Simon Commission (1927)

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  • Indian Statutory Commission chaired by Simon to go into the question of further constitutional reform
  • All its seven members were Englishmen. Clement Attlee was one of the members.
  • Lord Birkinhead was the secretary of state at that time
  • At its Madras session in 1927 INC decided to boycott the commission “at every stage and in every form”
    • ML and Hindu Mahasabha supported Congress
  • Nehru Report, 1928
    • Dominion status
    • Contained Bill of Rights
    • No state religion
    • Federal form
    • Linguistically determined provinces
    • No separate electorates
    • All Party Convention, held at Calcutta in 1928, failed to pass the report
    • Muslim league rejected the proposals of the report
    • Jinnah drafted his fourteen points
    • Hindu Mahasabha and Sikh League also objected
  • Poorna Swaraj
    • Resolution passed at the Lahore session in 1929
    • On 31 December 1929, the tri-color was hoisted
    • On 26 January 1930, Independence Day was celebrated

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    The Simon Commission was a British Royal Commission appointed in November 1927 to investigate the constitutional future of India. The Commission was composed of seven members, all of whom were British, and was chaired by Sir John Simon. The Commission’s report, which was published in 1930, recommended that India should be granted dominion status, but this was rejected by the Indian National Congress. The Simon Commission was widely seen as a British attempt to impose its will on India, and its appointment led to widespread protests and demonstrations.

    Appointment of the Simon Commission

    The Simon Commission was appointed by the British government in response to growing demands for Indian independence. The Commission was tasked with investigating the constitutional future of India and making recommendations for its future governance. The Commission was appointed in November 1927, and its members arrived in India in January 1928.

    Composition of the Simon Commission

    The Simon Commission was composed of seven members, all of whom were British. The Commission was chaired by Sir John Simon, a former British Attorney General. The other members of the Commission were:

    • Sir William Benn, a former British Secretary of State for India
    • Sir John Clauson, a British civil servant
    • Sir Reginald Coupland, a British historian
    • Sir Edward Grigg, a British diplomat
    • Sir Herbert Hope, a British judge
    • Sir Maurice Gwyer, a British judge

    Terms of reference of the Simon Commission

    The Simon Commission was tasked with investigating the constitutional future of India and making recommendations for its future governance. The Commission was specifically asked to consider the following issues:

    • The extent to which Indians had already been granted self-government
    • The nature of any further constitutional changes that might be necessary
    • The relationship between the British government and the Indian government
    • The role of the Indian princes in any future constitutional arrangement

    Report of the Simon Commission

    The Simon Commission submitted its report to the British government in June 1930. The report recommended that India should be granted dominion status, but this was rejected by the Indian National Congress. The Congress argued that the Commission was not representative of Indian opinion, and that its recommendations were not acceptable.

    Reception of the Simon Commission’s report

    The Simon Commission’s report was widely seen as a British attempt to impose its will on India. Its appointment led to widespread protests and demonstrations, and the report itself was rejected by the Indian National Congress. The Commission’s report was also criticized by some British politicians, who argued that it did not go far enough in granting India self-government.

    Aftermath of the Simon Commission

    The Simon Commission’s report and the protests that followed it led to a period of increased tension between the British government and the Indian National Congress. The Commission’s report also contributed to the growing demand for Indian independence. In 1932, the British government appointed a new commission, the Indian Round Table Conference, to discuss the future of India. The Round Table Conference was attended by representatives of the British government, the Indian National Congress, and other Indian Political Parties. The Conference failed to reach an agreement on the future of India, but it did lead to the Government of India Act of 1935, which granted India a greater degree of self-government.

    The Simon Commission was a significant event in the history of British India. Its appointment and report led to widespread protests and demonstrations, and it contributed to the growing demand for Indian independence. The Commission’s report also had a significant impact on the subsequent development of Indian constitutional history.

    What is the Indian National Congress?

    The Indian National Congress (INC) is a political party in India. It was founded in 1885 by Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant. The INC was the principal nationalist movement in India during the British Raj. It played a leading role in the Indian independence movement and in the drafting of the Constitution of India.

    What is the All India Muslim League?

    The All India Muslim League (AIML) was a political party in India. It was founded in 1906 by Nawab Salimullah Khan of Dacca. The AIML was the principal representative of Indian Muslims during the British Raj. It played a leading role in the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan.

    What is the Hindu Mahasabha?

    The Hindu Mahasabha was a Hindu nationalist political party in India. It was founded in 1925 by V. D. Savarkar. The Hindu Mahasabha was a major opponent of the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. It played a role in the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan.

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    What is the Indian National League?

    The Indian National League (INL) is a political party in India. It was founded in 1906 by M. A. Jinnah. The INL was the principal representative of Indian Muslims in Bengal during the British Raj. It played a leading role in the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan.

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    **What is the Bah

    The following are multiple choice questions about the Indian independence movement:

    1. Which of the following was not a demand of the Indian National Congress?
      (A) Swaraj (self-rule)
      (B) Dominion status
      (C) Independence
      (D) Partition of India

    2. Who was the leader of the Indian National Congress from 1920 to 1942?
      (A) Mahatma Gandhi
      (B) Jawaharlal Nehru
      (C) Vallabhbhai Patel
      (D) Mohammed Ali Jinnah

    3. The Salt March was a major protest against which of the following?
      (A) The British salt monopoly
      (B) The British government’s decision to partition India
      (C) The British government’s decision to imprison Mahatma Gandhi
      (D) The British government’s decision to impose martial law in India

    4. The Quit India Movement was a major protest against which of the following?
      (A) The British government’s decision to partition India
      (B) The British government’s decision to imprison Mahatma Gandhi
      (C) The British government’s decision to impose martial law in India
      (D) The British government’s decision to continue to rule India

    5. Which of the following was not a result of the Indian independence movement?
      (A) The creation of the independent dominion of India
      (B) The creation of the independent dominion of Pakistan
      (C) The partition of India
      (D) The end of British rule in India

    The answers to the questions are:
    1. (D)
    2. (A)
    3. (A)
    4. (D)
    5. (C)