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
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The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–1931) had created nationwide agitation against British rule.
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The Gandhi-Irwin Pact (March 1931) allowed Gandhi to attend the conference after the suspension of the movement and his release from prison.
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Congress aimed to secure self-governance and a framework for Purna Swaraj through negotiation.
Key Participants
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Mahatma Gandhi: Representing Indian National Congress.
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British officials including Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald and Secretary of State for India, Lord Lothian.
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Leaders of minorities, princely states, and other Indian political groups.
Major Discussions
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Swaraj and Dominion Status: Gandhi argued for full self-rule, though the British initially offered only limited autonomy.
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Minority Rights: Gandhi emphasized protection of minorities without endorsing excessive communal electorates.
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Provincial Autonomy: Gandhi sought real power for provincial governments rather than British control.
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Princely States: Their representation in the federal structure was debated.
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Gandhi stressed the importance of mass participation and the need for constitutional reforms to reflect popular will.
Outcomes
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No immediate settlement was reached; the conference ended inconclusively.
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Highlighted differences between Congress, Muslim League, and British authorities.
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Set the stage for the Government of India Act (1935) by clarifying demands for provincial autonomy and minority safeguards.
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Strengthened Gandhi’s position as a negotiator and moral leader, even without formal concessions.
Significance
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First time Gandhi represented India in international negotiations, giving moral weight to Indian demands.
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Demonstrated Congress’s willingness to combine negotiation with mass struggle.
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Showed limitations of British willingness to grant full self-rule without continued pressure.
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Highlighted the complexity of communal and princely state issues in India’s constitutional future.
Key Takeaway
The Second Round Table Conference (1931) was a pivotal negotiation effort, linking Gandhi’s mass movement with constitutional dialogue. While it failed to achieve immediate Swaraj, it clarified Indian demands and laid the groundwork for the Government of India Act (1935).