Simon Commission

The period between the appointment of the Simon Commission in 1927 and the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 marks a critical turning point in India’s struggle for independence. This phase shifted the nationalist demand from “Dominion Status” to “Poorna Swaraj” (Complete Independence) and witnessed the resurgence of mass mobilization under Mahatma Gandhi.

Appointment and Composition of the Simon Commission

Statutory Backing and Purpose

Under Section 84A of the Government of India Act 1919, a statutory commission was to be appointed ten years after the act’s passage to investigate the working of the constitutional system and recommend further reforms. The British Conservative government anticipated a defeat in the upcoming general elections and expedited the appointment by two years, constituting the commission on November 8, 1927.

Membership and “All-White” Character

The commission was officially named the Indian Statutory Commission. It was headed by Sir John Simon and comprised seven members of the British Parliament.

The Exclusion of Indians

The exclusion of Indian members from a body tasked with deciding India’s political future was seen as a deliberate insult to the capability of Indians, leading to a unanimous call for a boycott by nationalist factions.

The Nationalist Response and the Simon Boycott

Political Consensus on the Boycott

The announcement of the commission galvanized fragmented Indian political groups into a unified front.

• Indian National Congress (INC): At the December 1927 Madras Session, presided over by Dr. M.A. Ansari, the Congress decided to boycott the commission “at every stage and in every form.”
• Muslim League: The League split on the issue. The faction led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah boycotted the commission, while the Lahore faction led by Sir Muhammad Shafi supported it.
• Other Groups: The Hindu Mahasabha and the Liberal Federation led by Tej Bahadur Sapru opposed the commission. The Justice Party in Madras and the Punjab Unionists chose not to boycott it.

Protests and the “Simon Go Back” Campaign

When the commission landed in Bombay on February 3, 1928, it was greeted with a countrywide hartal (strike), black flags, and mass rallies chanting “Simon Go Back.”

• Lala Lajpat Rai’s Martyrdom: In October 1928, while leading a peaceful anti-Simon demonstration in Lahore, Lala Lajpat Rai was brutally lathi-charged by police superintendent J.A. Scott. Rai succumbed to his injuries on November 17, 1928, triggering revolutionary reprisal by the HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republican Association).
• Youth Mobilization: Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose emerged as prominent leaders of youth leagues during these agitations.

The Birkenhead Challenge and the Nehru Report (1928)

The Challenge

Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India, challenged Indian leaders to produce a constitution that could find consensus among all political parties in India.

The All Parties Conference

The challenge was accepted, and an All Parties Conference appointed a committee in May 1928 to draft a constitution. The committee was chaired by Motilal Nehru, with Jawaharlal Nehru serving as the secretary.

Key Recommendations of the Nehru Report

• Dominion Status: Defined India’s political status as a self-governing dominion within the British Empire, a point of friction for younger leaders who demanded absolute independence.
• Fundamental Rights: Provision for nineteen fundamental rights, including adult suffrage and equal rights for women.
• Rejection of Separate Electorates: Recommended joint electorates with reservation of seats for Muslims only in provinces where they were in a minority, proportional to their population.
• Linguistic Provinces: Proposed the redistribution of provinces on a linguistic basis.
• Secular State: Complete dissociation of the state from religion.

Counter-Demands: Jinnah’s Fourteen Points (1929)

The Muslim League rejected the Nehru Report’s stance on electorates and residuary powers. In March 1929, Jinnah formulated his “Fourteen Points,” which demanded:

• A federal constitution with residuary powers vested in the provinces.
• Separate electorates for Muslims.
• One-third Muslim representation in the central legislature.
• Separation of Sind from Bombay.

The Intervening Crises: 1928–1929

The Calcutta Congress Session (December 1928)

A rift emerged between the older leadership (Motilal Nehru, Gandhi) who favored Dominion Status and the younger faction (Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose) demanding immediate Poorna Swaraj. A compromise was reached: Congress gave the British government a one-year ultimatum to accept the Nehru Report, failing which it would launch a civil disobedience movement for complete independence.

The Irwin Declaration (October 31, 1929)

Faced with rising political temperature, Viceory Lord Irwin issued a statement offering a vague promise that “Dominion Status” was the natural progression of India’s constitutional progress. He also proposed a Round Table Conference to discuss the Simon Commission Report.

The Delhi Manifesto (November 1929)

Nationalist leaders issued conditions for attending the Round Table Conference, demanding that the purpose of the conference be to draft a scheme for implementation of Dominion Status, not just discuss when it would be granted. Irwin rejected these conditions in December 1929.

The Lahore Session and the Declaration of Poorna Swaraj (1929)

Historic Resolutions

With the one-year ultimatum expiring without British compliance, the INC met at Lahore in December 1929 under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru. The session passed the following resolutions:

• The goal of the Congress was changed from Dominion Status to Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence).
• The Round Table Conference was boycotted.
• The Congress Working Committee (CWC) was authorized to launch a program of civil disobedience, including non-payment of taxes.

Public Declaration

On December 31, 1929, Jawaharlal Nehru unfurled the newly adopted tricolor flag of India on the banks of the River Ravi. January 26, 1930 was fixed as the first Independence Day (Purna Swarajya Diwas), and a pledge of independence was read across the country.

Genesis of the Civil Disobedience Movement

Gandhi’s Eleven Demands

Before launching the movement, Gandhi made a final attempt at compromise by presenting eleven specific demands to Lord Irwin on January 31, 1930, giving him until March 11 to accept them. Issues of General Interest: 1. Reduce military expenditure and civil services stipends by 50%. 2. Introduce total prohibition of intoxicants. 3. Carry out reforms in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). 4. Amend the Arms Act to allow popular control of firearms. 5. Release all political prisoners. 6. Accept the Postal Reservation Bill. Specific Bourgeois Demands: 7. Change the rupee-sterling exchange ratio to 1s 4d. 8. Impose protective tariffs on foreign cloth imports. 9. Reserve coastal shipping for Indian enterprises. Specific Peasant Demands: 10. Reduce land revenue by 50%. 11. Abolish the Salt Tax and the government salt monopoly.

Selection of the Salt Tax as the Catalyst

Irwin ignored the ultimatum, leaving Gandhi with no choice but to launch the movement. Gandhi chose salt as the central theme of the agitation because it was an absolute necessity for every human being across class, caste, and religious divides. The tax on salt and the state monopoly on its manufacture directly impacted the poorest sections of Indian society, making it a powerful tool for mass emotional appeal.

The Dandi March (March 12 – April 6, 1930)

The Journey

On March 12, 1930, Gandhi broke ground on the Civil Disobedience Movement by commencing his march from the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad toward the coastal village of Dandi in Navsari district, Gujarat.

Key Facts of the March

• Distance: 241 miles (approx. 385 kilometers).
• Duration: 24 days.
• Participants: Gandhi started with 78 chosen satyagrahis from his ashram representing diverse regions and communities. Thousands joined along the route.
• Conclusion: On April 6, 1930, Gandhi picked up a handful of natural salt at Dandi, technically violating the British salt law and signaling the formal launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement across the subcontinent.