Round Table Conferences: Participation and Outcome

21-10-2023

GS I

Sub-Categories:

Modern History

1 min read

Prelims: History of India and Indian National Movement.

Mains: Modern Indian History from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.

Round Table Conferences: The Simon Commission report (1930) was published in the midst of government repression and the intensification of the civil disobedience movement, and there was no suggestion that India might be granted dominion status. As a result, even the most moderate Indian political opinion turned against the British. The Viceroy then extended an invitation to a Round Table Conference and stated that the award of Dominion Status would be discussed. Between 1930 and 1932, the British government convened a series of round table conferences to discuss India's future government.

First Round Table Conference

In response to the Simon Report's shortcomings, the Labour Government, led by Ramsay MacDonald, decided to hold a series of Round Table Conferences in London. It was the first time that Indians and the British met as 'equals.' On November 12th, 1930, the first conference began.

Date: 12th November, 1930	Place: London
Presided by	- Ramsay MacDonald (Prime Minister of Britain)
Participants	-The Princely States, Muslim League, Justice Party, Hindu Mahasabha, and others were among those who attended. - The Indian National Congress, as well as other prominent politicians, did not participate because Congress decided to boycott the round table conferences at the Lahore session, and majority of leaders had been imprisoned for being involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Issues Discussed	- The federal government structure. - The executive's accountability to the legislature. - Separate electorates for "untouchables as proposed by Dr B R Ambedkar. - Tej Bahadur Sapru proposed an All-India Federation. The Muslim League agreed with this.
Outcome	- It was generally agreed that if India was to develop into a federation, there were to be safeguards regarding defence and finance, while other departments were to be transferred. -The Indian National Congress leaders continued the Civil Disobedience Movement during the First Round Table Conference. As a result, the First Round Table Conference was deemed a failure.

Second Round Table Conference

The British Government acknowledged the importance of the Congress Party's participation in Round Table Conferences for effective reform implementation and expressed hope that INC leaders would attend the Second Round Table Conference.

Lord Irwin met with Gandhi to reach a compromise. On 5 March 1931, Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin signed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, and they agreed on the following to pave the way for the Congress' participation in the second Round Table Conference:

Congress would end the Civil Disobedience Movement and attend the second Round Table Conference.
The government would withdraw all ordinances enacted to restrain the Congress.
The government would cease all prosecutions for nonviolent offences.
The government would release all individuals serving prison sentences for their involvement in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Date: 7th September 1931	Place: London
Presided by	- Ramsay MacDonald
Participants	- Indian National Congress, which was solely represented by Gandhi, the Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and others. - Representatives from Burma, as well as Sindh, Assam, Central Provinces, and the NWFP, were also present.
Issues discussed	- Gandhi demanded the immediate establishment of a responsible government at the national and provincial levels. He also stated that: Congress was India's sole political representative. The idea of a separate electorate for untouchables was rejected, with the claim that they were Hindus and thus should not be treated as a minority. It was unnecessary to have separate electorates or special safeguards for Muslims or other minorities. Many of the other delegates were opposed to Gandhi.
Outcomes	- This session only widened the difference between Congress and minorities. - MacDonald ended the session with an address announcing the: Creation of two new Muslim-majority provinces, North West Frontier Province and Sindh, Formation of an Indian Consultative Committee Set up a committee on franchise, finance and states and held out the degrading and perilous possibility of a unilateral British Communal Award.

Third Round Table Conference

When Gandhi returned from the second round table conference, he relaunched the Civil Disobedience Movement because the British Government refused to concede the basic nationalist demand for freedom on the basis of the immediate grant of Dominion Status. Following the failure of the Round Table Conference, Gandhi and other Congress leaders were arrested again, and the Congress was declared illegal.

Date: November 17, 1932	Place: London
Presided by	- Ramsay MacDonald
Participants	- Attended by 46 delegates, but the Indian National Congress and the Labour Party in the United Kingdom decided not to attend. - Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Depressed Classes). - Indian princely states were represented by princes and divans. - Muhammad Ali, Agha Khan, Fazlul Haq, and Jinnah were among the Muslim leaders who attended the conference.
Issues Discussed	- In the Conference, the reports of the Sub-Committees appointed during the Second Round Table Conference were heard and formed the basis of discussions. - Some more details about the new constitution were settled. - The Indian delegates tried to push through some progressive provisions, which were instantly put into cold storage. - Similarly, the question of including a Bill of Rights for the citizens was shelved on flimsy excuses.
Outcomes	- In March 1933, the British Government came out with the White Paper containing the proposals, indicating the line on which the new Constitution of India was to take shape. - On this basis, the Government of India Act of 1935 was enacted.

PYQs on Round Table Conference

Question 1: With reference to the Indian freedom struggle, consider the following events: (UPSC Prelims 2017)

Mutiny in Royal Indian Navy
Quit India Movement launched
Second Round Table Conference

What is the correct chronological sequence of the above events?

1-2-2
2-1-3
3-2-1
3-1-2

Answer: (c)

FAQs on Round Table Conferences

When did the second round table conference take place?

The Second Round Table Conference took place in London from September 7 to December 1, 1931. It was an attempt to bring together the various political factions in India to discuss the future of the country under British rule.

Which round table conference was boycotted by Congress?

The First and Third Round Table Conferences held in November 1930 and 1932, respectively, were boycotted by Congress.

Who joined the First Round Table Conference?

The Princely States, the Muslim League, the Justice Party, the Hindu Mahasabha, and others were among those who attended. The Indian government was represented by M. Ramachandra Rao, Bhupendra Nath Mitra, C.P. Ramaswami Iyer, and Narendra Nath Law.

What was the reason for the failure of the second round table conference?

The second round table conferencedid not result in a substantial decision regarding India’s constitutional future. It resulted in deadlock due to minority issues and separate electorates.

Which round table conference was attended by Mahatma Gandhi?

In 1931, Mahatma Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference in London to discuss constitutional reform in India.

What was the White Paper of 1933?

At the end of the third round table conference in March 1933, the British Government came out with the White Paper containing the proposals, indicating the line on which the new constitution of India was to take shape. Based on this, the Government of India Act of 1935 was enacted.