Following the impactful Salt March of 1930, the struggle for Indian independence continued with heightened momentum. Despite arrests and repressive measures by British authorities, Indians persisted in their pursuit of freedom. 

Round Table Conferences and Gandhi-Irwin Pact

Conferences: The British government convened a series of “Round Table Conferences” (RTC) in London. 

•  First Round Table Conference: In November 1930, the first Round Table Conference (RTC) took place, but it lacked the presence of Mahatma Gandhi, rendering it largely ineffective. 
• Gandhi-Irwin Pact: Gandhi was released from jail in January 1931, and Congress leaders gathered in Allahabad. 
  • This led to the signing of the “Gandhi-Irwin Pact,” which called off civil disobedience, demanded prisoner releases, and allowed salt production along the coast. 
  • Criticism: However, this pact faced criticism from radical nationalists for not securing a commitment to Indian political independence from Viceroy Irwin, only a promise of future talks.
• Second Round Table Conference: A second RTC was held in late 1931, with Gandhi representing Congress. 
  • Challenged Claim: His claim that Congress represented all of India was challenged by the Muslim League, the Princes, and B.R. Ambedkar, representing various interests. 
  • Inconclusive: The conference remained inconclusive, prompting Gandhi to resume Civil Disobedience upon returning to India. 
  • The new Viceroy, Lord Willingdon, had little sympathy for Gandhi’s cause.

Congress Governments

 Provincial Autonomy: The Indian people’s struggles saw results with the Government of India Act in 1935, which granted provincial autonomy and led to provincial legislature elections in 1937, resulting in Congress forming governments in seven out of eleven provinces.

• Congress Offer of Support: In September 1939, World War II erupted, and Congress leaders were willing to support the British war effort in exchange for post-war independence, but the British declined. 

• Post-war Freedom: In protest, Congress ministries resigned in October 1939. From 1940 to 1941, Congress organized individual satyagrahas to pressure the British for post-war freedom.

Muslim League’s Demand and British Attempt at Compromise

Muslim League’s Demand For Autonomy: Meanwhile, in March 1940, the Muslim League demanded autonomy for Muslim-majority regions. 

• Struggle: The political landscape shifted to a three-way struggle between Congress, the Muslim League, and the British.
• British Attempt at Compromise: With an all-party government in Britain led by Winston Churchill in spring 1942, Sir Stafford Cripps was sent to India for compromise talks with Gandhi and Congress. 
  • Failed Talk: The talks failed as Congress insisted that the Viceroy appoint an Indian as the Defense Member of his Executive Council if they were to support the British defense against the Axis powers.

Quit India and Later

Launch of the Quit India Campaign: After the failure of the Cripps Mission, Mahatma Gandhi decided to launch his third major movement against British rule, the “Quit India” campaign, which began in August 1942. 

• Gandhiji’s “Do or Die” Call: The British must quit India immediately, he told them. He gave the call, “Do or Die”.
• Underground Resistance: Although Gandhiji was jailed at once, younger activists organized strikes and acts of sabotage all over the country.  
• Particularly active in the underground resistance were socialist members of the Congress, such as Jayaprakash Narayan.
• Mass Participation: “Quit India” was genuinely a mass movement, bringing into its ambit hundreds of thousands of ordinary Indians. 
• Repression and Acts of Sabotage: It specially attracted peasants and the youth who gave up their studies to join it. 
  • Communications and symbols of state authority were attacked all over the country and the British responded with severe repression. 
• Proclamation of “Independent” Governments: In several districts, such as Satara in the west and Medinipur in the east, “independent” governments were proclaimed.
• Arrests, Casualties, and Severe Measures: By the end of 1943 over 90,000 people were arrested, and around 1,000 killed in police firing. 
• Impact on British Rule: In many areas orders were given to machine-gun crowds from aeroplanes. The rebellion, however, ultimately brought the Raj to its knees.

Conclusion

Despite Round Table Conferences and the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Congress governments resigned in protest of British wartime policy. The Quit India Movement, with mass participation and underground resistance, challenged British rule and ultimately paved the way for Indian independence.

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