Indian National Congress History Quiz

The Simon Commission and the National Movement

• The British Government appointed the Simon Commission in November 1927 to investigate the need for further constitutional reforms in India.
• The Commission was composed of seven British members of Parliament, with no Indian member, which was seen as a violation of the principle of self-determination and an insult to Indian self-respect.

Boycott of the Simon Commission

• The Indian National Congress, led by Dr. Ansari, decided to boycott the Commission at every stage and in every form at its Madras session in 1927.
• The Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha also supported the Congress in boycotting the Commission.
• An All India Hartal was organised on February 3, 1928, when the Commission reached Bombay, and wherever it went, it was greeted with hartals and black flag demonstrations with the slogan "Simon Go Back".

Consequences of the Boycott

• Lala Lajpat Rai was grievously injured while leading a demonstration at Lahore railway station on October 30, 1928, and later died due to lathi blows from the police.
• The Government used brutal suppression and police attacks to break the popular opposition.

Recommendations of the Simon Commission

• The Commission recommended the abolition of Dyarchy and complete autonomy in the Provinces, including the department of law and order.
• The Governor should be given overriding powers in certain matters like internal security.
• Provincial Legislative Councils should be enlarged.
• A federal government at the Centre should include British India and the Princely States.
• The Governor-General should select and appoint members of his Cabinet.
• British troops and British officers should stay on in Indian regiments for many more years.
• High Courts should be under the administrative control of the Government of India.
• Communal representation was to continue.

The Nehru Report

• Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India, justified the exclusion of Indians in the Simon Commission, saying that Indians were not united and could not arrive at an agreed scheme of reforms.
• To refute this charge, an All Parties Conference was convened in 1928, which included Liberals, Assertive Nationalists, leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha, the Muslim League, and the Depressed Classes.
• Motilal Nehru was made the chairman of the committee, with Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and N.C. Kelkar as his principal associates.
• The Nehru Report proposed:
  • Dominion Status for India.
  • A Parliament of India consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
  • Joint electorates with reservation of seats for minorities on a population basis.
  • Creation of new provinces on a linguistic basis.