First Round Table Conference 1930: Indian Reforms, British-India Talks & Quest for Self-Rule

British-India Talks: First Round Table 1930 & Self-Rule Demands

The Round Table Conferences were a series of three conferences held during 1930-32 by the Labour Party-led British government to discuss and implement constitutional reforms in British India. There were three such conferences. The First Round Table Conference was a significant event that took place in London in 1930 as part of the British government’s attempt to address India’s demands for self-rule.

India’s Path to Self-Rule: First Round Table Talks 1930

• Certain elements of the British political establishment were increasingly calling for India to be granted dominion status.
• In India, the freedom movement was in full swing, with Gandhi leading the campaign for Swaraj or self-rule.
• The conferences were founded on Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s recommendation to Lord Irwin, then Viceroy of India, and James Ramsay MacDonald, then Prime Minister of Britain, as well as the Simon Commission report.
• Indians and the British met as ‘equals’ for the first time. The first meeting took place on November 12, 1930.

Equal Talks: First Round Table 1930 Between British and Indians

• The first Round Table Conference was officially inaugurated by King George V on November 12, 1930, in the Royal Gallery House of Lords in London, and was chaired by Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.
• This was the first time the British and Indians met on equal terms.
• The Congress and a few prominent business leaders did not attend, but many other Indian organizations were present.

Topics at First Round Table 1930: Constitution, Minorities, Federation

• Provincial constitution.
• Provinces of Sindh and NWFP.
• Minorities.
• Defence services.
• Franchise.
• Executive responsibility to the legislature.
• Dr B R Ambedkar advocated for separate electorates for ‘untouchables’.
• Federal structure.
• Tej Bahadur Sapru proposed an All-India Federation. The Muslim League supported this. The princely states agreed on the condition that their internal sovereignty be preserved.

Conclusion

Despite its limited immediate impact, the First Round Table Conference laid the groundwork for future negotiations and discussions on constitutional reforms in India. The subsequent conferences held in 1931-1932 addressed some of the concerns raised during the First Round Table Conference and helped shape the Government of India Act of 1935.

ON FIRST-ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE FAQs

Q1. Who was the Prime Minister at the time of the First Round Table Conference?

Ans. The first Round Table Conference was held in London from November 12 to January 19, 1931, by Labour Prime Minister Ramsay McDonald.

Q2. During the first round table conference, who was the Viceroy of the British government?

Ans. The British government recognized that the Indian National Congress needed to be involved in determining India’s constitutional government’s future. The Viceroy, Lord Irwin, met with Gandhi to negotiate an agreement.

Q3. Did Nehru attend the Second Round Table Conference?

Ans. The Second Round Table Conference did not include Jawahar Lal Nehru. The Second Round Table Conference was held in November 1931. Pyarelal Nayyar, Sarojini Naidu, Annie Besant, Mahadan Mohan Malviya, Mahadev Desai, and B.R. Ambedkar were among the 31 delegates that attended this meeting.

Q4. When did the Gandhi-Irwin Pact come into effect?

Ans. On March 5, 1931, Mahatma Gandhi and Viceroy Lord Irwin signed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.

Q5. What was the British white paper produced in 1933?

Ans. From November 17 to 24, 1932, London hosted the third round table meeting. In March 1933, a white paper was issued. The working principles of India’s new constitution were outlined in the white paper.

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