The Simon Commission & The Constitutional Struggle (1924–1929)

Provision for reviewing Government of India Act 1919

Was set to be reviewed in 10 years, but a Commission was appointed in just 8 years

Chairman of the Commission reviewing GOI Act 1919

John Simon

Member of Simon Commission who later became PM of Britain

Clement Attlee

Arrival and composition of Simon Commission (1928)

7-membered Commission with all white members and no Indians

Slogan against Simon Commission

"Simon Go Back" (term coined by Yusuf Meherally)

Key recommendations of Simon Commission

Abolition of dyarchy, Federal system, Extended voting rights, Separate Muslim electorate

Demands rejected by Simon Commission

Separation of Sindh from Bombay, equal status for Frontier, 1/3rd Muslim seats in Central Assembly

President of Madras Session of Congress (1928)

M.A. Ansari

Resolution passed at the special Madras Session (1928)

Calling for the boycott of the Simon Commission

British Secretary who challenged Indian leaders to draft their own Constitution

Lord Birkenhead

Response to Birkenhead's challenge

Congress set up a committee under Motilal Nehru, presenting the Nehru Report

Key demands in the Nehru Report

Rejected Separate Electorate, demanded Dominion status, Linguistic provinces, 19 Fundamental Rights

Muslim League's 1927 proposals

Delhi Proposals

Jinnah's response to the Nehru Report

Presented his 14 points (1929)

Formation of Indian Independence League (1928)

Formed in opposition to the Nehru Report by S.C. Bose, J.L. Nehru, and Srinivasa Iyengar

Initial supporters of the Simon Commission

B.R. Ambedkar and the Hindu Mahasabha (founded in 1915 by Madan Mohan Malaviya)

Muddiman Committee (1924)

Examined the working of Diarchy under the GOI Act 1919

Linlithgow Commission (1926)

Royal Commission focused on agricultural conditions in India

Lee Commission (1924)

Examined recruitment and Indianization of Civil Services

Leader of Bardoli Satyagraha (1928)

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Reason for Bardoli Satyagraha

Protest against a 22% hike in tax rates

Origin of the title "Sardar" for Vallabhbhai Patel

Given to him by the women of Bardoli

Calcutta Session (1928)

The Nehru Report was accepted

Irwin's Declaration (1929)

Also known as "Deepavali Declaration"; promised Dominion status in the future and a Round Table Conference

Delhi Manifesto (1929)

Outlined conditions by Indian leaders for participating in the Round Table Conference

First leaders to demand Dominion Status

Tej Bahadur Sapru and M.R. Jaykar

President of Lahore Session (1929)

J.L. Nehru

Decisions taken at Lahore Session 1929

Boycott 1st RTC, set the goal of "Purna Swaraj" (Complete Independence), authorized launching of CDM

Event on 31 Dec 1929

Flag hoisted by J.L. Nehru on banks of the Ravi river with slogans of "Inquilab Zindabad"

Date fixed as the First Independence Day at Lahore Session

26 Jan 1930

Gandhi's ultimatum before launching the Civil Disobedience Movement

Presented 11 demands to Irwin (which were ignored)

Key economic points in Gandhi's 11 Demands

Reduce military spending and civil service salaries by 50%, abolish salt tax, total prohibition on intoxicants