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.
Answer
(a) According to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, the Governor-General agreed -
- to release all political prisoners except those guilty of violence
- to give back to the Congressmen their confiscated properties
- to permit peaceful picketing of liquors and foreign cloth shops
- 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).
- 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.
- Gandhi was disgusted to find that most leaders seemed concerned only about seats in legislatures for their respective communities.
- The question of Independence or of setting up a Responsible Government receded into background.
- Gandhi returned "empty handed" to India.
- 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.
- On 4th January, 1932 Gandhiji was arrested.
- The Congress adopted a resolution for the renewal of Civil Disobedience Movement.
- The Civil Resisters hoisted Congress flags over government buildings, manufactured salt and boycotted British goods.
- Congress was declared as an unlawful organisation.
- Its funds and buildings were confiscated.
- According to Congress estimates, more than 1,20,000 persons were arrested by the end of March, 1933.
- Police methods were cruel and vindictive.
Related Questions
With reference to the following points describe briefly the causes that led to the launching of Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930.
(a) Reaction against the Simon Commission
(b) The Lahore Session of the Congress in 1929 and adoption of Purna Swaraj as the Goal of India
The whole country was agog with excitement over the Civil Disobedience Movement launched by the Congress in 1930. In this context briefly describe the following:
(a) The Dandi March
(b) Programme of the Movement
Explain the impact of the Civil Disobedience Movement under the following headings:
(a) A tide of patriotic fervour.
(b) Constitutional Reforms by means of the Government of India Act, 1935.
(c) Its effect upon the life of the poor and the oppressed.
Answer the questions based on the picture given here:
(a) Name the place where this Memorial was built.
(b) The Memorial reminds people of what tragic event.
OR
Give a brief account of that disastrous event and other brutalities that followed it.(c) Name the two popular leaders who were arrested and deported before this event.