16.4 Simon Commission, Nehru Report (1928), and Round Table Conferences

1. Context & Foundation

The late 1920s in India was a period of tense, suspended animation that suddenly exploded into a high-stakes constitutional chess match. When the conservative British government, in a fit of electoral panic, decided to dispatch an all-white commission in 1827 to determine India's political future, it committed a monumental psychological blunder. It directly insulted the self-respect of every Indian political faction. The arrival of the Simon Commission became a lightning rod for popular rage, uniting old rivals and radicalizing a new generation of youth who had grown weary of moderate compromises and cautious petitions.

The human tragedy of Lala Lajpat Rai's death under the brutal blows of colonial lathis in Lahore transformed peaceful protests into a crucible of revolutionary martyrdom, permanently alienating Indian public opinion. Outraged by the arrogant colonial assertion that Indians were intellectually and politically incapable of agreeing on their own future, native leaders accepted the challenge. The resulting Nehru Report of 1828 was a proud, historic attempt to draft a native constitutional framework. Yet, the human drama of this document lay in its internal communal and generational fractures. While veteran leaders clung to the hope of Dominion Status, young radicals like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose demanded nothing less than complete independence, and Mohammad Ali Jinnah walked away in bitter disillusionment, declaring a "parting of the ways" that shattered the prospects of joint Hindu-Muslim electorates.

This escalating internal storm forced the theater of conflict to shift to London for the Round Table Conferences. Here, the British colonial state played a sophisticated game of imperial chess, trying to drown the dominant voice of the Congress in a sea of handpicked loyalists, princes, and communal representatives. The core drama peaked in the cold halls of London and the damp cell of Yerwada Jail, where Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar engaged in a profound ideological clash over the destiny of the depressed classes. It was a contest not just of political representation, but of the very definition of Hindu social unity, resolved only at the eleventh hour by the historic Poona Pact. This entire era demonstrated that the path to Indian freedom was no longer a matter of securing piecemeal reforms, but a struggle for complete, uncompromised sovereignty.

2. Detailed Study Notes

A. The Simon Commission (1927–1928)

• The Appointment: Under the Government of India Act of 1919, a statutory review was mandated after ten years. However, fearing an electoral defeat to the Labour Party in the upcoming 1829 British elections, the ruling Conservative government under Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin appointed the Indian Statutory Commission on November 8, 1927, two years ahead of schedule.

• The All-White Composition: The commission consisted of seven British Members of Parliament, chaired by Sir John Simon (belonging to the Liberal Party) and including future Prime Minister Clement Attlee. It did not contain a single Indian member. Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India, was instrumental in suggesting the complete exclusion of Indians to the Secretary of State, Lord Birkenhead.

• The National Boycott:

  • The Congress Response: At the 1827 Madras Session presided over by Dr. M.A. Ansari, the Congress passed a resolution to boycott the commission "at every stage and in every form."

  • Broad Coalition: The boycott was supported by the Liberal Federation under Tej Bahadur Sapru, the Hindu Mahasabha, and the majority faction of the Muslim League led by Mohammad Ali Jinnah (at the 1927 Calcutta session).

  • The Pro-Government Factions: The commission was supported by the Punjab Unionists, the Justice Party in Madras, and the Muslim League faction led by Muhammad Shafi in Lahore.

• The Arrival and Agitation:

  • The commission landed in Bombay on February 3, 1928, and was greeted by a nationwide hartal and massive black-flag demonstrations.

  • The iconic slogan "Simon Go Back" was coined by the socialist leader Yusuf Meher Ali.

  • The Lahore Flashpoint: On October 30, 1928, while leading a peaceful demonstration in Lahore, Lala Lajpat Rai was brutally assaulted during a police lathi-charge ordered by Superintendent James Scott. Lajpat Rai succumbed to his injuries on November 17, 1928. His death was later avenged by Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev through the assassination of Assistant Superintendent J.P. Saunders.

• Key Recommendations (Published May 1930):

  • Abolition of Dyarchy in the provinces and the establishment of provincial autonomy and responsible government.

  • Rejection of parliamentary responsibility at the Centre (the Governor-General was to retain absolute control over the cabinet).

  • Retention and extension of separate communal electorates.

  • Proposal for an All-India Federation comprising British Indian provinces and princely states.

  • Separation of Sindh from Bombay and Burma from India (officially implemented in 1937).

B. The Nehru Report (1928)

• The Birkenhead Challenge: Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State, challenged Indian politicians to produce a draft constitution that could command a broad consensus among all communities and parties.

