India and the Indian states should continue according to the circumstances, but the continuation of relations depends on the historical nature.
Nehru Report (1928):
When all the seven members of the Simon Commission were British, the Indians opposed it and took up the Simon Go Back movement.
Secretary of State for India Birkenhead commented in 1927 that Indians were not capable of drafting their own constitution.
The Indian National Congress took this statement as a challenge and formed a committee with 8 members under the chairmanship of Motilal Nehru.
This committee submitted its report in just 3 months in 1928. This is called the Nehru Report.
The first attempt to draft the Indian Constitution - "1928 Nehru Report"
The first constitution drafted by Indians - "1928 Nehru Report"
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In contrast, Muhammad Ali Jinnah submitted another report in 1929. This is called the Jinnah Report.
Highlights of the Nehru Report :
1. Giving Dominion status to India.
2. Forming a federal system in the country based on two factors: linguistic states and autonomous states.
3. The executive branch is accountable to the legislature.
Mentioned 19 fundamental rights.
It suggested allocating some seats to minorities in the legislatures for at least ten years.
Round Table Conferences (1930 - 32):
Governor-General Lord Irwin announced on 31 October 1929 that three Round Table Conferences would be held in London to discuss the Simon Commission report. This is called the Diwali Declaration.
First Round Table Conference 12 November 1930 to 19 January 1931
Second Round Table Conference 7 September 1931 to 1 December 1931
Third Round Table Conference 17 November 1932 to 24 December 1932
Ambedkar and Muhammad Ali Jinnah attended all three Round Table Conferences.
Sarojini Naidu was the only woman who attended the Round Table Conferences.
Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference on behalf of the Congress as per the Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 5 March 1931.
Based on the White Paper published under the leadership of Lord Linlithgow, the 1935 Government of India Act was introduced.
Communal Award (16 August 1932):
On 16 August 1932, British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald announced the Communal Award and allocated separate constituencies to the depressed classes.
According to this, separate constituencies were allocated to Harijans along with Muslims, Christians and Sikhs.
Opposing this, Gandhi went on a hunger strike on 20 September 1932 in Yerwada Jail in Pune.
The Poona Pact took place between Gandhi and Ambedkar on 24 September 1932. According to this, it was decided to allocate some seats to the depressed classes in the general seats.
Based on the White Paper published under the leadership of Lord Linlithgow, the 1935 Government of India Act was introduced.
1935 Government of India Act:
This Act is the most extensive and largest of all the constitutional reform Acts made by the British. This Act has 321 Articles, 14 Parts and 10 Schedules.
More than 70% of the current provisions in the Indian Constitution have been taken from this Act. That is why the Indian Constitution is called the "Xerox copy of the 1935 Government of India Act".
The 1935 Act is said to be the mother of the Indian Constitution, said by Constituent Assembly member Maulana Hasrat Mohani.
This Act established an All India Federation.
(All India Federation)
It abolished dyarchy at the state level and introduced it at the central level. Autonomy was granted to the states. The powers were clearly divided between the Centre and the States and the subjects were divided into three lists.
Central List - 59 items
State List - 54 items
Concurrent List - 36 items
The items not included in the above three lists and the newly added items are called residuary powers. The power over these was given to the British Governor-General.
'Bicameral system' was introduced in the states.
Bicameral legislatures were established in 6 out of 11 provinces (Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Assam United Provinces).
Indian Polity 14
This Act established the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 1935 to regulate financial matters.
The capital was shifted from Delhi to New Delhi.
Burma was separated from India.
Separate constituencies were created for women, workers, weaker sections and Anglo-Indians.
Orissa and Sindh were created as new states.
The post of Advocate General was created.
Federal Service Commission at the Centre and Public Service Commissions in the states were established.
For the first time, people's governments were formed in the states.
Central control was greatly reduced.
Governors were considered as constitutional heads of the states.
This Act came into force in 1937. Elections were held for the Central and State Legislatures in 1937.
The state governments resigned in 1939 as the British unilaterally decided that India would participate in World War II.
The Supreme Court established in 1774 by this Act was converted into a Federal Court.
The Federal Court started functioning from 1937.
The Federal Court had 1 Chief Justice + 6 other judges.
Note: First Chief Justice of the Federal Court - Sir Maurice Gwyer. Last Chief Justice of the Federal Court - H.J Kania
Appeals against the judgments of the Federal Court can be made to the Privy Council in London.
Federal Court Chief Justice , H.J Kania was appointed as first chief justice of Supreme court.
Indian Polity 15
Prominent comments on the 1935 Government of India Act :
- "This Act is a vehicle without an engine with a strong braking system" - Jawaharlal Nehru.
- "This Act is the beginning of a new slavery" - Jawaharlal Nehru.
- "Absolutely insane, completely bad, totally unacceptable" - Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
- "An Act imposed on the Indian people" - K.T. Shah.
- "This is an anti-India Act" - C.Y. Chintamani.
August Offer - 1940 August 8 :
The then Viceroy Lord Linlithgow made these proposals.
