INDIA THEME 3 Flashcards
THE FIRST ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE
- opened by Lord Irwin
- Chaired by PM Ramsay Macdonald
- Conserv - lord Hoaring Liberal by Reading.
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THE FIRST ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE
-opened by Lord Irwin
-Chaired by PM Ramsay Macdonald
-Conserv - lord Hoaring Liberal by Reading.
-58 delegates represented shades of indian political opinion,
-princely states sent 16 delegates - they wanted dominion status which backed Macdonald into granting it and because of this indian support and the lack of opposition as congress wasnt there, progress was made.
decided that
- Dominion status
-Princely states and the 11 british provinces would be joined together iin federation as did canada australia and new zealand.
- Indian participation in all levels.
THE INAUGRATION OF New Delhi
February 1931 - Britain announced Delhi to be the new administrative capital of India which had previously been Calcutta, the King in his visit in 1911 asked that the Raj was to move to Delhi instead.
-20th century leading architects built the city which grew southwards from ‘old’ delhi that had been home to the political and financial factors of ancient india.
-Viceroy Irwin had a new residence as did the secretary of state, there were new homes built for british famillies
-Message was clear: India would be welcomed into Dominion as did others
The timing was wrong as the RTC were to be about compromise however this was the British forcing themselves into India.
the federations granted a single central govt to the princely states however not everyone agreed like churchill who despised any kind of self autonomy that the indians could have.
THE SECOND ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE
- held 1931
- similar delegates appeared, there were hopes to have progression from the foundations laid the previous year.
- the irwin-gandhi pact made it possible for congress to be represented by Gandhi who took it upon himself to be the sole representative of Indian nationalist movement and the indian politcal opinion too.
- Aga khan, jinnah attended on behalf of the muslim league and dr ambedkar was from the untouchables.
- gandhi supported the radical opinion hence he was in opposition to the dominion status.
- he also said that he represented the untouchables too as along with the hindus they came underneath the same umbrella - this was patronising to Ambedkar as well as impossible because of the caste system in india
- conflicts occured as congress and muslim league couldnt work together.
- no workable progress made.
the third round table conference
1932 - london - only 46 delegates attended - none from labour nor congress
- discussed franchise - financial sector however no workable progress made.
WHY DID THE ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE FAIL? THE SITUATION IN BRITAIN
- between 1930 and 1932 there had been several significant changes to the govt in london
- August 1931 - labour party had been replaced by a conservative coalition the national government
- they were facing unemployment and depression which was far more important than settling the indian opinion
- The new viceory (tory) was hoare who had conflicts about self govt - as did the tory party
- churchill set up the india defence league which was backed by 50 conservatives mps and was made to describe india as unsuitable to run their own country.
Ramsay macdonald had also lost support from his own party and was able to continue in office through the national govt.
CONGRESS?
Congress was not represented in the first roc and it took for the Gandhi Irwin pact for Nehru and Gandhi to come to London for the second RTC. When Gandhi came, he acted as the sole representative as he said that the Congress was an umbrella organisation. However, despite saying this, he secluded many sub groups esp the Muslim League who were trying to seek their own self representation.
Divisions over separate electorates
- Jinnah wanted separate electorates as he was determined to find a representative voice and identity for the Indian muslims in any ‘new’ India.
- This was supported by many sub groups in India such as the Untouchables who were frustrated at Gandhi taking leadership of them.
- Jinnah played off groups against each other in the background in order to gain greater concessions for the Muslim League.
POLITICAL COMPROMISE - LORD WILLINGDON
- Irwin was replaced by Lord Willingdon who saw Gandhi as a dangerous bolshevik in the first meeting when he landed from South Africa, he despised the Gandhi Irwin pact and did not seek to grant any self autonomy.
- He was forced to treat Gandhi with respect in public
India’s reaction to the failure of consultation
- situation was taking turns for the worse
- willingdon decided to implement some changes
- he should only conciliate only those elements of the Indian opinion who followed the Current administration
- 4july 1932 - Gandhi returned to India and was arrested
- congress outlawed
- members of CWC and Prov committees were then imprisoned
- youth organisations banned
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