• The Committee: The All-Parties Conference accepted the challenge, meeting in Delhi in February 1928 and appointing a sub-committee in Bombay in May 1928 under the chairmanship of Motilal Nehru. Jawaharlal Nehru acted as the secretary of the committee.

• The Committee Members: Included Tej Bahadur Sapru (Liberal), Subhas Chandra Bose (Congress), M.S. Aney (Hindu Mahasabha), Mangal Singh (Sikh League), Ali Imam (Muslim), Shuaib Qureshi (Muslim), and G.R. Pradhan (Non-Brahmin).

• Key Recommendations (Finalized August 1928):

  • Dominion Status: Demanded Dominion Status on the model of self-governing colonies (Canada, Australia) as the immediate form of government.

  • Joint Electorates: Strongly rejected separate electorates; proposed joint electorates with reservation of seats for Muslims only at the Centre and in provinces where they were in a minority (no reservation in Punjab and Bengal).

  • Linguistic Provinces: Demanded the reorganization of provincial boundaries on a linguistic basis.

  • Fundamental Rights: Proposed nineteen fundamental rights, including universal adult franchise, equal rights for women, the right to form unions, and complete dissociation of the State from religion (secularism).

  • Bicameral Legislature: Proposed a Senate of 200 members (7-year term) and a House of Representatives of 500 members (5-year term).

  • Residuary Powers: Vested all residuary powers with the Central Government, creating a broadly unitary structure.

• Generational and Communal Fractures:

  • The Radical Opposition: Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose rejected the goal of Dominion Status, demanding complete independence (Purna Swaraj). They jointly founded the Independence for India League in 1928 to lobby within the Congress.

  • Jinnah's Amendments: At the Calcutta All-Parties Conference in December 1928, Jinnah proposed three amendments: one-third Muslim representation in the central legislature, reservation of seats in Bengal and Punjab proportionate to population until adult suffrage was established, and residuary powers to be vested in the provinces. These were rejected by the Hindu Mahasabha.

  • Jinnah’s Fourteen Points (March 1929): Following the rejection of his amendments, Jinnah formulated his fourteen demands, which became the baseline for Muslim communal politics, insisting on separate electorates, provincial autonomy, and residuary powers to the provinces.

C. The Round Table Conferences (1930–1932)

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                         │      THE ROUND TABLE CONFERENCES       │
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         ┌───────────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────┐
         ▼                                   ▼                                   ▼
      FIRST RTC                           SECOND RTC                          THIRD RTC
• Nov 1930 - Jan 1931.               • Sept - Dec 1931.                  • Nov - Dec 1932.
• Congress boycotted.                • Gandhi attended as sole rep.      • Congress boycotted.
• Sapru proposed Federation.         • Deadlock on separate Dalit seats. • 46 delegates attended.
• Inconclusive due to INC absence.   • Birthed the Communal Award.       • Led to White Paper of 1933.

1. First Round Table Conference (November 12, 1930 – January 19, 1931)

• The Context: Organized in London to discuss constitutional reforms based on the Simon Commission report. It was the first conference where British and Indian leaders met as nominal equals.

• The Participants: Boasted 90 delegates, including representatives from the princely states, the Muslim League (Aga Khan III, Jinnah, Maulana Mohammad Ali), the Hindu Mahasabha (Moonje, Jayakar), Liberals (Sapru, Chintamani), and Dalits (B.R. Ambedkar).

• The Congress Boycott: The Indian National Congress, busy executing the Civil Disobedience Movement, boycotted the conference.

• Outcome: Tej Bahadur Sapru proposed the concept of an All-India Federation. However, without the participation of the Congress, the proceedings were declared unworkable, forcing the British to negotiate a truce.

2. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact (March 5, 1931)

• The Mediation: Brokered by moderate leaders Tej Bahadur Sapru and M.R. Jayakar to facilitate Congress participation in the next conference.

• The Terms:

  • Viceroy Irwin agreed to release all political prisoners not convicted of violence, remit uncollected fines, return unsold confiscated lands, and allow salt-making along the coast for personal use.

  • Irwin strictly rejected a public inquiry into police excesses and refused to commute the death sentences of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru (who were subsequently hanged on March 23, 1931).

  • In return, Gandhi agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement and attend the Second RTC.

• The Karachi Session (March 1931): Presided over by Vallabhbhai Patel, this session ratified the pact. Despite public anger over Bhagat Singh's execution, the session became landmark for adopting resolutions on Fundamental Rights and the National Economic Programme, drafted by Jawaharlal Nehru with assistance from M.N. Roy.

