Round Table Conferences (1930-1932)

The Round Table Conferences were a series of pivotal meetings (1930-1932) between British officials and Indian leaders discussing constitutional reforms in India. Despite extensive deliberations, the conferences achieved limited results, paving the way for the Government of India Act 1935. These events hold immense importance for students preparing for history and political science exams, providing insights into pre-independence negotiations and political strategies.

The Round Table Conferences in India: Background and Key Developments (1930-1932)

• Overview of the Round Table Conferences

  The Round Table Conferences were initiated to address the inadequacies of the Simon Commission report. Lord Irwin and Ramsay MacDonald spearheaded the initiative, engaging Indian leaders and princely states in discussions on constitutional reforms.

  • (i) Held in three sessions from 1930 to 1932.
  • (ii) Addressed political demands and aspirations of Indians.
  • (iii) Set the stage for the Government of India Act 1935.

• First Round Table Conference (Nov 1930 - Jan 1931)

  The inaugural conference focused on bringing representatives from Indian princely states and various political groups together to discuss a federal structure for India.

  • Key Details and Participants of the First Session

    The first session was a landmark event as it was the first time Indians and British met as equals to decide the future of India. King George V officially opened the proceedings, marking a significant shift in colonial diplomacy.

    • (i) Date: November 1930 - January 1931
    • (ii) Location: London
    • (iii) Opening: King George V on November 12, 1930
    • (iv) Chair: Ramsay MacDonald

    • Detailed Participant Breakdown

      • (i) Indian Princely States: Maharaja of Alwar, Maharaja of Baroda, Nawab of Bhopal, Maharaja of Bikaner, Rana of Dholpur, Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja of Nawanagar, Maharaja of Patiala, Maharaja of Rewa, Chief Sahib of Sangli, Sir Prabhashankar Pattani (Bhavnagar), Manubhai Mehta (Baroda), Sardar Sahibzada Sultan Ahmed Khan (Gwalior), Akbar Hydari (Hyderabad), Mirza Ismail (Mysore), Col. Kailas Narain Haksar (Jammu and Kashmir).
      • (ii) Muslim League: Aga Khan III, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Muhammad Shafi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, A.K. Fazlul Huq, Hafiz Ghulam Hussain Hidayat Ullah, Dr. Shafa’at Ahmad Khan, Raja Sher Muhammad Khan of Domeli, A.H. Ghuznavi.
      • (iii) Hindu Mahasabha: B.S. Moonje, M.R. Jayakar, Diwan Bahadur Raja Narendra Nath.
      • (iv) Sikhs: Sardar Ujjal Singh, Sardar Sampuran Singh.
      • (v) Depressed Classes: B.R. Ambedkar, Rettamalai Srinivasan.
      • (vi) Other Groups: Parsis (Phiroze Sethna, Cowasji Jehangir, Homi Mody), Women (Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz, Radhabai Subbarayan), Liberals (Tej Bahadur Sapru, C.Y. Chintamani), and representatives from Burma and Orissa.
    • (v) Outcome: Limited achievements; consensus on a federation with defense and finance safeguards, but Indian National Congress absence and ongoing civil disobedience were noted.

• Second Round Table Conference (Sep - Dec 1931)

  The second conference saw participation of Mahatma Gandhi and major political parties, but faced challenges due to British political transitions and disagreements on minority representation.

  • Detailed Participants and Ideological Clashes

    This session was unique due to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, which allowed Mahatma Gandhi to represent the Indian National Congress. However, the atmosphere in London had changed due to the rise of the National Government in Britain.

    • (i) Indian National Congress: Mahatma Gandhi, A. Rangaswami Iyengar, Madan Mohan Malaviya.
    • (ii) Indian Princely States: Maharaja of Indore, Maharaja of Kapurthala, Maharao of Kutch, along with previous delegates.
    • (iii) Muslims: Muhammad Iqbal, Syed Ali Imam, Maulvi Muhammad Shafi Daudi, alongside Aga Khan III and Jinnah.
    • (iv) Industry and Labour: Ghanshyam Das Birla, Sir Purshottamdas Thakurdas, V. V. Giri, N. M. Joshi.

  • The Deadlock and Resulting Announcements

    The conference ended in a stalemate primarily over the issue of Separate Electorates. Gandhi argued that the Congress represented all of India, a claim contested by other minority leaders like B.R. Ambedkar.

    • (i) Challenges from British political changes and opposition from Churchill.
    • (ii) Gandhi’s insistence on full Congress representation and opposition to separate electorates led to deadlock.
    • (iii) Princes reluctant to support federal structure.

    • Structural Announcements

      • (i) Creation of Muslim-majority provinces (NWFP, Sindh).
      • (ii) Formation of the Indian Consultative Committee.
      • (iii) Expert committees on finance, franchise, and states were established.
    • (iv) Core issue of Indian freedom remained unaddressed.

• Third Round Table Conference (Nov - Dec 1932)

  The final conference had limited participation and achieved minimal outcomes, eventually informing the drafting of the Government of India Act 1935.

  • Final Session Participants and Lack of Consensus

    The British Labour Party and the Indian National Congress both refused to attend this session, significantly reducing its representative character and overall impact.

    • (i) Indian States: Akbar Hydari, Mirza Ismail, V.T. Krishnamachari, Wajahat Hussain.
    • (ii) Other Indian Representatives: Aga Khan III, B.R. Ambedkar, Nanak Chand Pandit, Tej Bahadur Sapru.

  • Outcome and the Road to the 1935 Act

    Despite the low attendance, the discussions were compiled into a White Paper in March 1933, which served as the blueprint for future constitutional changes in India.

    • (i) Minimal achievements; recommendations published in White Paper March 1933.
    • (ii) Reviewed by Joint Select Committee, leading to Government of India Act 1935.

• Summary of the Round Table Conferences

  The Round Table Conferences (1930-1932) highlighted the complexities of British-Indian negotiations. While limited in immediate results, they provided key insights into federal structure proposals, minority representation, and political strategies, ultimately shaping the Government of India Act 1935. These conferences are critical for students of modern Indian history and political science exams.