The Congress ministries, formed after the elections of 1937, resigned in October 1939 as a mark of protest against British policies during the Second World War. This created a major political turning point in India’s freedom struggle. Background On 3rd September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany, marking the start of the Second World War. …
The elections of 1937 were held under the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935, which introduced provincial autonomy and expanded legislatures. These elections were the first major test of democratic politics in India, shaping the future of the national movement. Background The Government of India Act (1935) granted provincial autonomy and allowed Indians …
The Government of India Act of 1935 was the most comprehensive constitutional reform introduced by the British in India before independence. It was based on the recommendations of the Simon Commission (1927), discussions at the Round Table Conferences (1930–32), and the White Paper of 1933. Background Failure of earlier reforms like the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) …
The Poona Pact was an agreement signed on 24th September 1932 between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at Yerwada Jail, Poona. It was a direct outcome of the opposition to the Communal Award, which had granted separate electorates to the Depressed Classes (Scheduled Castes). Background The Communal Award (1932) by Ramsay MacDonald introduced separate …
The Communal Award was announced by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald on 16th August 1932 to provide separate electorates and safeguards for various minority communities in India. It became a major turning point in communal politics and influenced Indian nationalist strategies. Background The Round Table Conferences (1930–1932) had failed to resolve issues of minority representation. …
The 1st Round Table Conference was held in London from November to December 1930 to discuss constitutional reforms in India. It was the first formal meeting between British officials, Indian leaders, and representatives of princely states and minority communities to negotiate India’s political future. Background The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930), including the Salt March, had …
The 3rd Round Table Conference, held in London in 1932, was the final of the three conferences aimed at discussing constitutional reforms in India. Unlike the earlier conferences, the Congress did not participate, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with British proposals. Background The 1st (1931) and 2nd (1931) Round Table Conferences failed to resolve key issues like …
The Second Round Table Conference, held in London from September to December 1931, was the only conference attended by Mahatma Gandhi representing the Indian National Congress. It was aimed at negotiating constitutional reforms with the British government following the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931). Background The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–1931) had created …
The Round Table Conferences were a series of three conferences held in London between 1930 and 1932 to discuss constitutional reforms in India. They were a direct outcome of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931) and represented the first time Indian leaders were formally involved in negotiating with the British government. Background The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–1931) …
The Karachi Session of the Indian National Congress, held in March 1931, was significant for consolidating the outcomes of the Civil Disobedience Movement and endorsing the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. It marked a new phase in Congress strategy, balancing negotiations with the British and mass mobilization. Background The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–1931), initiated with the Salt March, …