The Simon Commission Recommendations, Nehru Report, and Mass Movement Ultimatum

Opposition to the Simon Commission

  • Denial of Self-Determination: The exclusion of Indians from the Simon Commission was viewed across the nation as a denial of the right to self-determination and a deliberate insult to the self-respect of the Indian people.
  • Madras Session of the National Congress (1927):
    • Presiding Officer: Dr. Ansari.
    • Resolution: The Indian National Congress decided to boycott the commission "at every stage and in every form".
    • Unified Opposition: The Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha decided to support the Congress decision. The commission served to temporarily unite different groups and political parties across the country.
  • Protests and All India Hartal:
    • Arrival: The Simon Commission arrived in Bombay on February 3.
    • Nationwide Demonstrations: An All India Hartal was organised on February 3. Wherever the commission went, it was greeted with hartals and black flag demonstrations under the slogan "Simon Go Back".
    • Government Crackdown: The Government utilized brutal suppression and police attacks to break popular opposition.
  • Martyrdom of Lala Lajpat Rai:
    • Event: On October 30, 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai led a demonstration at Lahore railway station.
    • Injury and Death: He was grievously injured as a result of lathi blows from the police during the demonstration and subsequently lost his life.

Recommendations of the Simon Commission

  • Abolition of Dyarchy: Dyarchy should be abolished and complete autonomy established in the Provinces, including administrative control over the department of law and order. However, the Governor should be given overriding powers in certain specific matters, such as internal security.
  • Enlargement of Councils: Provincial Legislative Councils should be enlarged.
  • Federal Structure: A Federal government should be established at the Centre, embracing not only British India but also the Princely States.
  • Cabinet Appointment: The Governor-General should select and appoint the members of his Cabinet.
  • Retention of Military Officers: British troops and British officers should stay on in Indian regiments for many more years.
  • High Courts Administration: High Courts should be placed under the administrative control of the Government of India.
  • Communal Representation: Communal representation was to continue.

The Nehru Report (1928)

  • Background and Context:
    • Lord Birkenhead's Statement: Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India, justified the exclusion of Indians from the Simon Commission by stating that Indians were not united and could not arrive at an "agreed scheme of reforms".
    • All Parties Conference (1928): To refute Lord Birkenhead's charge, an All Parties Conference was convened in 1928.
    • Participating Groups: Liberals, Assertive Nationalists, leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha, the Muslim League, and the Depressed Classes came together.
    • Committee Leadership: Motilal Nehru was appointed chairman of the committee, with Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and N.C. Kelkar as his principal associates.
    • Report: The document submitted by the All Parties Conference is known as the Nehru Report.
  • Proposals of the Nehru Report:
    • Dominion Status: Granting of Dominion Status for India.
    • Structure of Parliament: The Parliament of India should consist of:
    • Senate: Containing 200 members elected for 7 years by the Provincial Councils.
    • House of Representation: Containing 500 members elected for 5 years through adult franchise.
    • Electorates and Minorities: Joint electorates with reservation of seats for minorities on a population basis (except in Punjab and Bengal), along with the right to contest additional seats.
    • Linguistic Reorganization: Creation of "new provinces" on a linguistic basis.
    • Nineteen Fundamental Rights: Inclusion of "Nineteen Fundamental Rights", which incorporated:
    • The right to vote.
    • Freedom from arbitrary arrest, searches, and seizures.
    • Freedom of conscience.

Ultimatum and Declaration of Poorna Swaraj

  • Calcutta Session Ultimatum: The Calcutta session of the Congress served an ultimatum to the British Government to accept the Nehru Report by the end of 1929.
  • Threat of Mass Movement: Failure to accept the Nehru Report within the specified one-year time-limit would result in launching a mass movement for Poorna Swaraj.