Gandhian Era — Second Phase

Chapter 33 — Complete Notes | 1927–1939

BPSCBSSC CGL Modern HistoryExam Fusion Prep
📊
Key Events — Quick Timeline 1927–1939
8 Nov 1927
Simon Commission announced — Lord Birkenhead. Chairman: Sir John Simon. All 7 British.
27 Dec 1927
Congress Madras Session — President M.A. Ansari. Decision: Complete boycott of Simon Commission.
3 Feb 1928
Simon Commission India arrives — Mumbai. "Simon Go Back" slogans.
Aug 1928
Nehru Report presented — Motilal Nehru (chairman). Muslims rejected it → Jinnah's 14 Points.
Dec 1929
Lahore Session — Jawaharlal Nehru (President). "Purna Swaraj" official goal.
26 Jan 1930
First Independence Day celebrated. the flag was hoisted.
12 Mar 1930
Dandi March starts — Sabarmati Ashram. 78 followers. 24 days.
6 Apr 1930
Salt Law broke — CDM officially starts. Dandi.
5 May 1930
Gandhi arrested → Yerwada Jail. 90,000+ satyagrahis arrested.
Nov 1930
1st Round Table Conference — London. Congress absent.
5 Mar 1931
Gandhi-Irwin Pact (Delhi Pact) signed.
Sep–Dec 1931
2nd Round Table Conference — Gandhi sole Congress rep. Churchill's "half-naked Fakir" remark.
16 Aug 1932
Communal Award — Ramsay MacDonald. Separate electorate for Depressed Classes.
24 Sep 1932
Poona Pact — Gandhi + Ambedkar. Reserved seats 71 → 148.
Nov–Dec 1932
3rd Round Table Conference — Congress boycotted. Only 46 reps. Ambedkar only one in all 3.
3 Aug 1935
Government of India Act 1935 enacted.
1934
Congress Socialist Party — JP Narayan + Acharya Narendra Dev.
Feb 1937
Provincial elections completed. Congress won 7 provinces.
1939 (Tripuri)
Bose won election vs Gandhi's candidate (Pattabhi). Gandhi: "My defeat." Bose resigned.
3 May 1939
Forward Bloc — Subhash Chandra Bose.
🚫
Simon Commission (1927–28)
All-British Commission — Indians Excluded
📅
Announcement: 8 November 1927. Appointed by: Lord Birkenhead (Secretary of State for India).
👤
Chairman: Sir John Simon. Total Members: 7 — all British.
🎯
Objective: To examine the operation and progress of the Government of India Act, 1919.
👥
Members: Clement Attlee, Harry Levy Lawson, Edward Cadogan, Vernon Hartshorn, George introducing Fox, Donald Howard.
Indians's Reaction
🏛️
Congress Madras Session, 27 December 1927: President M. A. Ansari. Decision: Boycott the Simon Commission at every stage and by every means.
📍
India Arrival: 3 February 1928, Mumbai. "Simon Go Back" slogans were raised.
Nehru Report (1928) — Indian Response
⚡
Challenge: Lord Birkenhead challenged — "Unified Constitutional Proposal prepare."
👤
Committee Chairman: Motilal Nehru. Report Presented: August 1928.
👥
Key Members: Tej Bahadur Sapru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Ali Imam, Shuaib Qureshi, Mangal Singh, M.S. Aney, N.M. Joshi, G.R. Pradhan.
❌
Rejection: The Muslim League leaders Jinnah, Shafi and Aga Khan rejected it, after which Jinnah presented his Fourteen Points.
7 all-British members = undemocratic Madras Session 1927 = M.A. Ansari (NOT Nehru) Nehru Report = Motilal Nehru (chairman) Rejection → Jinnah's 14 Points
🧂
Dandi March & Civil Disobedience Movement — 1930
Lahore Session (Dec 1929) — Foundation
👑
President: Jawaharlal Nehru. Official Goal: "Purna Swaraj" (Complete Independence).
📅
26 January 1930: First Independence Day was observed — flag hoisted.
📋
31 January 1930: Gandhi presented an eleven-point ultimatum to the British government. Its rejection led to the Salt March.
Dandi March — Key Facts
Detail Fact
Start Date 12 March 1930
Start Place Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad
Followers 78 followers accompanied Gandhi
Duration 24 Days
Distance ~241 Miles (~387 km)
Arrival at Dandi 5 April 1930
CDM Start 6 April 1930 — broke the salt law by picking up salt
💬
Subhash Chandra Bose march "Napoleon's march to Paris" and "Mussolini's march to Rome" compared it with.
Regional Spread
Region Leader / Movement
NWFP Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Frontier Gandhi). Org: Khudai Khidmatgar (Red Shirt Movement).
Manipur Rani Gaidinliu
Tamil Nadu (Tanjore) C. Rajagopalachari — Route: Trichinapalli to Vedaranyam
Kerala (Malabar) K. Kelappan (Vaikom Satyagraha fame)
Odisha Gopabandhu Chaudhary
Dharsana Satyagraha & Government Repression
👤
Leaders: Sarojini Naidu, Imam Sahib and Manilal, Gandhi's son. Abbas Tyabji led the march before them.
