India - Unit 3

Question 1

What had been a recommendation of the Simon Commission?

Answer 1

That a conference of all interest parties could be held to discuss constitutional reforms, which Irwin backed in his declaration in October 1929

Question 2

When were the Round Table Conference held?

Answer 2

November 1930 - January 1931

Question 3

Who took part in the first Round Table Conference, and when was it held?

Answer 3

November 1930
3 British political parties, 16 delegates
58 Indian delegates - 16 of which were representing the princes, who backed dominion status, strengthening the liberal argument for it
Both Congress and Gandhi were not present

Question 4

What was agreed on in the first Round Table Conference, and who opposed these agreements?

Answer 4

• India would be run as a dominion
• This dominion would be federal, with 11 provinces plus the princely states
• There would be Indian participation in all levels of government

Churchill didn’t want India to have any independence
Gandhi and Nehru wanted purna swaraj

Question 5

The inauguration of New Delhi

Answer 5

February 1931
New Delhi replaced Calcutta as the administrative capital of the Raj
New viceroy’s residence was built there, solidifying the image of the permanence of the Raj, which sent a negative message during what was supposed to be a time of compromise

Question 6

Who attended the second Round Table Conference, and when was it?

Answer 6

September-December 1931

• Similar mix of delegates as the first
• Gandhi, solely representing Congress
• Iqbal (the Aga Khan, an important Muslim spiritual leader) to represent the ML

Question 7

Why was the second Round Table Conference a failure?

Answer 7

• Gandhi claimed that Congress alone represented political India, which alienated groups such as Muslims and was very audacious
• He did not agree that Untouchables should be considered for separate electorate and claimed that he represented them because they were Hindus, which caused outrage
• He disagreed with Muslim separate electorates and reserve seats, which caused debate, and the British Government backed separate electorates which caused contention with Gandhi
• A workable constitution could not be agreed on

Question 8

The third Round Table Conference

Answer 8

December 1932
Only 46 delegates attended
No Congress, no Labour
Didn’t reach any conclusions

Question 9

How did Britain’s political situation affect the Round Table Conferences?

Answer 9

• 1931 - Labour gov resigned, replaced by a Tory dominated coalition
• Britain was facing a depression
  These issues took up most of the government focus, and were seen as more pressing that India’s politics
• By 1932 Prime Minister MacDonald had lost the confidence of his own labour party, and this turmoil meant that Labour sent no representatives to the third conference
• Individual beliefs from government members

Question 10

How did the individual beliefs of government members affect the Round Table Conferences?

Answer 10

• India’s new Secretary of State, Sir Hoare, had more reservations about Indian independence than his predecessor
• Churchill was vehemently against any self-rule in India, set up the Indian Defence League with support from around 50 Conservative MP’s (He was a bigoted little shit)

Question 11

How did Jinnah’s behaviour affect the Round Table Conferences?

Answer 11

• Supported the Untouchables want for separate electorates, unlike Gandhi
• Conducted negotiations outside of the Conferences, playing off groups against each other to try to gain better concessions for Muslims