Success + Failures of Round-Table confs. (1930-32)

Question 1

What was the purpose of the 1st Round Table Conference (RTC) held in 1930, and what was its outcome?

Answer 1

• The 1st RTC, held in November 1930, aimed to discuss future constitutional reforms for India.
• It was attended by 89 delegates, including Jinnah and Sir Agha Khan.
• The conference resulted in the approval of a federal system of government for India and the abandonment of diarchy at the provincial level, signaling progress toward a full transfer of power.
• It was also agreed that the princely states would join the All India Federation, provided their rights were protected.

Question 2

What were the successes of the 2nd Round Table Conference in 1931?

Answer 2

• The 2nd RTC, attended by Congress after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, was successful in agreeing upon the creation of new provinces, such as separating Sindh from Bombay, Bihar from Orissa, and granting provincial status to the NWFP.
• Additionally, an agreement was reached between the minorities on their demands.

Question 3

Why was the 1st Round Table Conference considered unsuccessful by the Congress and Indians?

Answer 3

• The 1st RTC was unsuccessful for the Congress as it boycotted the conference due to Gandhi being in jail and the British not guaranteeing the implementation of agreements.
• The talks only reached a consensus on the federal system, which fell short of the dominion status desired by Indians.
• The sub-committee on minorities failed to resolve, and without Congress’s participation, no major decisions could be made.

Question 4

What were the challenges during the 2nd Round Table Conference regarding Gandhi’s stance and Jinnah’s demands?

Answer 4

• Although Gandhi attended the 2nd RTC, he refused to recognize the problems of the minorities, maintaining the same position as the Nehru Report.
• Jinnah, sticking to his 14 points, took a firm stance on the protection of Muslim rights.
• Gandhi also claimed that the INC represented all Indians, including Muslims, but Jinnah and the League disagreed.
• The new Conservative-led British government was less willing to compromise.

Question 5

Why was the 3rd Round Table Conference a failure?

Answer 5

• The 3rd RTC was a complete failure because the Congress was absent, as Gandhi had resumed his Non-cooperation Movement.
• Jinnah had also stepped back from active politics and did not attend the conference, and the Muslim League, under Sir Agha Khan, attended with limited support, showing internal divisions.
• Only 46 delegates attended, and no agreements were reached due to the high political tensions.

Question 6

What was the overall outcome of the Round Table Conferences?

Answer 6

• The Round Table Conferences were only partially successful.
• While they provided a platform for Indian leaders to propose constitutional reforms, internal differences among the leaders, particularly between the Congress and the Muslim League, prevented meaningful agreements.
• Most of the objectives, such as dominion status, were not achieved, and the RTCs failed to create significant political change.