📰
Witness: American journalist Webb Miller — "I have never seen a scene as horrifying as Dharsana."
⛓️
Gandhi arrested: 5 May 1930 → Yerwada Jail. 90,000+ satyagrahis arrested. Congress illegal declared.
💰
Other Protests: Eastern India — Chowkidari Tax refusal. Bengal — Anti-Union Board Movement.
12 Mar 1930 = Dandi March starts 6 Apr 1930 = CDM starts (salt) 78 followers, 24 days, ~241 miles Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan = Frontier Gandhi
✊
Second Civil Disobedience Movement (1932–34)
📅
Start: January 1932.
⛓️
Arrests: Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan.
🚫
Congress declared unlawful. Property seized.
🔚
Formally withdrawn: By CWC in 1934 — CDM officially end.
🤝
Three Round Table Conferences — London
1st RTC
Date: 12 Nov 1930 – 19 Jan 1931
Presided: Ramsay MacDonald (British PM)
Inaugurated: George V
Reps: 90 total (58 BI + 16 PS + 16 British parties)
Congress: ABSENT
Demands: Muslim League + Ambedkar = Separate Electorate
Result: No consensus
2nd RTC
Date: 7 Sep – 1 Dec 1931
Secretary: Samuel Hoare
Viceroy: Lord Willingdon
Congress: Gandhi (sole rep)
Others: Sarojini Naidu, Annie Besant, Malaviya, Jinnah, Iqbal, Ambedkar
Result: Separate Electorate on no consensus
3rd RTC
Date: 17 Nov – 24 Dec 1932
Reps: Only 46
Congress: BOYCOTTED
Key Fact: Ambedkar = only person in all 3 RTCs
Result: White Paper (Mar 1933) → GOI Act 1935
Famous Quote — 2nd RTC
Winston Churchill (about Gandhi at 2nd RTC)
"Seditious Middle Temple lawyer now posing as a half-naked fakir."
1st RTC = Congress absent 2nd RTC = Gandhi sole rep 3rd RTC = Congress boycotted Ambedkar = attended all 3 RTCs
📜
Gandhi-Irwin Pact (Delhi Pact) — 5 March 1931
📅
Date: 5 March 1931. Also called: Delhi Pact.
👤
Principal Negotiator: Mahatma Gandhi. Intermediaries: Tej Bahadur Sapru, M.R. Jayakar, Shrinivas Shastri.
Terms of Agreement
# Term
1 Release all political prisoners (except violent offenders)
2 Return of confiscated property (confiscated property back)
3 Postponement of fine collection
4 Permission to make salt (coastal areas only)
5 Withdrawal of Emergency Ordinances
6 Congress agrees to participate in Round Table Conference
⚖️
Communal Award & Poona Pact — 1932
Communal Award
📅
Announced: 16 August 1932. By: British PM Ramsay MacDonald.
📋
I Feature: Separate Electorate for — Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Europeans, Anglo-Indians. Crucial: Extended to Harijans (Depressed Classes) also.
🍽️
Gandhi's reaction: Fast unto death (Aamran Anshan) — started 20 September 1932, Yerwada Jail, Pune.
Poona Pact — 24 September 1932
🤝
Between: Mahatma Gandhi ↔ Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
✍️
Signatories: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (on behalf of Depressed Classes) + Madan Mohan Malaviya (on behalf of Gandhi + Upper Caste Hindus).
📊
Result: (1) Separate Electorate for Depressed Classes abolished. (2) Reserved seats Provincial Legislatures: 71 → 148.
🏛️
Samata Sainik Dal (SSD): Established 1927 by B.R. Ambedkar — safeguard rights of depressed classes.
GOI Act 1935 — Path
📋
White Paper (Mar 1933) → Joint Select Committee (Chairman: Lord Linlithgow, formed by Samuel Hoare Dec 1934) → GOI Bill in British Parliament → GOI Act 1935 (3 August 1935).
Communal Award 16 Aug 1932 = Ramsay MacDonald Gandhi fast = 20 Sep 1932, Yerwada Jail Poona Pact 24 Sep 1932 = Ambedkar + Malaviya Reserved seats 71 → 148
🗳️
Congress Ministries — Provincial Elections 1937
📅
Elections completed: February 1937 (11 Provinces in).
🏛️
Governments formed: July 1937. Head called "Chief Minister" (Premier). Tenure: 28 Months.
Province-wise Results
Province Government
Madras, UP, CP, Bihar, Orissa, Bombay, Assam, NWFP Congress Ministry ✅
Punjab Unionist Party + Muslim League ❌
Bengal Krishak Praja Party + Muslim League ❌
Sindh United Party ❌
📋
National Planning Committee (1938): Formed during Congress ministries. Chairman: Jawaharlal Nehru. (Note: Congress President was Subhash Chandra Bose, but Committee head = Nehru.)