3. Second Round Table Conference (September 7, 1931 – December 1, 1931)

• The Congress Representation: Mahatma Gandhi attended as the sole official representative of the Congress, accompanied by Sarojini Naidu, Madan Mohan Malviya, and G.D. Birla.

• The Deadlock: The conference degenerated into a communal deadlock. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for the depressed classes, supported by other minority representatives. Gandhi strongly opposed this, arguing that separate electorates would permanently divide and segment Hindu society.

• The Outcome: Gandhi returned empty-handed. British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald warned that if Indian leaders failed to reach a communal consensus, the British government would issue a unilateral award.

4. The Communal Award & The Poona Pact (1932)

• The Communal Award (August 16, 1932): Ramsay MacDonald announced his unilateral award, extending separate electorates to the Muslims, Sikhs, Europeans, Anglo-Indians, Indian Christians, and the Depressed Classes (granting them 78 reserved seats based on the recommendations of the Lothian Franchise Committee).

• The Fast Unto Death: Imprisoned in Yerwada Jail, Gandhi went on a fast unto death starting September 20, 1932, declaring separate electorates for Dalits as an imperialist conspiracy to disintegrate Hindu society.

• The Poona Pact (September 24, 1932): Signed between Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Madan Mohan Malviya (representing Gandhi) to resolve the crisis.

  • The Compromise: Separate electorates for the depressed classes were abandoned in favor of a system of joint electorates with reserved seats.

  • Seat Expansion: The number of reserved seats for Dalits in provincial legislatures was increased from 71 to 147 seats (nearly double the Communal Award allocation) and fixed at 18% of the total seats in the Central Legislature.

  • Follow-up: Gandhi immediately launched his campaign against untouchability, establishing the All-India Anti-Untouchability League (Harijan Sevak Sangh) and starting the weekly journal Harijan in January 1933.

5. Third Round Table Conference (November 17, 1932 – December 24, 1932)

• The Boycott: Congress completely boycotted the session, and the British Labour Party also stayed away. Only 46 delegates attended.

• The White Paper: The discussions were compiled into a White Paper in March 1933, which was scrutinized by a Joint Select Committee chaired by Lord Linlithgow and served as the direct basis for the Government of India Act of 1935.

D. Comparison of Key Constitutional Proposals (1928–1930)

E. Regional Deccan & Hyderabad State Connections

The high-stakes constitutional drama playing out in British India between 1927 and 1932 had a direct, profound resonance within the Hyderabad State under Nizam VII, Mir Osman Ali Khan:

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                         │   DECCAN CONSTITUTIONAL AWAKENING    │
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                                            │
                                            ▼
                       [ Foundation of the AISPC (1927) ]
                    Praja Mandals demand civil liberties in Hyderabad.
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                       [ Simon Commission Boycott in Secunderabad ]
                    Local youth defy public ban; chant "Simon Go Back".
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                       [ The Adi-Hindu Movement Resurgence ]
                    Bhagya Reddy Verma aligns with Poona Pact reforms.
                                            │
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                      [ First Hyderabad State Peoples' Conference ]
                    Hosted in Pune (1931) to evade Nizam's political bans.

• The Rise of the Praja Mandal and the AISPC (1927): Following the announcement of the Simon Commission, native subjects in the princely states realized they were being completely ignored in the constitutional negotiations. This led to the historic establishment of the All India States People's Conference (AISPC) in December 1927 in Bombay. Rulers and subjects from the Deccan actively participated, and the local Praja Mandals in Hyderabad began organizing structured, popular agitations demanding civil liberties, freedom of the press, and responsible representative government from the Nizam.

• The Simon Boycott in Hyderabad State: Although the Nizam's administration, under pressure from the British Resident, issued strict decrees banning political assemblies, local nationalist youth in Secunderabad and Hyderabad organized underground cells to boycott the commission. Protests and black-flag demonstrations were clandestinely held, and posters carrying the slogan "Simon Go Back" were plastered across transport corridors, indicating the growing political integration of Hyderabad with the national mainstream.

• The Adi-Hindu Movement and the Poona Pact: The intense debate between Gandhi and Ambedkar in 1932 regarding Dalit representation had a revolutionary impact on the Scheduled Castes of Telangana.

  • Hyderabad's legendary social reformer, Bhagya Reddy Verma, who had founded the Adi-Hindu Social Service League, closely monitored the Poona Pact negotiations.

  • Verma strongly supported the joint electorate framework with reserved seats, using the momentum of the Poona Pact to launch a massive educational and temple-entry campaign across Hyderabad State. This marked the birth of modern Dalit political consciousness in the Telugu-speaking regions of the Deccan.

