TLDR;
This session discusses Chapter 18 of Modern History, focusing on the Simon Commission's arrival and the subsequent opposition, along with related events. It connects to the 1919 Act, detailing the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms and the provision for a statutory commission every 10 years to review the Act's efficacy and recommend amendments. The Simon Commission, formed earlier than scheduled due to political reasons in Britain, faced significant backlash in India due to its all-British composition.
- The Simon Commission was formed to suggest legal reforms for India but faced opposition due to the absence of Indian members.
- The Nehru Report was drafted as a response to a challenge, outlining a proposed constitutional framework for India.
- Jinnah's 14 demands arose from disagreements over the Nehru Report, highlighting the push for Muslim representation and provincial autonomy.
Introduction [0:01]
The session introduces Chapter 18 of the Modern History series, focusing on the Simon Commission's arrival, the opposition it faced, and subsequent events. It mentions that the second phase of the revolution will be covered in the next chapter. The current chapter connects to the 1919 Act, specifically the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms. The reforms stipulated that a statutory commission would be formed every 10 years to review the Act and suggest necessary amendments.
Background of the Simon Commission [3:05]
The British government, while passing the 1919 Act, declared that a commission would be set up after 10 years to review the laws. This commission was to be a statutory body formed to assess the reforms. According to the 1919 Act, the commission should have been formed in 1929, 10 years after the act. However, the Conservative Party, which was in power in Britain at the time, decided to form the commission earlier in November 1927, fearing that the Labour Party might win the upcoming elections and make changes according to their preferences. The commission, known as the Simon Commission, was officially named the Indian Statutory Commission. It consisted of seven members, all of whom were British. The chairman of the commission was John Simon, hence the name Simon Commission.
Objectives and Recommendations of the Simon Commission [6:38]
The Simon Commission was tasked with observing the governmental system, education, and representative institutions in India. It was to report on whether India was ready for a responsible government. The commission published its recommendations in 1930, suggesting the establishment of responsible governments in the provinces, reorganization of the central legislature, and advised against establishing a responsible government at the central level.
Indian Opposition to the Simon Commission [10:11]
Indians widely opposed the Simon Commission because it did not include any Indian members. The Indian National Congress, in its Madras session in December 1927, decided to boycott the commission at every level and demanded complete independence. The Muslim League also joined the Congress in boycotting the commission. However, the Unionists in Punjab and the Justice Party in South India decided not to boycott the commission.
Reactions and Impact of the Simon Commission [12:29]
On February 3, 1928, when the Simon Commission arrived in Bombay, they were met with protests and slogans like "Simon Go Back." Many young leaders participated in these protests, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose. The British Indian government suppressed the protests, leading to injuries and, in one instance, the death of Lala Lajpat Rai in Lahore on November 17, 1928, due to a severe lathi charge. The appointment of the Simon Commission revitalized nationalist forces, especially those advocating for complete independence and socio-economic reforms.
The Nehru Report [15:57]
The Simon Commission's arrival and the subsequent challenge from Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India, prompted the drafting of the Nehru Report. Birkenhead challenged Indians to create a constitution that was acceptable to all groups and parties. In response, meetings were held in Delhi and Pune, leading to an all-parties conference. A subcommittee, headed by Motilal Nehru, was formed to draft the constitution. Other members included Ali Imam, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Tej Bahadur Sapru. The subcommittee presented its report in August 1928, known as the Nehru Report, which advocated for dominion status for India.
Provisions of the Nehru Report [20:50]
The Nehru Report included several provisions: granting India full dominion status, establishing a joint electorate system with reserved seats for Muslims in minority areas, forming provinces on a linguistic basis, demanding 19 fundamental rights, advocating for adult suffrage, and establishing responsible governments at both the central and state levels. It also proposed separating Sindh from Bombay and ensuring the privileges of princely states. Additionally, it called for the establishment of a defense committee, a Supreme Court, and a Public Service Commission in India.
The Delhi Proposal and Reactions [24:32]
Initially, the Nehru Report was accepted, but disagreements later emerged. In December 1927, at the Delhi session of the Muslim League, leaders proposed four demands to be included in the draft. These demands were: a joint electorate system with reserved seats for Muslims, one-third of the seats in the central legislature for Muslims, reserved seats for Muslims in Punjab and Bengal based on population, and the formation of three Muslim-majority provinces (Sindh, Balochistan, and the North-West Frontier Province). While the Congress initially accepted these demands in its Madras session, the Hindu Mahasabha later objected.
Amendments and Jinnah's 14 Points [29:38]
The Nehru Report made some changes to accommodate differing views, such as maintaining the joint electorate system but not providing reservations everywhere and separating Sindh from Bombay only after achieving dominion status. Jinnah, dissatisfied with these changes, presented three amendments in December 1928 at a सर्वदलीय सम्मेलन (all-parties conference) in Kolkata: reserving one-third of the seats in the central legislature for Muslims, reserving seats for Muslims in Punjab and Bengal based on population, and providing residual powers to the provinces. These amendments were rejected, leading the Muslim League to separate from the सर्वदलीय सम्मेलन. Subsequently, in March 1929, Jinnah presented his 14-point demands.
Jinnah's 14 Demands [34:15]
Jinnah's 14 demands included: a federal constitution with residual powers to the provinces, adequate representation for minorities in all legislatures, uniform autonomy for all provinces, separate electorates for communal groups, one-third of the seats in the central legislature for Muslims, full religious freedom for all communities, full autonomy for Punjab, Bengal, and the North-West Frontier Province, separation of Sindh from Bombay, a requirement for three-fourths majority for passing any bill, adequate opportunities for Muslims in government services, reforms in Balochistan and the North-West Frontier Province, one-third of seats in provincial legislatures for Muslims, protection and grants for Muslim religious institutions, and no constitutional amendment without the consent of all states in the Indian Union. These demands reflected a fear of being marginalized and a desire for equal status.