⚔️
Congress Tripuri Crisis — 1939 (Gandhi vs Bose)
🏛️
Haripura Session (1938): Subhash Chandra Bose — elected President Unopposed.
⚔️
Tripuri Session (1939): Bose Gandhi's candidate Pattabhi Sitaramayya defeat.
💬
Gandhi's statement: "Sitaramayya's defeat is not his defeat, but mine."
💬
Gandhi called Bose "the Patriot of Patriots" in his writings.
🚪
Outcome: Deadlock because of Boresigned fromed. Successor: Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
Forward Bloc
🏛️
Established: 3 May 1939. Founder: Subhash Chandra Bose. Objective: Mass awakening for Independence.
Congress won 8/11 provinces 1937 Tripuri = Bose beat Pattabhi Forward Bloc = 3 May 1939 Rajendra Prasad = successor after Bose resigned
☭
Congress Socialist Party & Other Leftist Parties
Congress Socialist Party (CSP) — 1934
📅
Established: 1934, Bombay.
👥
Founders: Jayprakash Narayan (JP), Acharya Narendra Dev, Ram Manohar Lohia.
👑
President: Acharya Narendra Dev. General Secretary: Jayprakash Narayan.
🎯
Objectives: To establish a socialist society and decentralise economic and political power.
Other Leftist / Socialist Parties
Party Founded Founder(s) Region / Note
Bihar Socialist Party Jul 1931 Jayaprakash Narayan, Phoolan Prasad Varma Predates National CSP (1934)
Punjab Socialist Party 1933 Prof. Brijlal Regional
Indian Bolshevik Party 1939 N. Dutt Majumdar Bengal
Radical Democratic Party 1940 M.N. Roy Bengal (IMP for UPSC)
Bolshevik Leninist Party 1941 Indra Sen, Ajit Roy Bengal
Indian Revolutionary Communist Party 1943 Soumendranath Tagore —
CSP 1934 = JP Narayan + Acharya Narendra Dev Bihar Socialist Party 1931 = JP (predates CSP) Radical Democratic Party 1940 = M.N. Roy
⚠️ Trap #1 — Madras Session 1927's President
The decision to boycott the Simon Commission was taken at the Madras Session on 27 December 1927[cite: 5]. M. A. Ansari was the president; Jawaharlal Nehru played an active role but did not preside[cite: 5].
⚠️ Trap #2 — Nehru Report = Motilal Nehru (Jawaharlal not)
Nehru Report (1928): Motilal Nehru, not Jawaharlal Nehru, chaired the committee[cite: 5]. Do not confuse the father and son.
⚠️ Trap #3 — Dandi March dates
The march began at Sabarmati on 12 March 1930[cite: 5], reached Dandi on 5 April[cite: 5], and the Civil Disobedience Movement began on 6 April when Gandhi picked up salt[cite: 5]. These are three different dates.
⚠️ Trap #4 — 3 RTCs in Congress's attendance
First Round Table Conference: Congress absent[cite: 5]. Second: Gandhi attended as the sole Congress representative[cite: 5]. Third: Congress boycotted it[cite: 5]. Ambedkar was the only person to attend all three[cite: 5].
⚠️ Trap #5 — Poona Pact signatories
Gandhi did not sign the Poona Pact. The signatories were Dr B. R. Ambedkar for the Depressed Classes and Madan Mohan Malaviya for Gandhi and the upper castes[cite: 5].
⚠️ Trap #6 — The Communal Award also included the Depressed Classes
Communal Award = Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Europeans, Anglo-Indians + Harijans (Depressed Classes) also.[cite: 5] This "crucial addition" was which on Gandhi fast.
⚠️ Trap #7 — Tripuri's president and successor
Tripuri (1939) in Bose Pattabhi Sitaramayya beat — President became[cite: 5]. Deadlock after resign [cite: 5]. Successor = Dr. Rajendra Prasad[cite: 5]. Gandhi's statement: "Sitaramayya's defeat is mine."[cite: 5]
⚠️ Trap #8 — National Planning Committee = Nehru (president Bose was)
National Planning Committee (1938) Chairman = Jawaharlal Nehru.[cite: 5] Congress President at that time = Subhash Chandra Bose — but committee head Nehru the[cite: 5].
⚠️ Trap #9 — CSP founders: President vs Secretary
Congress Socialist Party (1934): President = Acharya Narendra Dev. General Secretary = Jayprakash Narayan.[cite: 5] Founders: JP + Acharya + Ram Manohar Lohia[cite: 5].
⚠️ Trap #10 — Churchill quote and context
Churchill Gandhi "half-naked Fakir" said — 2nd Round Table Conference in the context of[cite: 5]. 1st or 3rd in not.
Exam Fusion Prep  |  Gandhian Era — Second Phase  |  BPSC / BSSC CGL
© ExamFusion Prep. All Rights Reserved.