• The Hyderabad State Peoples' Conference (1931): Due to the severe restrictions on political activity within the Nizam's Dominions (such as the notorious Gasti Nishan 53 which banned public meetings), local liberal nationalists led by Madapati Hanumantha Rao, Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, and G. Ramachari organized the First Hyderabad State Peoples' Conference in November 1931 in Pune. They demanded that the constitutional safeguards proposed in the Round Table Conferences be extended to the princely states, cementing the link between Deccan struggles and the national movement.

3. Quick Revision Cheat Sheet

• November 8, 1927: The Simon Commission is appointed in London; consists of 7 British MPs with no Indian members.

• February 3, 1928: The Simon Commission lands in Bombay, greeted by a national boycott and the slogan "Simon Go Back."

• Yusuf Meher Ali: Coined the legendary slogan "Simon Go Back" during the anti-imperialist protests.

• October 30, 1928: Lala Lajpat Rai is lathi-charged in Lahore; dies on November 17, 1928.

• August 1928: The Nehru Report is finalized, demanding Dominion Status, joint electorates, and 19 fundamental rights.

• Independence for India League: Founded in 1828 by Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose to demand Purna Swaraj over Dominion Status.

• March 1929: Jinnah presents his Fourteen Points as the counter-claim of the Muslim League.

• December 31, 1929: Jawaharlal Nehru hoists the tricolor flag on the banks of the Ravi River in Lahore, declaring Purna Swaraj as the Congress goal.

• January 26, 1930: Celebrated across India as the first Independence Day (Purna Swaraj Day).

• November 1930: The First Round Table Conference opens in London; boycotted by the Congress.

• March 5, 1931: The Gandhi-Irwin Pact (Delhi Pact) is signed, suspending Civil Disobedience and releasing non-violent prisoners.

• March 23, 1931: Execution of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru in Lahore.

• March 1931: The Karachi Session of the Congress, presided by Vallabhbhai Patel, passes resolutions on Fundamental Rights and the National Economic Programme.

• September–December 1931: The Second Round Table Conference meets; Gandhi attends as the sole Congress representative.

• August 16, 1932: Ramsay MacDonald announces the Communal Award, granting separate electorates to Dalits.

• September 24, 1932: The Poona Pact is signed, establishing joint electorates and reserving 147 seats for Dalits in provincial assemblies.

• Harijan Sevak Sangh: Founded by Gandhi in 1932 following the Poona Pact to work against untouchability.

• Bhagya Reddy Verma: Renowned Hyderabad reformer who utilized the Poona Pact wave to expand the Adi-Hindu Movement in Telangana.

4. Exam Strategy & PYQ Focus

High-Yield Focus Areas

• The "Lothian" Committee Alignment (Extremely High Priority): TSPSC and other state exams consistently test the names of committees associated with key constitutional awards. Always remember that the Communal Award of 1832 was based on the recommendations of the Indian Franchise Committee, also known as the Lothian Committee.

• The Nehru Report Committee Members List: Statement-based questions frequently test the composition of the 1828 Nehru Committee. Memorize that Tej Bahadur Sapru, Ali Imam, M.S. Aney, and Subhas Chandra Bose were members, while Jawaharlal Nehru was the secretary, not a voting member of the committee.

• The "First Indian" to Enter the British Parliament: State civil services frequently target the achievements of Dadabhai Naoroji. Note that he was elected to the British House of Commons in 1892 representing Finsbury Central, and was the first Asian to achieve this feat.

• The Karachi Session Resolutions (1931): Ensure you can identify that the Karachi Session, presided by Vallabhbhai Patel, passed the historic resolutions on Fundamental Rights and the National Economic Programme. Do not confuse this with the Lahore Session of 1929 (Purna Swaraj resolution).

• The Poona Pact Seat Ratio: SPSC papers frequently target the exact seat changes. Memorize that the Poona Pact increased reserved seats for Dalits from 71 (under the Communal Award) to 147 in provincial legislatures, and reserved 18% of the total seats in the Central Legislature.

• Adi-Hindu Movement Chronology: For regional Telangana history integration, memorize that Bhagya Reddy Verma's Adi-Hindu Social Service League actively aligned its campaigns with the anti-untouchability programs launched by Mahatma Gandhi after the Poona Pact of 1932, a major point for state civil service exams.

What to Skip / Low-Yield

• The minor, non-political lists of British administrative clerks who worked in the London Privy Council Office during the three Round Table Conferences.

• The daily, micro-expenditure schedules of individual municipal corporations that boycotted the Simon Commission's arrival.

