Q: What was Gandhi's Salt March?

/4

Ans. It marked the start of the second phase of the non-cooperation campaign of the IN The
British did not comply with the Nehru Report and, therefore, Gandhi was g charge of the
campaign. He started his Salt March as part of his Satyagraha (the force) on 12 March 1930
from his Ashram (retreat) near Ahmedabad and march for 24 days to reach the coastal town of
Dandi. He was accompanied by thousand of his followers. Primarily its aim was to condemn
the unfair Salt Laws of the Britis but gradually it began to reject all unfair laws of the British
rule. The British banne the INC and arrested several INC leaders including Gandhi and Nehru

Q: What was Gandhi's 'Satyagraha' campaign? /4

Ans. When the Khilafat Movement was gaining momentum, Gandhi developed a type of
peaceful protest against the British, called the Satyagraha. It is a Hindi word meaning truth-
force and involves non-violent resistance. According to Gandhi, it meart putting one's soul
against the tyrant, and therefore, had spiritual dimensions is supporters were required to have
a high degree of self-sacrifice. It was demonstrated by sit-ins, peaceful strikes including
hunger strike, protest marches and boycotts Gandhi urged his followers to accept any torture
by police as a way of sell purification. His Salt March was a part of it Though Jinnah disagreed,
the campaig gave Gandhi international fame.

What were Jinnah's 14 Points? /4

Ans. . Jinnah suggested for amendments to the Nehru Report but they were rejected by the INC.
In January 1929, Jinnah presented his 14 Points in the ML. session in Delhi and they were
formally accepted in March 1929. Jinnah demanded maximum safety of political rights of all
minorities, specially Muslims. He demanded one third Muslim seats in the Central Government,
preservation of the existing provincial boundaries and no acceptance of a law about any
community unless it was approved by three fourth members of the same community. These
points marked a possible end to any kind of Hindu-Muslim unity and eventually became
Jinnah's demand for Pakatan

Why did Jinnah present his 14 Points in 19297 ? (7)

Ans. They were presented in response to the Nehru Report. Jinnah wanted to maximally
safeguard the political rights of Indian Muslims whereas the Nehru Report asked for too many
sacrifices from Muslims. It rejected the separate electorates for Muslims as well as one third
Muslim seats in the central government. Moreover, his four proposed amendments in the
Nehru Report had been rejected by the INC. He. therefore, wanted to lay down the basis of any
future negotiations with the INC or the British. He demanded adequate Muslim share in all the
legislatures, the government and state services.

Since the 14 points were presented shortly after the rejection of the Nehru Report, it was
evident that the gulf between Hindus and Muslims was getting unbridgeable. This meant that
events would be moving towards a separatist movement as the 14 points contained so many
demands for the safety of the Muslims. This way, they would eventually become the basis of
the demand of Pakistan in 1940 by the ML While unfolding these points in January 1929,
Jinnah had adopted a threatening tone by saying "No scheme for the constitution of the
Government of India will be acceptable unless all the following basic principles are given effect
to

Q Why was it near community rejected the Simon Caccept the necessary to hold three RTCs?

The Indian political community rejected the Simon Commission Report 1927.the Congress and
Muslim League both refused to accept the recommendations of Simon Commission. Different
political parties gave vent to their feelings different ways. The Indian political situation seemed
deadlocked. The British govt refused to contemplate any form of self-govemment for the
people of India. This caused frustration among the masses, who often expressed their anger in
the violent clashes. The political chaos forced British to come up with some derisions .so in
order to review the Simon Commission Report, they announced the holding of RTC which was
held between November 1930 - January 1931. It was attended by Muslim League but not the
INC because Gandhi was in jail for his non-cooperato mayement .

In the absence of INC, the largest political party of India, it was not possible to make any major
achievement. Arrangements were made under the Gandhi-Inwin Pact March 1931 to involve
the INC in the political proceedings. Under this Gandhi called off his non cooperation
movement and in retum was released and allowed to fly to London to attend the second RTC.

