Round Table Conferences (RTC)

 Okay, here are the notes summarizing the key points from the lecture on the Round Table Conferences:

Topic: Round Table Conferences (RTC)

• Importance: Very significant event in Modern Indian History.

• Nature: A series of meetings/conferences held in London.

Basis for the RTCs:
The conferences were held to discuss three key reports:

1. Simon Report (1927): Reviewed the Government of India Act 1919 and made recommendations.

2. Nehru Report (1928): Drafted by Indians (led by Motilal Nehru) as an alternative to the Simon Commission; demanded Dominion Status.

3. Ali Jinnah Report (1929): Focused on safeguards and rights for the Muslim community.

Context & Significance of RTCs:

• Location: London, specifically in St. James's Palace (speaker mentions James Hall).

• Participants: British officials and Indian representatives.

• Major Change (పరివర్తన/మార్పు): Unlike previous Acts (1861, 1892, 1909, 1919), this was the first time Indians were formally invited for discussions and their opinions were considered in the constitution-making process.

• Reason for Change: The Labour Party came to power in Britain, with Ramsay MacDonald as Prime Minister. The Labour government was more inclined towards dialogue.

• Initiation: King George V formally initiated the RTC process.

• Chairperson: British PM Ramsay MacDonald presided over the conferences.

First Round Table Conference (Nov 1930 - Jan 1931):

• Key Attendees from India:

  • Hindu Mahasabha: M. R. Jayakar

  • Liberal Party: Tej Bahadur Sapru (Party formed by S.N. Banerjee in 1918 after splitting from INC over Montagu-Chelmsford reforms)

  • Muslim League: Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Aga Khan III, Maulana Muhammad Ali (died during the conference).

  • Depressed Classes: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (& Srinivasan, mentioned in non-NCERT sources).

  • Labour (India): N.M. Joshi (mentioned in non-NCERT sources).

  • Princely States representatives.

• Indian National Congress (INC): Boycotted the first RTC, following the decision made at the 1929 Lahore Session to pursue Poorna Swaraj and launch the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).

• Outcome: Failed, primarily because the INC, representing a vast majority of Indians, did not participate. Ramsay MacDonald acknowledged that without INC, constitutional progress was difficult.

Lead up to Second RTC:

• Ramsay MacDonald tasked Viceroy Lord Irwin to ensure INC participation in the next conference.

• This led to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (March 5, 1931). Key terms mentioned in the lecture: Gandhi agreed to suspend CDM and attend the 2nd RTC; Irwin agreed to release political prisoners (not those involved in violence).

Second Round Table Conference (Sept 1931 - Dec 1931):

• INC Participation: Attended, represented solely by Mahatma Gandhi.

• Other Attendees: Sarojini Naidu and Madan Mohan Malaviya attended in their individual capacities. Most others from the first RTC also attended (except Maulana Muhammad Ali).

• Key Discussion/Proposal: Ramsay MacDonald proposed the Communal Award.

• Communal Award: Suggested separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, Women, Business Class, and crucially, Depressed Classes.

• Lothian Committee: Appointed to examine the issue of separate electorates for Depressed Classes. It recommended in favour, citing their poor treatment and separation by Hindus.

• Outcome: Failed due to lack of consensus, especially on minority representation and the issue of separate electorates for Depressed Classes. Gandhi returned to India disappointed and resumed the CDM (Second Phase).

Aftermath of Second RTC:

• Communal Award Announcement (August 1932): Ramsay MacDonald formally announced the Award, granting separate electorates to Depressed Classes.

• Gandhi's Reaction: Began a fast unto death in Yerawada Jail (Pune) against the award, arguing it would permanently divide Hindu society.

• Poona Pact (Sept 1932):

  • Agreement between Gandhi and Ambedkar (mediated by Madan Mohan Malaviya, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Jayakar etc.).

  • Terms:

    1. Separate electorates for Depressed Classes rejected; Joint Electorates accepted.

    2. Number of seats reserved for Depressed Classes in provincial legislatures increased from 71/78 to 147.

    3. Fair representation guaranteed in government services.

    4. Educational aid grant from the government budget allocated for SC/ST education.

  • Impact:

    • The British government accepted the Poona Pact, effectively amending the Communal Award (removing separate electorates for Depressed Classes).

    • Signified acknowledgement by Hindu leadership of the need to address untouchability and neglect of Depressed Classes.

    • Became the basis for the reservation system in India.

Gandhi vs Ambedkar on Caste:

• Gandhi: Believed in the Varna system (based on karma/work, not birth - influenced by John Ruskin's "Unto This Last"). Advocated for the eradication of untouchability (అస్పృశ్యత పోవాలి) but retention of the Varna/Caste system (వర్ణ/కుల వ్యవస్థ ఉండాలి). Called Depressed Classes "Harijans" (Children of God - term originated from Narsinh Mehta, a Gujarati Vaishnava poet). Believed change should come through change of heart (హృదయ పరివర్తన) and faith. Prioritized Independence first, then Equality.

• Ambedkar: Believed caste itself was the problem ("Caste is the Class, Class is Permanent"). Argued that caste leads to untouchability. Called for the Annihilation of Caste. Criticized Gandhi's "Harijan" term. Believed in securing political rights and equality first (Equality first, then Independence). Advocated for separate electorates as a means of political empowerment. Pointed to Manu Dharma Shastra as a source of inequality and advocated burning it.

Third Round Table Conference (Nov 1932 - Dec 1932):

• INC did not attend.

• Less significant attendance overall.

• Outcome: Failed to achieve consensus.

Overall Outcome of RTCs:

• The discussions from all three RTCs and the earlier reports were compiled into a White Paper (1933).

• This White Paper was reviewed by a Joint Select Committee of the British Parliament chaired by Lord Linlithgow.

• Based on this committee's report, the Government of India Act, 1935 was enacted. This act is considered the largest British-made act for India and heavily influenced the current Indian Constitution.

Additional Facts:

• Attendees of all 3 RTCs: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Tej Bahadur Sapru, M.R. Jayakar, Akbar Hydari (representing Hyderabad State).

• Akbar Hydari: Prime Minister of Hyderabad State. Later banned the Hyderabad State Congress (HSC) due to the presence of the word "Congress". This led to the Gandhi-Hydari talks (part of Telangana history).