Round Table Conferences and Quit India Movement

Round Table conference and the Quit India Movement  

To accomplish this, the British government held a series of “Round Table Conferences” in London.

1. First round table conferences: The 1st meeting was held in November 1930, but without India’s pre-eminent political leaders, making it a futile exercise.  The first round table conference was attended by many British officials, the Muslim League, and Indian states representatives. The key participants were Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, V.S. Srinivasa Sastri, Sir Mohammad Zulfikar Khan, K.T. Paul, and Mirabehn. 
2. Gandhi-Irwin Pact: In January 1931, Gandhi was released from prison, and in the following month, he had several long meetings with the Viceroy. The “Gandhi-Irwin Pact,” stated that civil disobedience would be forbidden, all prisoners would be released, as well as salt manufacturing along the coast would be permitted.
3. The 2nd Round Table Conference was held in London in late 1931. Gandhi represented the Congress here. However, his claim was challenged by three parties.
4. The British government and Indian political personalities organized the third Round Table Conference in 1932, November-December. Only 46 leaders attended the third round table conference. 

From the Muslim League, which claimed to represent the Muslim minority’s interests; from the Princes, who claimed that the Congress had no stake in their territories; and from B.R. Ambedkar, who claimed that Gandhi and the Congress did not truly represent the lowest castes. As the London Conference was inconclusive, Gandhi returned to India and resumed his campaign of non-violent civil disobedience.

Series of Events

The Government of India Act of 1935 promised some form of representative government. Two years later, in an election with a limited franchise, Congress won the majority. Eight of the eleven provinces now had a Congress “Prime Minister” who worked under the supervision of a British Governor September 1939, Second World War: The Second World War broke out two years after the Congress ministries assumed office. Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru committed Congress’ support for the war effort in exchange for the British promising to grant India independence. The offer was turned down. The Congress ministries resigned in protest.In March 1940, the Muslim League passed a resolution calling for greater autonomy for Muslim-majority areas.

Three-Way Struggle: The political landscape had shifted from Indians versus British to a three-way battle between the Congress, the Muslim League, and the British.

Cripps Mission: In the spring of 1942, Churchill was persuaded to send one of his ministers, Sir Stafford Cripps, to India to try to reach an agreement with Gandhiji and the Congress, but the talks fell through.

Quit India Movement

Following the failure of the Cripps Mission in August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi launched his third major movement, the Quit India Movement. The movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942, at the Bombay session of the India Congress, to finally demand the end of British rule in India. Spread of the Quit India Movement and Independent Governments: “Independent” governments were declared in several districts, including Satara in the west and Medinipur in the east. It energized the youth, who left their colleges in large numbers to go to jail. Congress and Muslim League: While the Congress leaders were imprisoned, Jinnah and his Muslim League colleagues worked patiently to expand their influence in Punjab and Sind.

Change of Government in Britain: In 1945, a Labour government took power in Britain and pledged to grant India independence. Meanwhile, Lord Wavell convened a series of talks between the Congress and the League.

Elections in 1946 and political polarisation: In early 1946, new elections to provincial legislatures were held. The Congress won the “General” category, but the League won a majority in the seats specifically reserved for Muslims. Political polarisation had reached its height.

Disagreement between Congress and League, Direct Action Day: A Cabinet Mission sent in the summer of 1946 was unable to persuade Congress and the League to agree on a federal system that would keep India together while allowing provinces some autonomy. Following the breakdown of the talks, Jinnah called for a “Direct Action Day” to press the League’s demand for Pakistan.Mountbatten called one final round of talks in February 1947, but when these, too, proved inconclusive, he announced that British India would be freed, but also divided.

The Last Heroic Days

Mahatma Gandhi’s Freedom at an Unacceptable Cost: He did not attend any function or hoist a flag there either. Gandhi observed the day by fasting for 24 hours. The freedom for which he had fought so hard had come at an unacceptable cost, with a nation divided and Hindus and Muslims at odds.Gandhi’s death and the world’s reaction: On the evening of January 30, Gandhi was shot dead by a young man during his daily prayer meeting.Nathuram Godse, the publisher of an extremist Hindu weekly who had labeled Gandhiji as a “Muslim appeaser,” was the murderer who eventually surrendered. Gandhiji’s death provoked an unparalleled outpouring of grief, with eloquent tributes from across India’s political spectrum, as well as touching tributes from international figures such as Albert Einstein and George Orwell.

Conclusion

The Government of India Act of 1935 promised some form of representative government. Two years later, in an election with a limited franchise, Congress won the majority. Eight of the eleven provinces now had a Congress “Prime Minister” who worked under the supervision of a British Governor.September 1939, Second World War: The Second World War broke out two years after the Congress ministries assumed office. The political landscape had shifted from Indians versus British to a three-way battle between the Congress, the Muslim League, and the British. The Quit India Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942, at the Bombay session of the India Congress, to finally demand the end of British rule in India.