How to Study This Topic

1. Construct a "Constitutional Devolution Timeline": On a single study card, draw a strict visual timeline: Simon Commission (1927) $\rightarrow$ Nehru Report (1928) $\rightarrow$ Jinnah's 14 Points (1929) $\rightarrow$ Lahore Session (1929) $\rightarrow$ First RTC (1930) $\rightarrow$ Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931) $\rightarrow$ Second RTC (1931) $\rightarrow$ Communal Award (1932) $\rightarrow$ Poona Pact (1932). This visual sequence is a bulletproof shield against chronological sorting questions.

2. Flowchart the Dalit Representation Struggle: Draw a visual flowchart tracing: First RTC (Ambedkar demands separate electorates) $\rightarrow$ Second RTC (Gandhi-Ambedkar deadlock) $\rightarrow$ Ramsay MacDonald issues Communal Award (separate electorates for Dalits) $\rightarrow$ Gandhi's fast in Yerwada Jail $\rightarrow$ Poona Pact (joint electorates with reserved seats) $\rightarrow$ Seat expansion from 71 to 147 $\rightarrow$ Foundation of Harijan Sevak Sangh $\rightarrow$ Resurgence of the Adi-Hindu Movement under Bhagya Reddy Verma in Hyderabad. This flowchart integrates national constitutional history with Telangana's social history seamlessly.

5. Chronology & Broader Context (Past – Present – Future)

Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (GOI Act 1919) introduce Dyarchy in provinces
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All India States People's Conference (AISPC) founded in Bombay (December 1927)
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SIMON COMMISSION CONSTITUTED IN BRITAIN BY STANLEY BALDWIN (NOVEMBER 8, 1927)
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Simon Commission lands in Bombay; nationwide boycott & "Simon Go Back" (February 3, 1928)
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All Parties Conference appoints Motilal Nehru to draft native constitution (May 1928)
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Nehru Report finalized, demanding Dominion Status and joint electorates (August 1928)
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Lala Lajpat Rai is lathi-charged in Lahore; dies of severe head trauma (November 17, 1928)
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Jinnah rejects Nehru Report; formulates his Fourteen Points (March 1929)
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Lahore Session of Congress hoists tricolor on Ravi River, declaring Purna Swaraj (December 1929)
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Congress celebrates the first Purna Swaraj Independence Day (January 26, 1930)
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First Round Table Conference opens in London; boycotted by Congress (November 1930)
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Gandhi-Irwin Pact signed; suspends CDM to participate in constitutional talks (March 5, 1931)
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Karachi Session of Congress endorses pact, passes Fundamental Rights resolution (March 1931)
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Second Round Table Conference meets; Gandhi-Ambedkar deadlock over Dalits (Sept-Dec 1931)
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Ramsay MacDonald announces the Communal Award; Gandhi fasts in Yerwada (August 16, 1932)
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Poona Pact signed between Ambedkar & Malviya, restoring joint electorates (September 24, 1932)
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Third Round Table Conference boycotted; leads to the White Paper of 1933 (November 1932)
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Passage of the landmark Government of India Act of 1935, introducing Provincial Autonomy

• Pre-Context:

  • Pre-1927: For nearly a decade following the enactment of the GOI Act of 1919, Indian politics was characterized by an unworkable system of provincial Dyarchy, where Indian popular ministers had no control over the key Reserved portfolios managed by British bureaucrats. This administrative deadlock, combined with the sudden withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922 and the subsequent division of the Congress into Swarajists and No-Changers, created a severe political lull that was shattered only by the provocative, all-white appointment of the Simon Commission in late 1927.

• Concurrent Events:

  • The Great Depression (1929–1930): This global economic crash caused a severe collapse in agricultural commodity prices worldwide, causing widespread peasant distress and high inflation across India and the Deccan, which directly fueled the agrarian mass base and militancy of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

  • The Rise of Fascism in Europe (Late 1920s–Early 1930s): The consolidation of fascist power under Benito Mussolini in Italy and the rapid rise of Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party in Germany heightened international geopolitical tensions, prompting the British government to secure administrative and constitutional stability in India to protect its primary imperial resource base.

• Post-Context:

  • Post-1933: The constitutional negotiations of the three Round Table Conferences directly culminated in the enactment of the Government of India Act of 1935, which replaced Dyarchy with Provincial Autonomy and served as the direct structural precursor to the administrative framework of independent India. Ultimately, the fundamental rights resolutions passed at the Karachi Session of 1931 were incorporated directly into Part III of the Constitution of India (1950), while the joint-electorate and reservation compromise of the Poona Pact permanently structured India's modern affirmative action and electoral reservation systems for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.