Civil Disobedience Movement: Outcome, Repression & Gandhi’s Leadership towards Independence

Renewed Resistance: Civil Disobedience Movement Post Round Table Conference

After the failure of the Second Round Table Conference in 1931, the Civil Disobedience Movement in India entered a new phase, with renewed efforts to challenge British colonial rule. After the failure of the second Round Table Conference, The Congress Working Committee decided to resume civil disobedience in 1931. Here’s a brief explanation of the Civil Disobedience Movement after the failure of the Second Round Table Conference. 

British Policy Shifts: Reversals and Repression Post Second RTC

• Reversing The Delhi Pact: The British were determined to reverse the Delhi Pact, which had raised the political prestige of the Congress and undermined British prestige.  
• Gandhi Should Not Build Tempo: Three main considerations in British policy were that Gandhi would not be permitted to build up the tempo for a mass movement again, that the confidence of those who supported the British against the Congress was essential, and that the national movement would not be allowed to consolidate in rural areas.  
• Refusal to Meet Gandhi: After the CWC decided to resume the civil disobedience movement, Viceroy Willingdon refused a meeting with Gandhi and Gandhi was arrested on January 4, 1932. 

Government Crackdown: Repressive Measures Post Second RTC

• Issuing Of Repressive Ordinances: In 1934, the Indian government issued a series of repressive ordinances which ushered in virtual martial law.  
• Action Against Congress Organisation: Organisations of Congress were banned, arrests were made of activists, leaders, and sympathisers, properties were confiscated, and Gandhi ashrams were occupied.  
• Harsh Repression: Repression was particularly harsh on women, with the press gagged and nationalist literature banned.  

Public Resilience: Responses to Repression & Continued Faith in Congress

• Protesters Jailed For Various Activities: People responded with anger, with 80,000 Satyagrahis jailed and other forms of protest such as picketing of shops selling liquor and foreign cloth, illegal gatherings, non-violent demonstrations, celebrations of national days, symbolic hoistings of the national flag, non-payment of chowkidar tax, salt satyagraha, forest law violations, and installation of a secret radio transmitter.  
• Upsurge In Princely State: This phase of the civil disobedience movement coincided with upsurges in two princely states, but it could not sustain for long due to Gandhi’s lack of time and the masses’ lack of preparedness.  
• People Continued To have Faith In Congress: In April 1934, Gandhi decided to withdraw from the movement, but people had not lost political faith in the Congress. 

Legacy of Civil Disobedience: Mobilization, Nonviolence, Independence

• The resurrected Civil Disobedience Movement was critical in further mobilizing the Indian population and strengthening nationalist sentiments against British rule.
• The movement demonstrated the effectiveness of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience as tools for opposing oppressive regimes.
• Despite significant challenges and eventually being suppressed by British authorities, the movement laid the groundwork for future struggles and movements that led to India’s independence in 1947.

Conclusion

Overall, the Civil Disobedience Movement marked a period of increased determination and intensified efforts to challenge British colonial rule after the failure of the Second Round Table Conference. It highlighted the power of nonviolent resistance and played an important role in India’s journey toward independence.

Previous Year Question (Prelims)

The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following? (2020)

1. Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference. 
2. 1. Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement. 
   2. Acceptance of Gandhi’s suggestion for enquiry into police excesses. 
   3. Release of only those prisoners who were not charged with violence.

Select the correct answer using the code given below

1. 1 only
2. 1, 2 and 4 only
3. 3 only
4. 2, 3 and 4 only (UPSC cancelled this question in the official key)

ON Civil Disobedience Movement (Second Phase) FAQs

Q1. Why is the Gandhian era referred to as the second phase of the independence struggle?

Ans. The period from 1919 and 1948 is known as the “Gandhian Era” because of Mahatma Gandhi’s endeavours to gain independence for India. It was a time when Gandhiji was advocating for freedom and had widespread support.

Q2. What sparked the second civil disobedience movement?

Ans. After attending the Second Round Table Conference in 1932, Gandhiji returned to India and restarted the civil disobedience movement. Complete response: Because Lord Irwin ignored Gandhi’s eleven requests, including the repeal of the salt tax, Mahatma Gandhi ji launched the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Q3. What happened in the second phase of the civil disobedience movement?

Ans. Gandhiji launched the Second Civil Disobedience Movement on March 12, 1930, with his iconic Dandi March. Gandhiji travelled over 200 miles from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, a village on the Gujarat coast, with 78 handpicked disciples. Gandhiji and his supporters manufactured salt in defiance of the salt rules here.

Q4. When did the second civil disobedience campaign come to a close?

Ans. Gandhiji withdrew the movement in April 1934, therefore ending the historic Civil Disobedience Movement.

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