Consultation and Confrontation, 1930 - 42

• Delegates

  • 16 British delegates
  • 16 Muslim delegates (including Jinnah)
  • 16 from princely states
  • Representatives from Sikhs, Christians, Anglo-Indians and women
  • 58 total delegates (excluding Congress)
• Labour gov now in power
• Congress’ and Gandhi’s absence
• First Round Table Conference, 12th November 1930
• Imperialist - Churchill - didn't like the idea of India having a single central gov
• Acropolis of 4 columns


  Representing the four dominions of Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand
• Inauguration of New Delhi

  February 1931
• New Delhi was built as the administrative capital of India
• Either as well as Gandhi or Nehru
• Timing was bad as the RTC were meant to be about conciliation and compromise whereas their message was literally set in stone
• Acropolis of 4 columns


  Showing that India soon would be welcomed to this 'family'
• Four dominions

  • Canada
  • South Africa
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
• 2nd Round Table Conference

  • Markup - Similar to 1st RTC with Gandhi as sole representative to Congress
  • Event - Conference unravelled over separate electorates as Dr Ambedkar claimed to represent ‘The Untouchables’
  • Consequence - This angered the people as he explained that congress represented all Indian interests and causes and believed he could better represent the Muslim people and untouchables. He openly questioned the rights of his fellow Indians which caused divisions among all groups present
  • Analysis - Gandhi alienated other sections of the nationalist movement, undermining its effectiveness
  • Decision made - No agreement
• 2nd Round Table Conference


  Response from India - Gandhi welcomed back
• 2nd Round Table Conference

  Consequence - Gandhi was arrested on the 4th January 1932: he was sent to Yeravda prison. By the end of January, 15,000 Congress members were arrested by the Raj. By the end of Feb a further 18,000 were arrested
• 2nd Round Table Conference

  Response from British - National government in place with Viceroy no longer sympathetic + no negotiations with Gandhi
• 2nd Round Table Conference


  A conference held between 7th September 1931 - 1st December 1932
• Third Round Table Conference, 17th November 1932 - 24th December 1932

  • Context - The British government was a Tory-led coalition and internal disputes = Labour sent no delegates and India was not a priority.
  • Event - Jinnah supported separate electorates, as did the British govt. Gandhi stood firm.
  • Consequence - It was a failure which meant that the British government now concluded that Indians were unable to agree on their own constitution so it meant British politicians had to make one for them in a new government of India Act.
• Overall - Reasons for failure of RTC

  • Gandhi’s insistence - Tried to make Congress the umbrella organisation whilst alienating minority groups.
  • Labour → Tory-led coalition - Due to the impact of the Great Depression.
  • Conservative Secretary of State Sir Samuel Hoare - More reservations than Irwin that were shared with the Conservative party, especially Churchill.
  • Separate electorates - ‘Untouchables’ and ML didn’t want Hindu domination.
  • No meaningful presence - both Gandhi and Nehru in British jails.
• Consequence of RTC - Viceroy Willingdon arrested Gandhi, outlawed Congress, imprisoned members of Congress Working Committee and banned youth organisations. The RTCs demonstrated the wide divergences in long-term aspirations of other minority groups
• The Communal Award, 16th August 1932

  • Context - Given by Prime Minister Ramsey MacDonald
  • Content - This designated Sikhs, Muslims, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians and Untouchables as separate classes which made Gandhi furious.
  • Controversy - The 60 million untouchables had previously been ignored in the Nehru report, but despite this, Ambedkar's meeting with the Simon Commission was remembered.
  • Consequence - Provoked Gandhi’s ‘fast unto death’ since it would cause Gandhi to lose his foundation as he believed this was an example of Britain trying to reduce Congress' influence.
• The campaign re-energised the nationalist movement following repression of Raj 1931-32
• Gandhi viewed FUTD as an attempt to reunite all Hindus
• Gandhi’s Fast unto Death Campaign was on the 12th of September 1932
• Gandhi was desperate to avoid 3 India's (Gandhi)
• The Yeravda (Poona) Pact, 25th September 1932

  • Event - Hindus and Untouchables Settled on the number of provincial assembly seats to be awarded to Untouchables with the British immediately accepting (due to not wanting to be held responsible for Gandhi’s death).
  • Consequences - Ended Gandhi’s FUTD, marked as Untouchability Abolition week (untouchables equal but took 2 years to implement), Untouchables gained 19% of seats and were increasingly welcomed into politics. Incorporated into GOIA.
• Government of India Act, 2nd August 1935

  • It was a special act and was the longest and most complicated legislation ever passed by parliament (450 clauses). 
  • General Content - Dyarchy abolished, India is divided into 11 provinces - each with a legislative assembly & provincial gov. The provinces would be in charge of all domestic affairs and the Viceroy would still be the face of the British gov. and in control of defence and foreign affairs. Princely States could opt out of India and join Britain.
• Conservatives

  Opposed to dominion status and devolution
• Members of India Defence League

  • Ex-military commanders
  • Civil servants
  • 50 conservative MPs & peers
• Labour


  Supportive of dominion status and devolution
• The Princes faced pressure to reform
• Congress rejected the Government of India Act as they wanted a strong central government, objected to reserving seats for minor seats, opposed Princely States opting out of India to make their own group and oppose Congress
• Lord Zetland feared that the Princely States would join the Tory die-hards preventing legislation of GOIA
• The Princely States were prepared to bargain hard but with fear of Britain backing out, faced internal pressure for a greater representation in government which confirmed the autocracy of the Prince
• Unrest and limited rioting broke out
• By 1939, only ⅖ of the states had agreed to the form of federation required by the Act
• General reactions were of uncertainty, fear of Princely states joining Churchill
• Muslim League rejected the Government of India Act as they did not gain enough power and there was no guarantee to protect Muslim rights
• 1937 Elections

  • Congress - Successful and gained control of United and Central provinces, Orissa, Bombay and Madras, becoming the largest single party in Assam and the North-West Frontier. Won all provincial seats open to the general electorate and 59 more from separate electorates ending up with 716 legislative members.
  • Muslim League - Fared badly, had no strong leadership until 1935 with Jinnah returning, limited time to build a power base with little candidates to fill reserved seats, little support even from Muslims.
• Subhas Bose attempted to unify his party and ML

  Talks broke down