Round Table conferences

It was launched by Gandhi because at that point he demanded implementation of Nehru report in Toto. 

The civil disobedience movement was declared illegal and Gandhi was arrested.

Muslim Leaders:

 following Muslim leaders participated.

Quaid-e-Azam. 

Sir Agha Khan 

Muhammad Ali Jauhur.

Maulvi Fazl Haq. 

Sir Muhammad Shafi B. S. Moonje and M.R. Jayakar 

Liberals: Tej Bahadur Sapru, C. Y. Chintamani and Srinivasa Sastri 

Sikh: Sardar Ujjal Singh 

Depressed Classes: B. R. Ambedkar 

Princely states: Akbar Hydari (Dewan of Hyderabad), Mirza Ismail (Diwan of Mysore), Kailas Narain Haksar of Gwalior, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda, Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner, Nawab Hamidullah Khan of Bhopal, K.S. Ranjitsinhji of Nawanagar, Maharaja Jai Singh Prabhakar of Alwar and the rulers of Indore, Rewa, Dholpur, Koriya, Sangli and Sarila. 

First Round Table Conference: (12 November 1930 to19th January 1931)

Important decision made in conference: India (Executive will be responsible to legislature). Fully representative government, responsible to provincial and federal legislature will be made. (Note: In Nehru report Hindu Wanted Strong Central Govt. while Muslims demanded for loose federation in Jinnah’s 14 Points). The princely states will also be supported. 

Gandhi Irwin Pact: 5th March 1931 between Gandhi and Irwin. 

Quaid-e-Azam did not participate in second Round table conference and decided to remain aloof from the Indian politics and to practice as a professional lawyer in England. 

Hindu Mahasabha: 

Approval of federal system for Sapru’s proposal of dominion status and abolition of diarchy in the provinces.

Deadlock: Deadlock occurred on the distribution of subjects in the federal system 

From 17-19 February 1931 talks were held between Gandhi and Irwin. 

An agreement was signed on Why these Talks were held and Agreement was signed? 

Because of the failure of civil disobedience movement.

Government’s desire for congress participation in round table as congress was absent in first round table conference.

Salient features of Gandhi Irwin Pact:

The congress will call of civil disobedience. The congress will attend second round table conference. 

The government will withdraw all cases against congress and release prisoners.

The pact shows that the British government was anxious to bring the congress to round table conference. It was triumph of the congress and Indian Nationalism. 

Second Round Table Conference 

Communal Awards, August16, 1932. 

Communal representation of Muslims: 

accepted. 

Sindh was awarded the status of separate province. 

Principle of Wieghtage was applied (Muslim lost majority in

Communal Scheme for Non Muslim:

Award declared untouchables as a minority and thus the Hindus depressed classes were given a number of special seats. And as result 

Separate electorates for scheduled class Hindus were approved.

Hindu Reaction: 

Third Round Table Conference/ Joint Select committee

The report of three round table conferences was published in a white paper in 1933 and later on it was discussed in the British parliament. As a resulted a bill was drafted which was approved and became Indian Act of 1935. (17th November to 25th December 1932) Quaid-e-Azam did not participate. Sir Agha khan participated. In third round table conference reports of various communities were scrutinized. 

It was decided to setup a federal legislature in India consisting of elected representatives of the British India and of the representatives of the state to be nominated by respective ruler. Because of the deadlock over communal issues British government announced communal awards. 

( 7 September 1931to 1st December 1931) 

Gandhi was the sole representative of All

Allama Iqbal in his speech said in 2nd round table conference. 

Two committees were formed i.e. 

Conference on federal structure. 

Conference on Minorities. 

Gandhi’s showed stubborn attitude to secure

Communal problems Remained Unsolved India National Congress Allama Iqbal participated in 2nd round table conference because of the death of Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhur. India as one nation. Gandhi claimed that he represented all India and dismissed all other Indian delegates as non-representatives. Hindu Muslim relations embittered. Punjab, Sikh got advantage in Punjab, Europeans got advantage in Bengal because of principle of Wieghtage). 

Gandhi took fast until death on account of accepting scheduled class Hindus as separate nation and giving them right of separate electorate. Dr. Ambedkar, leader of untouchable made an agreement to withdraw from the right of separate electorate under Poona Pact. Gandhi ended his fast.