Topic 3 Flashcards
who attended the first round table conference (FRTC)
- 89 representatives
- 16 were from 3 main British political parties
- 16 princes
- 57 nominees of the viceroy (they were to represent most shades of the Indian political opinion)
who did not attend the FRTC?
Gandhi + Congress
was anything agreed to in the FRTC?
- indian participation in all levels of gov
- central and provincial executive power should be accountable to legislatures -> British India and Indian India should be federally linked as one nation
were there any failures during the FRTC?
little was done to implement the recommendations
and civil disobedience continued
who attended the second round table conference (SRTC)?
Gandhi, Congress, untouchables, princes, Muslim representatives (including Jinnah)
who did not attend the SRTC?
nehru
was anything agreed to SRTC?
not much significant - there was rather major chaos in consequence of the many representatives
were there any failures SRTC?
- in consequence of the many representatives Gandhi was provoked and was thus made furious
- the second session ended without an agreement on the political protection to be given to the different religious communities
- the British scheduled the communal award setting out rights to separate representation for recognised minorities and for the separate province Sindh
overall success of SRTC?
minimal as there were too many representatives = barely any negotiation was made among the stakeholders
overall success of FRTC?
significant success: India was to develop a federation, safeguards regarding defence and finance were agreed and other departments were to be transferred
who attended the third round table conference (TRTC)?
46 delegates and none from British Labour Party or congress
who did not attend the TRTC?
congress, gandhi, Labour Party, muslim league; other Indian leaders
was anything agreed TRTC?
-A joint select committee was formed to analyse the recommendations and formulate a new act for India -> the committee produced a draft bill in FEB 1935 which enforced as the Gov of India act of 1935
were there any failures TRTC?
- MacDonald lost the support of his own Labour Party
- the conference discussed the franchise, finance and the role of the princely states but could not reach any definite conclusion
overall success of TRTC?
great extent
why did the rtcs fail? (BRITISH RESPONSIBILITY)
- due to the great depression the British did not have ambition to deal with the India question
- Labour gov resigned
- unemployment and the collapse of the economy was of greater concern
- churchill set up the India defense league
- by the TRTC MacDonald had lost the support of its own labour party
why did the rtcs fail? (CONGRESS’ RESPONSIBILITY)
- congress was not represented at the FRTC since Gandhi + Nehru were in jail
- Gandhi’s intransigence and dogmatic attitude: he claimed to speak for all Indians -> discredited the Christian, Sikh, Muslim, Untouchables and prince representatives
why did the rtcs fail? (MUSLIM LEAGUE RESPONSIBILITY)
-egotistical (only wanted what was good for muslims/ not acknowledging the benefits for all Indians)
who replaced Irwin?
willingdon
what happened when willingdon became viceroy?
- gandhi was arrested and imprisoned
- congress was outlawed
- all members of the congress working committee and the provincial committees were rounded up and imprisoned
- youth organisations were banned
main points of what happened when willingdon became viceroy.
- about 80,000 Indians, mostly members of congress, were imprisoned
- boycotts of British goods were popular
- terrorist activity increased (with more and more women involved)
- despite all this ^ police never lost control of the streets and rural areas for very long