The second RTC was held September December 1931. After some successfu rounds of talks
there was deadlock between the Gandhi and Jinnah over the issue of the rights of minorities,
Jinnah wanted concrete constitutional protection of minontie but Gandhi insisted that granting
of religious liberty to the minorities would be sufficient. Both leaders firmly struck to their guns
and the RTC failed Therefore, one more RTC was needed that was held in November December
1932 in order to reach some consensus about the future Constitution of India

Q: What was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact? (4)

Ans. Gandhi could not attend the first Round Table Conference of November 1930, as he was
in jail. The Viceroy Lord Irwin wanted his participation in the next RTC. So, he held a number of
meetings with Gandhi in February 1931 and urged him to call off his non-cooperation
movement. Finally, Gandhi agreed and the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed on 5 March 1931.
Irwin promised to release most political prisoners and retum the property seized by the
government during the protests of the non cooperation movement. Gandhi also gave up his
demand for full independence in return for a promise that in a federal India, Indians would have
a genuine say in the govemment affairs

Q: What was the Communal Award? (4)

Ans. It was announced on 16 August 1932 by the British PM Ramsay MacDonald after the
failure of the second RTC as he wanted to resolve the political crisis of India. It gave the right
of separate electorates to all the minonties in India and the principle of weightage was also
applied. Though. Muslim majonty in Bengal and Runjab was reduced, the ML accepted it in
order to reach a political settlement for the future of India The INC rejected it and Gandhi
protested against the declaration of the Untouchables as a minority. He began a strike of
Maran Bharats (fasting unte dealfis

Q.How successful were the three RTC's of 1930 1932/ The three RTC's achieved little. Do you
agree? Explain your answer/first RTC of 1930 was more successful than those of 1931 and
1932, Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer . (14)

Ans : The RTC's were held in London. The first RTC was held in November 1930 at the House
of Parliament London. It was attended by 89 delegates including Mr. Jinnah and Sir Aga Khan.
The purpose was review the Simon Commission Report. The RTC was successful because
federal form of government for India was approved and the state princes promised to join the
federation of India on the condition of protection of their rights. However, its main failure was
the absence of INC as Gandhi was in jalil for his non-cooperation movement. INC wanted a
guarantee of implementing everything agreed in the RTC such a guarantee could not be given.
In the absence of INC no major decision could be reached.

In order to included INC, the Gandhi - Irwin Pact was signed in March 1931 under which Gandhi
called off his non-cooperation movement and was allowed to attend the Second RTC that was
held in September December 1931. It was successful in the sense that all important political
parties and leaders attended it. They included, Jinnah, Iqbal, Sir Aga Khan, Gandhi and state
princes. Also two new provinces were created, Sindh and the NWFP. Diarchy was shifted from
provinces to the Centre However, the RTC had failures too. Firstly the deadlock between
Gandhi and Jinnah over the question of rights of minorities. Gandhi refused to provide any
special protection to minorities and suggested that religious liberty was sufficient for them He
also insisted that the INC alone represented all indians. Jinnah and other Muslim leaders were
infuriated over the stubborn attitude of Gandhi. Another failure was the replacement of Labour
Government by a national government dominated by Conservative party that was not very
much concerned about the RTC. Instead the British want that if indians did not reach a
consensus, the British would impose their own terms.

Before the third RTC the British PM Ramsay MacDonald, announced the communal award in
1932. This was about the representation of minorities. INC rejected it but

ML accepted it though the Muslim majority in Punjab and Bengal was reduced. The third RTC
was held in November 1932 but was attended by only 46 delegates with Muslims being
represented by Sir Aga Khan and Iqbal. The only success of the third RTC was that it was held
against all odds and that it was attended by some delegates including the Muslims. The
failures of this RTC therefore outnumbered the successes. Gandhi had started his non-
cooperation movement once again and was jailed. Jinnah had quit politics temporarily to start
his law practice in London. Interestingly, he was not even invited to attend the RTC, but he did
not miss much In the final analysis,

it may be concluded that the three RTC's were on the whole successful because they provided
a neutral venue to all the Indian leaders to discuss the future constitution of India. Also, based
on the proceedings of the RTC's, the government of India Act 1935 was implemented which
was very comprehensive document as both Pakistan and India made their constitutions to a
great extent on the basis of the same.