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History & Civics

In March 1931 Mahatma Gandhi suspended the Civil Disobedience Campaign and agreed to attend the Second Round Table Conference in London, from where he returned empty-handed to India. In this context describe:

(a) Terms of Gandhi-Irwin Pact, 1931.

(b) Second Round Table Conference, 1931.

(c) Renewal of Civil Disobedience Movement in 1932.

Mahatma Gandhi

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Answer

(a) According to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, the Governor-General agreed -

  1. to release all political prisoners except those guilty of violence
  2. to give back to the Congressmen their confiscated properties
  3. to permit peaceful picketing of liquors and foreign cloth shops
  4. to permit such people as lived near sea-shores to manufacture salt

(b) Gandhi was chosen as the sole representative of the Congress for the Second Round Table Conference (7th September to 1st December, 1931).

  1. The Conference devoted most of its time to the communal question and the representation of minorities — the Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians and Anglo-Indians - in legislatures, both at the Centre and in the Provinces.
  2. Gandhi was disgusted to find that most leaders seemed concerned only about seats in legislatures for their respective communities.
  3. The question of Independence or of setting up a Responsible Government receded into background.
  4. Gandhi returned "empty handed" to India.
  5. He could not persuade the British government to grant Freedom or even the Dominion Status to India.

(c) Soon after his return from England, Gandhi sought an interview with the new Viceroy, Lord Willingdon. It was refused.

  1. On 4th January, 1932 Gandhiji was arrested.
  2. The Congress adopted a resolution for the renewal of Civil Disobedience Movement.
  3. The Civil Resisters hoisted Congress flags over government buildings, manufactured salt and boycotted British goods.
  4. Congress was declared as an unlawful organisation.
  5. Its funds and buildings were confiscated.
  6. According to Congress estimates, more than 1,20,000 persons were arrested by the end of March, 1933.
  7. Police methods were cruel and vindictive.

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