The failure of the 2nd Round Table Con. (1930-32)

Question 1

What was the purpose of the 1st Round Table Conference (1930), and what were its successes?

Answer 1

• The 1st RTC was held in November 1930 to propose constitutional reforms for India.
• It approved a federal system of government and ended diarchy at the provincial level.
• Princely states agreed to join the All India Federation if their rights were protected.

Question 2

What were the achievements of the 2nd Round Table Conference (1931)?

Answer 2

• Congress attended after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
• Agreements were made to create new provinces: Sindh was separated from Bombay, Bihar from Orissa, and NWFP was given provincial status.
• Minorities also agreed on some demands.

Question 3

What were the limitations of the 1st Round Table Conference?

Answer 3

• Congress boycotted it as Gandhi was in jail, and the British gave no guarantees to implement agreements.
• Talks only reached the idea of a federal system, disappointing Indians who wanted dominion status.
• Minority demands also remained unresolved.

Question 4

What were the challenges faced during the 2nd Round Table Conference?

Answer 4

• Gandhi refused to recognize minority issues and insisted that Congress represented all Indians, which Jinnah and the Muslim League rejected. Jinnah stuck to his 14 Points.
• The new British government was less willing to compromise.

Question 5

Why was the 3rd Round Table Conference (1932) a failure?

Answer 5

• Congress boycotted it, and Jinnah was absent, focusing on his law practice.
• The Muslim League, led by Sir Agha Khan, showed internal divisions.
• Only 46 delegates attended, and no agreements were reached due to high political tensions.

Question 6

How successful were the Round Table Conferences overall?

Answer 6

• They were largely unsuccessful. Despite partial agreements like new provinces and a federal system, internal disagreements and a lack of British commitment prevented any major reforms from being achieved.