Those are -
1) After the end of World War II, India will be given Dominion status.
2) Opportunity will be given to Indians to draft a constitution with the representation of political parties.
3) Giving representation to minorities in the Constituent Assembly.
4) Expanding the Viceroy's Executive Council by giving membership to all political parties in India.
However, all parties rejected these proposals.
Cripps Proposals (1942) :
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced on 11 March 1942 that Cabinet Minister Sir Stafford Cripps would be sent to India to discuss constitutional consultations.
The mission sent to gain the cooperation of Indians in World War II was the Cripps Mission.
Promises made by the Cripps Mission :
India will be given independence as soon as possible.
A Constituent Assembly to draft the Constitution.
Note: Cripps' mission was described by Gandhiji as "A post-dated cheque on a crashing bank".
The Indian National Congress passed the historic Quit India Resolution opposing the Cripps proposals.
Indian Polity
Quit India Resolution - 1942 August 8 :
The INC meeting that approved the Quit India Resolution was the Bombay meeting.
Another name for the Quit India Movement is the August Movement.
The woman who set up a secret radio station during this movement - Usha Mehta.
The woman who hoisted the tricolor flag at the Bombay INC office was 'Aruna Asaf Ali'.
The only movement that continued without any leader was the Quit India Movement.
Gandhiji gave the slogan 'Do or Die' during the Quit India movement.
The Telugu person who drafted the Kurnool Circular and propagated it highlighting the importance of the Quit India Movement - Kala Venkatarao.
C.R. Formula (1944) :
The way out Pamplet
In 1944, with the approval of Gandhiji, C. Rajagopalachari proposed a formula for the cooperation of the Muslim League and the solution of religious problems on behalf of the Congress.
Congress and Muslim League should work together to achieve the goal of independence.
The Muslim League's demand for the creation of Pakistan for self-determination should be accepted.
After independence, the formation of Pakistan should be considered by examining public opinion.
The Muslim League rejected this formula.
Note : C. Rajagopalachari's full name is Chakravarthula Rajagopalachari.
He is called Rajaji.
Rajaji was born in 1878 in Thorapalli village in Madras Presidency.
Amery - Wavell Plan (1945):
In 1945, the then Secretary of State for India, Amery, and the Governor-General, Lord Wavell, held discussions with the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and made some proposals. Those are -
1. The Viceroy's Executive Council will function as a National Government.
2. The Viceroy's Executive Council will be expanded and prominence will be given to those belonging to major religions.
3. Appointment of a British High Commissioner in India.
4. Establishment of a War Advisory Council giving prominence to all sections in India.
5. For this, the Viceroy held a meeting in Simla in July 1945.
Simla Conference - 1945 (July) :
Established to reconcile the Congress and the Muslim League.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on behalf of the Congress and Muhammad Ali Jinnah on behalf of the Muslim League participated. A total of 21 leaders participated.
The Muslim League withdrew from this meeting on the grounds that there was no Pakistan proposal, and the Congress withdrew because there was no concrete proposal for independence.
Note : Bulabhai Desai, a prominent lawyer who argued on behalf of the Indian National Army (INA) prisoners.
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Cabinet Mission (1946 May 16) :
After World War II, the Labor Party came to power in the elections held in Britain.
Clement Attlee was elected as the British Prime Minister.
In March 1946, Attlee made a historic statement and announced that a committee of three members would visit India to resolve the problems of India.
Based on the Robert Richard Committee, the Cabinet Mission was formed.
The number of members in the Cabinet Mission is three.
1. Stafford Cripps 2. A.V. Alexander 3. Lord Pethick Lawrence (Chairman)
Note: The person who chaired the Cabinet Mission was Lord Pethick Lawrence.
Cabinet Mission Recommendations –
- A Constituent Assembly should be formed by Indians to draft the Constitution necessary for governing Indians.
- The members of the Constituent Assembly should be elected indirectly.
- Establish a temporary government.
- Rejected the formation of Pakistan.
In response, the Muslim League celebrated Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946.
The person who called for Direct Action Day was Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The date on which the Interim Government (or) Interim Government was formed was 2 September 1946. The Muslim League joined the Interim Government on 29 October 1946.
1946 Interim Government - Ministers
| Number | Department | Minister |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth Relations Department | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 2. | Defense Department | Sardar Baldev Singh |
| 3. | Home Department, Information Broadcasting Department | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel |
| 4. | Finance Department | Liaquat Ali Khan |
| 5. | Food, Agriculture Department | Rajendra Prasad |
| 6. | Labor Department | Jagjivan Ram |
| 7. | Post, Air Department | Abdul Rab Nishtar |
| 8. | Transport & Railways | M. Asaf Ali |
| 9. | Industries, Supplies Department | John Mathai |
| 10. | Education, Arts | C. Rajagopalachari |
| 11. | Commerce Department | I.I. Chundrigar |
| 12. | Law Department | Jogindranath Mandal |
| 13. | Health Department | Ghaznafar Ali Khan |
| 14. | Mines and Power Department | C.H. Bhabha |
Indian Polity 17
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