The Round Table Conferences, the 1935 Act and Congress Rule

Last time

Before we start: last time, in The Partition of Bengal, the Simla Deputation, the Muslim League and the Morley–Minto Reforms, you learned these points. Here they are again on one card. Keep them in mind, because today builds on them.

Talks in London, rule in India

In the 1930s the British held conferences in London to agree a new constitution. The result was the Government of India Act 1935. Then came elections in 1937, and two years of Congress rule that convinced many Muslims they needed a separate state.

The first conference

The first Round Table Conference met in London from November 1930. Congress boycotted it, because it was running the civil disobedience campaign. Muslim leaders, princes and others attended, and the princes agreed to the idea of an all-India federation. But without Congress, no final agreement could be made.

The second and third

After the Gandhi–Irwin Pact, Gandhi attended the second conference in 1931, but it failed over the representation of minorities. The third conference in 1932 was small, as Congress again stayed away. The conferences did produce the ideas that went into the 1935 Act.

The Communal Award

Because Indians could not agree, the British Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald, announced the Communal Award in 1932. It kept separate electorates for Muslims and other minorities. Muslims accepted it, though they felt they did not get enough seats in Punjab and Bengal.

The Government of India Act 1935

Provincial autonomy: elected Indian ministers would run the provinces, though governors kept emergency powers. A federation of British India and the princely states was proposed, but never came into being. Sindh was separated from Bombay, separate electorates continued, and more people could vote.

The 1937 elections

In the 1937 provincial elections, Congress won majorities in most provinces. The Muslim League did badly, even in Muslim-majority provinces, where regional parties did better. Congress refused to share power with the League in the provinces it won.

Congress Rule

Muslims complained that Congress governments acted as Hindu governments. Bande Mataram, a song Muslims found offensive, was sung in assemblies, and the Congress flag was flown. The Wardha scheme of education promoted Hindi and Hindu ideas, and Muslims faced restrictions on cow slaughter and on jobs.

The Day of Deliverance

In 1939 Congress ministries resigned, because Britain had declared India at war without consulting them. Jinnah called on Muslims to celebrate the end of Congress rule as a Day of Deliverance on 22 December 1939. Congress rule had convinced many Muslims they could not live safely under a Hindu majority. Three months later came the Lahore Resolution.

Were the conferences a success?

Success: they produced the ideas for the 1935 Act, including provincial autonomy and the federation, and the Communal Award kept separate electorates. Failure: Congress missed two of the three, and they failed to agree on minorities. Judge the overall outcome, with a reason.

Mistakes that lose marks

Mistake one: saying the 1935 federation came into effect. It never did. Mistake two: listing grievances against Congress Rule without explaining why each upset Muslims. Mistake three: mixing up the order of the three conferences. The fix: the terms precisely, and each grievance explained.

The full-marks tip

The full-marks tip: for the 1935 Act, give the terms: provincial autonomy, the proposed federation, Sindh separated, more voters. For Congress Rule, explain why each policy made Muslims feel threatened.

On one card

So, on one card: 1930 to 1939. Keep it for revision.