The Simon Commission

Study Notes

The Indian Statutory Commission or Simon Commission was a group of 7 British Parliament members sent to India in 1928 to study constitutional reform.
The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 had declared that a commission would be sent to India after 10 years to examine the effects and operations of the constitutional reforms and suggest further reforms.
The Simon Commission was appointed two years ahead of schedule in November 1927.
It was opposed by the Indian National Congress, Muslim League, and prominent Indian leaders, including Nehru, Gandhi, and Jinnah, as it contained only British members and no Indians.
Lala Lajpat Rai, a prominent Indian nationalist, led a protest against the commission in Lahore.
Rai suffered a brutal police beating during the protest and died of his injuries eighteen days later on 17 November 1928.
One of the commission members was Clement Attlee, who later became committed to self-government for India.
The commission was supported by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, and Chaudhary Chhotu Ram.
The commission's purpose was to study constitutional reform in India.
The commission's appointment was controversial due to the lack of Indian representation.