The Delhi Proposals, the Simon Commission, the Nehru Report and the 14 Points

Last time

Before we start: last time, in Urdu and the regional languages of Pakistan, you learned these points. Here they are again on one card. Keep them in mind, because today builds on them.

The search for a constitution

By the late 1920s, everyone agreed India needed a new constitution, but not on what it should say. Muslims made proposals, the British sent a commission, Congress wrote a report, and Jinnah replied with his 14 Points. Then Allama Iqbal and Rahmat Ali gave the idea of a separate Muslim state.

The Delhi Proposals

In 1927, Muslim leaders offered to give up separate electorates, if certain conditions were met. The conditions: Sindh separated from Bombay; reforms in the North-West Frontier Province and Balochistan; one-third of central seats for Muslims; and seats by population in Punjab and Bengal. Congress at first seemed to accept, but later went back on it.

The Simon Commission

In 1927 the British sent the Simon Commission to review the 1919 reforms. It had seven members, all British, and not one Indian. So it was boycotted by Congress and much of the League, with protesters shouting 'Simon, go back'.

The Nehru Report

Challenged to write their own constitution, Indians formed a committee under Motilal Nehru. Its report appeared in 1928. It rejected separate electorates and weightage for Muslims, and proposed a strong central government. Muslims rejected it. Jinnah called it the parting of the ways.

Jinnah's 14 Points

In 1929, Jinnah set out 14 Points, the minimum Muslims would accept in any constitution. Key points: a federal system with power in the provinces; separate electorates; one-third of central seats for Muslims; and Sindh separate from Bombay. Also reforms in the NWFP and Balochistan, and protection for Muslim religion, culture and jobs.

The Allahabad Address

In December 1930, at the Muslim League session at Allahabad, Allama Iqbal called for a separate Muslim state in the north-west of the subcontinent. He named the Punjab, the North-West Frontier Province, Sindh and Balochistan. It was the first time a leading figure gave the idea of a separate homeland on a political platform.

Now or Never

In 1933, Chaudhry Rahmat Ali, a student at Cambridge, published a pamphlet called Now or Never. He coined the name Pakistan, from the names of the Muslim-majority regions in the north-west. At first few leaders took it seriously, but the name was later adopted.

The three contributions

Three men each gave something different to the creation of Pakistan.

Which mattered most?

The 14 Points set out Muslim demands clearly and became the League's basis in later talks. The Allahabad Address gave the idea of a separate state for the first time. Now or Never gave the name. Explain all three, then judge which did most to bring about Pakistan.

Mistakes that lose marks

Mistake one: saying Allama Iqbal coined the name Pakistan. Rahmat Ali did. Mistake two: saying the Simon Commission was unpopular without saying why: no Indian member. Mistake three: mixing up the Nehru Report, 1928, and the 14 Points, 1929. The fix: the right person, the right year, and the reason.

The full-marks tip

The full-marks tip: for why the Simon Commission was unpopular, explain several reasons, starting with no Indian members. Keep the contributions apart: demands, idea, name.

On one card

So, on one card: 1927 to 1933. Keep it for revision.