Round Table Conferences (1930-1932) : Historical Background
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Abdul Rehman ShaikhRound Table Conferences (1930-1932) : Historical Background
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Abdul Rehman ShaikhROUND TABLE CONFERENCES (1930-1932)
Historical Background:-
Government of India Act 1919 has the provision which states that after 10 years i.e. 1929 a
committee would be created who will have the responsibility to study and examine the constitutional issues
and will recommend / propose the future amendments which would be implemented in the coming
constitution.
In 1927 a committee was formed by Lord Birkenhead (viceroy in India) which was led by
Sir John Simon. A committee comprises of 7 members (All white people) with no real Indian representative.
It was boycotted by Indian political parties. Indian National Congress demonstrated mas protest against the
commission since the day of its arrival in India. The report of the commission by the congress and they
started Civil Disobedience Movement.
As a challenge to Simon report and Simon commission Nehru report was published by
Pandit Moti Lal Nehru for future constitutional reforms. However, The Nehru report was highly opposed by
Muslim League as they called it an Anti-Muslim Report.
On responding to Nehru report Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah presented his famous fourteen points
in 1929, which was rejected and condemned by Indian National Congress.
Since no any solution was to be found to these problems British Government decided to invite all major
Indian political parties to London to negotiate for reforms.
There were Three Round Table Conferences from 1930 to 1932.
Round Table Conferences
First Round Table Conference (Nov 12, 1930 – Jan 19, 1931)
On the Invitation of British government all political parties (except Congress) attended the first Round Table
Conference. Congress did not attend the session because they were of the opinion that instead of deciding
whether India will receive self-government or not they should focus on making the constitution which is
assumed on basis of free India.
Muslim League delegation comprises Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Sir Muhammad Shafi,
Sir Agha Khan II, Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar, Molvi Fazal-ul-Haq and Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayat
Ullah
The important decisions take at the conference were:
1) Federal form of government should be introduced.
2) To introduce dominion status and responsible central government.
3) To abolish diarchy system in provinces.
4) The Princely states agreed to extend their co-operation in forming All India Federation.
There were 9 sub committees on different matters but there was a deadlock on the matter of distribution of
subjects in Federal system. Minority too was indecisive. In that course Muslim League claimed that no any
constitutional reform in India would be possible without the sufficient protection of Muslim rights.
Mr. Ramsay McDonald (British PM) announces that the government has accepted a responsible
self-government in provinces and federal system in center.
Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931)
The British Government felt the importance and understood without the co-operation of Congress it would
be difficult to bring any constitutional reforms and its implication. They decided to open peace negotiations
with Congress leaders. Lord Irwin invited Gandhi jee for peace talks. Gandhi jee accepted the proposals.
Salient features of the pact were:
Congress will stop its Civil Disobedience Movement Immediately.
Congress will attend the second session of Round Table Conference.
Withdrawal of all ordinance which are meant to curb congress
Withdrawal of charges against Indian who have not committed any violence.
Releasing of all political prisoners.
The government accepted the demand and Congress called off the Civil Disobedience Movement and
promised to attend the second session.
Second Round Table Conference (Sep 7, 1931 – Dec 1, 1931)
With the inclusion of Indian National Congress second session of Round table conference was held
in London. Congress was Solely represented by M.K.Gandhi. Muslim league delegation was much the same
with the addition of Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
Two committees were formed to carry out the proceedings. Gandhi was the member of both the committees.
Gandhi adopted the stiff and rigid attitude and demanded minority committee should be abolished, since the
Congress represents the whole of India.
Gandhi refused to accept the any rights of the Muslim minorities and gave the highly violent speech which
was contested by all the minorities. He made 3 claims:
1) Congress is the sole representative of India.
2) Untouchables cannot be separated from the body of India.
3) The Hindus and the Muslims could and should live together in United India without any separate
representation or special safeguard.
Gandhi’s speech was opposed by Muslim leaders.
Gandhi recommended the making of reforms keeping aside the minorities issues. Sir Muhammad Shafi said
no advance in constitution is possible without solving the minority issues and as a proposal gave 14 points of
Quaid-e-Azam which was refused by Gandhi and he gave Nehru report points as a suggestion which was
declined and as a counter measure all minorities gave as a whole statement of claims which Gandhi refused.
In conclusion Second Round table conference ended without any prominent conclusion mainly because of
Gandhi’s rigid attitude.
Communal Awards (1932)
When Indian political parties could not reach for a settlement relating minorities the British P.M.
Mr. Ramsay McDonald offered them to sign a pledge and to abide by his verdict then he would willingly use
his discretion and reach for a settlement. This is known as ‘Communal Awards’ which ensures the principles
of weightage. Allocation of seats under communal award in various provinces is given below.
Provincial Representation Under Communal Award
Proportion of Muslim Seats Reserved for
Provinces Total Seats
Population the Muslims
NWFP 91.8 50 36
Punjab 57.5 175 85
Sindh 70.7 60 35
Bengal 54.7 250 119
Assam 34.0 108 34
Madras 07.9 215 29
Bombay 09.2 175 30
UP 15.3 228 66
CP 04.7 112 14
Bihar & Orissa 10.8 175 42
Under the award the minorities were to be given ⅓ seats of the central legislature.
The Muslims reluctantly accepted the award not because it did any justice to them but both Congress and
Muslim League had not been able to reach any solution. Congress however, denounced the awards and
started Civil Disobedience Movement again.
The Muslims’ majority in the provinces of Punjab and Bengal was turned into minority but nowhere were
the Congress majority turned into minority.
Third Round Table Conference (Nov 17, 1932 – Dec 24, 1932)
The third and last session of Round table conference was held in London. Quaid-e-Azam did not attend this
session and Congress was absent too due to their restoration of Civil Disobedience Movement and their
prominent leaders were behind the bars. This session was short and unimportant and like others it also failed
to achieve any significant land mark in constitutional reforms. By now all Indian Had lost hope in RTC.
Now the reforms regarding the coming constitution were to be made on common knowledge and facts and
British’s Discretion.
White Paper (1931):
The results of the 3 sessions of RTC were collected, summarized and published by the government as a
proposal for the Indian constitution in a document named as “White Paper” which was issued in March 1933
and debated in parliament afterwards.
Conclusion:
These three RTC did not achieve any significant landmark on Indian political history. However, it is now
crystal clear to the Muslims and other minorities that Congress have no interest in their issues and rights.
Since then the Muslims political struggle took new path which led to Lahore resolution and eventually in the
establishment of Pakistan.