Run-up to Civil Disobedience Movement: Calcutta Session of Congress (December 1928)
Explore the key events leading up to the Civil Disobedience Movement, including the Calcutta Congress Session of 1928, critical 1929 political activities, and Irwin’s Declaration. This page provides an in-depth look at how these historical milestones contributed to the push for complete independence in India. Discover the significant moments that shaped the movement's trajectory and its impact on India's path to freedom.
- Nehru Report Approved: The Congress approved the Nehru Report, but younger leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Bose, and Satyamurthy expressed dissatisfaction with the goal of dominion status.
- Demand for Complete Independence: They demanded that the Congress adopt purna swaraj (complete independence) as its goal. Eventually, the Congress decided that if the government did not accept a dominion status-based constitution by the end of the year, it would demand complete independence and launch a civil disobedience movement.
Political Activity during 1929
- Gandhi’s Campaigns: Gandhi prepared people for direct political action, organizing constructive work in villages and addressing grievances. He also led a campaign to boycott and burn foreign cloth, starting in March 1929 in Calcutta.
- Other Key Events: The Meerut Conspiracy Case (March), bomb explosion in the Central Legislative Assembly by Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt (April), and the Labour government's rise to power in England (May) kept political tensions high.
Irwin’s Declaration (October 31, 1929)
- Dominion Status: Lord Irwin's declaration reaffirmed the British government's intention to grant India dominion status, as implied in the 1917 declaration. However, no timeline was provided, and the promise was seen as far off and not revolutionary.
- Promise of Round Table Conference: Irwin also promised a Round Table Conference after the Simon Commission submitted its report.
