Round Table Conferences (1930-1932)

The Round Table Conferences were a series of three conferences organized by the British government between 1930 and 1932 to discuss constitutional reforms in India. These conferences were a direct result of the failures of the Simon Commission and the growing demand for self-governance by Indian leaders. The conferences aimed to bring together British officials and Indian representatives to formulate a new constitutional framework for India.

Background

Need for Constitutional Reforms

• The Simon Commission Report (published in 1930) was met with widespread dissatisfaction in India due to its failure to address Indian aspirations.
• Lord Irwin (Viceroy of India) and British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald agreed that a conference was necessary to discuss future reforms.

First Round Table Conference (November 1930 – January 1931)

Overview

• Date: November 12, 1930, to January 19, 1931.
• Location: London, United Kingdom.
• Chair: Opened by King George V and presided over by Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.
• Significance: First conference where British and Indian leaders engaged as equals.

Indian Representation

• Absence of Indian National Congress:
  • The Indian National Congress (INC) boycotted the conference due to ongoing Civil Disobedience Movement.
  • Key leaders like Mahatma Gandhi did not attend.
• Participants:
  • Princely States: Maharajas and representatives from various princely states, such as Alwar, Baroda, Bhopal, Bikaner, Kashmir, Patiala, and others.
  • Muslim League: Delegation led by Aga Khan III.
    • Included leaders like Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar, Muhammad Shafi, and Zafarullah Khan.
  • Hindu Mahasabha and Sympathizers: Representatives like B.S. Moonje, M.R. Jayakar, and Raja Narendra Nath.
  • Sikh Community: Sardar Ujjal Singh and Sardar Sampuran Singh.
  • Parsis: Leaders like Sir Cowasji Jehangir, Sir Phiroze Sethna, and Sir Homi Mody.
  • Women Representatives: Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz and Radhabai Subbarayan.
  • Liberals: Notables like Tej Bahadur Sapru, C.Y. Chintamani, V.S. Srinivasa Sastri, and Chimanlal Setalvad.
  • Depressed Classes: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Rettamalai Srinivasan.
  • Justice Party: Leaders like Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar and Sir A.P. Patro.
  • Labor and Others: N.M. Joshi and B. Shiva Rao representing labor interests.
    • K.T. Paul for Indian Christians.
    • Sir Henry Gidney for Anglo-Indians.
    • Representatives from universities, Burma, Sindh, and various provinces.
• Government of India Representatives: Narendra Nath Law, Bhupendra Nath Mitra, C.P. Ramaswami Iyer, and M. Ramachandra Rao.

Key Discussions and Outcomes

• Federation Proposal: General agreement on developing India into a federation comprising British Indian provinces and princely states.
• Provincial Autonomy: Discussion on granting greater autonomy to provinces.
• Defence and Finance Safeguards: Agreement on safeguards related to defense and financial matters under British control.
• Limited Success: The absence of the INC limited the effectiveness of the conference.
  • No definitive decisions were made, and the British government realized the necessity of INC participation for meaningful progress.

Second Round Table Conference (September – December 1931)

Overview

• Date: September 7, 1931, to December 1, 1931.
• Location: London, United Kingdom.
• Chair: Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.

Background

• Gandhi-Irwin Pact (March 1931):
  • An agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Viceroy Lord Irwin.
  • INC agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement and participate in the conference.
  • Political prisoners were to be released, and certain concessions were granted.

Indian Representation

• Indian National Congress: Represented solely by Mahatma Gandhi.
  • Gandhi also included Madam Sarojini Naidu in the delegation.
• Other Participants:
  • Princely States: Maharajas and representatives from states like Alwar, Baroda, Bhopal, Bikaner, Hyderabad, Mysore, and others.
  • Muslim Delegation: Led by Aga Khan III.
    • Included leaders like Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Sir Muhammad Iqbal, and A.K. Fazlul Huq.
  • Hindu Mahasabha: Representatives like B.S. Moonje and M.R. Jayakar.
  • Liberals and Others: Tej Bahadur Sapru, V.S. Srinivasa Sastri, and Chimanlal Setalvad.
    • Dr. B.R. Ambedkar representing the Depressed Classes.
    • Sardar Ujjal Singh for the Sikh community.
    • Industrialists like G.D. Birla and Sir Purshottamdas Thakurdas.
    • Labor leaders like N.M. Joshi, B. Shiva Rao, and V.V. Giri.
    • Women Representatives: Sarojini Naidu, Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz, and Radhabai Subbarayan.

Key Discussions

• Dominion Status and Self-Government: Gandhi demanded immediate establishment of responsible government at both central and provincial levels.
• Communal Representation: Minority Groups: Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, and others demanded separate electorates and safeguards.
  • Gandhi’s Opposition: Opposed separate electorates, emphasizing national unity.
• Deadlock Over Minorities Issue: The conference was overshadowed by disagreements on communal representation.
  • Formation of a ‘Minorities Pact’ by minority groups against Gandhi’s stance.

Challenges and Outcome

• Political Changes in Britain: Change in British government with Labour Party replaced by a National Government dominated by Conservatives.
  • Lord Irwin succeeded by Lord Willingdon as Viceroy in India.
• Conservative Opposition: Leaders like Winston Churchill opposed negotiating with the INC on equal terms.
  • Samuel Hoare, the new Secretary of State for India, adopted a hardline approach.
• Failure to Reach Consensus: No agreement on constitutional reforms due to conflicting demands.
  • Gandhi returned to India on December 28, 1931, without any significant achievement.

Third Round Table Conference (November – December 1932)

Overview

• Date: November 17, 1932, to December 24, 1932.
• Location: London, United Kingdom.

Indian Representation

• Absence of Indian National Congress: The INC and prominent leaders like Mahatma Gandhi boycotted the conference.
  • Limited participation from Indian political leaders.
• Participants:
  • Princely States: Dewans and representatives from states like Hyderabad, Mysore, Baroda, Kashmir, and others.
  • Other Delegates: Aga Khan III, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Muhammad Iqbal, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, and others.
    • Representatives from various communities and interest groups.

Key Discussions and Outcome

• Limited Progress: Without the participation of the INC, the conference lacked legitimacy and effectiveness.
  • Discussions were largely procedural with minimal substantive outcomes.
• White Paper and Government of India Act, 1935: Recommendations from all three conferences were compiled into a White Paper published in March 1933.
  • Debated in the British Parliament leading to the formation of a Joint Select Committee.
  • The committee’s report became the basis for the Government of India Act, 1935.

Significance of the Round Table Conferences

• First Attempt at Inclusive Dialogue: Brought together diverse Indian interests and British officials to discuss constitutional reforms.
  • Recognized the importance of Indian voices in shaping their governance.
• Highlighting Communal Divisions: Exposed deep-seated divisions among various Indian communities.
  • The issue of separate electorates became a major stumbling block.
• Role of Indian National Congress: The absence of the INC in the first and third conferences undermined the effectiveness of the dialogues.
  • Demonstrated that any meaningful constitutional reform required INC participation.
• Foundation for Future Acts: Discussions and disagreements during the conferences influenced the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935.
  • Paved the way for increased provincial autonomy and federal structure proposals.

Conclusion

The Round Table Conferences were crucial events in India’s journey toward independence. While they failed to produce immediate constitutional agreements, they highlighted the complexities of Indian society and the challenges in unifying diverse interests. The conferences underscored the necessity of inclusive dialogue and set the stage for subsequent constitutional developments, culminating in the Government of India Act, 1935 and eventually leading to India’s independence in 1947.

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