The Simon Commission was appointed in November 1927 by the British Government. Subsequently the Civil Disobedience Movement began. In this context answer the following questions:

(a) Why was the Simon Commission appointed by the British Government? Why did the Congress boycott the Commission?

(b) The Civil Disobedience Movement was launched by Gandhiji with his famous Dandi March. Mention the significance of this historic event.

(c) Why did Gandhiji suspend Civil Disobedience Movement in 1931 and later in 1934 call it off?

(a) In November 1927, the British Government appointed the Indian Statutory Commission, popularly known as the Simon Commission, to investigate the need for further constitutional reforms. The Commission was composed of seven British members of Parliament.

The commission had no Indian member. This was seen as a violation of the principle of self-determination and a deliberate insult to the self-respect of the Indians. Hence, at its Madras session in 1927, presided over by Dr. Ansari, the National Congress decided to boycott the commission 'at every stage and in every form'.

(b) Gandhiji started the Civil Disobedience Movement with his famous Dandi March.

1. On 12th March, Mahatma Gandhi began the historic march from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, a village on the Gujarat sea coast.
2. A number of people followed him.
3. On the morning of 6th April, Gandhiji violated the Salt Law at Dandi by picking up some salt left by the sea waves.
4. According to the Salt Law, the government had the monopoly to manufacture and sell salt.
5. He had selected to attack the Salt Laws because the salt-tax affected all sections of society, especially the poor.
6. Gandhiji's breaking of the Salt Laws marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

(c) Since the satyagraha could not be suppressed, the Government, through Tej Bahadur Sapru and Jayakar, started negotiations with Gandhiji in jail.

1. This resulted in the signing of a pact by Gandhiji and Lord Irwin, the Viceroy, in March 1931.
2. This is known as the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
3. According to the terms of the pact, the Congress consented to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1931.
4. The Great Depression of 1930s in the world had hit the farmers in India.
5. Gandhiji sought an interview with Viceroy Willingdon. The interview was refused.
6. The Congress passed a resolution for the renewal of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
7. Government resorted to repression, issued Ordinances and assumed special powers.
8. The Congress was declared illegal.
9. Congress leaders were arrested and their properties were seized. Communalism was fanned.
10. Gradually the Civil Disobedience Movement lost its force and Congress called it off in 1934.