Rowlatt Act (March 18, 1919)
This gave unbridled powers to the govt.
to arrest and imprison suspects without trial for two years maximum.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13,
1919):
People were agitated over the arrest of
Dr. Kitchlu and Dr. Satyapal on April 9, 1919. General O’ Dyer fires at people
who assembled in the Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar on 13th April
1919. As a result hundreds of men, women and children were killed and
thousands injured. Rabindranath Tagore returned his Knighthood (title) in
protest. Sir Shankaran Nair resigned from Viceroy’s Executive Council
after this. Hunter Commission was appointed to enquire into it.
On March 13, 1940, Sardar Udham Singh
killed O’Dyer when the later was addressing a meeting in Caxton Hall, London.
Hunter Committee Report
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre was
followed by establishment of a non-official enquiry committee the Government
established a committee headed by Lord Hunter a Senator of the "College of
justice of Scotland".
Khilafat Movement (1919-20):
Muslims were agitated by the treatment
done with Turkey by the British in the treaty that followed the First World
War.Two brothers, Mohd.Ali and Shaukat Ali started this movement.
Non cooperation movement (1920-22)
The Non cooperation was the first mass
movement launched under the leadership of Gandhi.
The program of non-cooperation
included:
1. Surrender of titles
2. Boycott of government affiliated
educational institutions
3. Boycott of courts of law
4. Boycott of foreign cloth
5. Nonpayment of taxes
Chaura Chouri incidence (1922)
On 5th February 1922, the Non
Cooperation Movement was called off by Gandhi because of an unfortunate
incidence at Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh. In this
incidence the crowd participating in the Non Cooperation and Khilafat
procession indulged into the violence with the police. As a result the crowd
burnt a Police station and in the incidence 22 policemen were killed.
The Sawraj party (1922)
During this time a new political
strategy; to carry forward the struggle against the colonial rule; was
advocated by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru. C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru put forward
the changed strategy in Gaya session (1922) of the Congress. There were leaders
in Congress like Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad and C.Rajgopalacharya who
opposed these changes of council entry. C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru resigned
from the Congress and formed the Swaraj Party.
Simon Commission (1927):
Constituted under John Simon, to review
the political situation in India and to introduce further reforms and extension
of parliamentary democracy. Indian leaders opposed the commission, as
there were no Indians in it. At Lahore, Lala Lajpat Rai was severely
beaten in a lathi charge. He died in 1928.
Nehru’s Report (1928)
Lord Birkenhead, the Conservative
Secretary of the State challenged Indians that they were not capable to
formulate a concrete scheme of the constitutional reforms which had the support
of wide section of political parties. He was of the view that a scheme of
constitutional reform made by one political party in India would be opposed by
the others and Indian political parties lacked the capabilities to form a
consensus. To meet this challenge All Parties Conferences were held in 1928. A
scheme was finalized which is popularly called “Nehru Report” as Motilal Nehru
was its chief architect.
14 Points of Jinnah (March 9, 1929)
Jinnah, the leader of Muslim League,
did not accept the Nehru Report. Jinnah thereafter drew up a list of demands,
which was called ’14 points of Jinnah’.
Lahore Session(1929)
At its annual session held in Lahore in
Dec. 1929, under the presidentship of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Indian National
Congress passed a resolution declaring ‘Poorna Swaraj’ (Complete Independence)
to be the goal of the national movement. On Dec. 31, 1929, the newly adopted
tricolor flag was unfurled and Jan 26 fixed as the Independence Day which was
to be celebrated every year, pleading to the people not to submit to British
rule any longer.
Civil Disobedience Movement
Phase “I” of Civil Disobedience
Movement
In 1929 at Lahore Session, Congress
made the “Purna Swaraj” or the complete independence as the aim of the
Congress. On 31st January 1930, Gandhi gave his ultimatum to Lord Irwin with
his 11 point demand. The Gandhi asked Irwin either to accept the 11 point
demands else the Congress will launch Civil Disobedience. The demands were
ignored by the British government. Thus Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience
Movement with the Dandi march. It was from Sabarmati to Dandi. Gandhiji along
with his 78 followers broke the Salt Act.
First Round Table conference (1930):
It was the first conference arranged
between the British and Indians as equals. It was held on Nov.12, 1930 in
London to discuss Simon commission.
Boycotted by INC, Muslim League, Hindu
Mahasabha, Liberals and some others were there.
Gandhi Irwin Pact (1931):
The two (government represented by
Irwin and INC by Gandhiji) signed a pact on March 5, 1931. In this the
INC called off the civil disobedience movement and agreed to join the second
round table conference. The government on its part released the political
prisoners and conceded the right to make salt for consumption for villages
along the coast.
Second Round Table Conference(1931):
Gandhiji represented the INC and went
to London to meet British P.M. Ramsay Macdonald. However, the
session was soon deadlocked on the minorities issue and this time separate
electorates was demanded not only by Muslims but also by Depressed Classes,
Indian Christians and Anglo – Indians.
Phase “II” of CDM
After the failure of Second Round Table
Conference, the working committee of the Congress resumed Civil Disobedience
in.
The Communal Award (Aug 16,1932):
Announced by Ramsay McDonald. It showed
divide and rule policy of the British.
Envisaged representation of Muslims,
Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo Indians, women and even Backward
classes. Gandhiji, who was in Yeravada jail at that time, started a fast
unto death against it.
Poona Pact (September 25, 1932):
After the announcement of communal
award and subsequent fast of Gandhiji, mass meeting took place almost
everywhere. Political leaders like Madan Mohan Malviya, B.R.Ambedkar and
M.C.Rajah became active. Eventually Poona pact was reached and Gandhiji
broke his fact on the sixth day (Sept 25, 1932). In this, the idea of
separate electorate for the depressed classes was abandoned, but seats reserved
to them in the provincial legislature were increased.
Third Round Table Conference (1932):
Proved fruitless as most of the
national leaders were in prison. The discussions led to the passing of the
Government of India Act, 1935.
The Government of India Act, 1935
The Simon Commission report submitted
in 1930 formed the basis for the Government of India Act, 1935. The new
Government of India Act received the royal assent on Aug. 4, 1935. The
continued and extended all the existing features of earlier constitutional
reforms. But in addition there were certain new principle introduced. It
provided for a federal type of government. Thus, the act:
1. Introduced provincial autonomy.
2. Abolished dyarchy in provinces
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