Simon Commission (1927 - 1929)

3 min read
Gandhi

"My Hope lies in Prayer and Answers to the Prayer"

Reason for the Appointment

  • [!reason] According to the Government of India Act, 1919 - An Indian Statutory Commission, (Royal Commission) had to be appointed at the end of 10 years (ie.) 1929.
  • [!todo] To enquire the working of the act and suggest fresh reforms if needed
  • The principal idea was to achieve constitutional progress gradually

Appointment before 2 years

  • Appointed on [!date] 8th November, 1927 -> 2 years in advance
  • Appointed by Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin
  • Announced by Lord Birkenhead, Secretary of State for India in Britain
  • 7 members (all Members of Britain Parliament)
    1. Sir John Allsebrook Simon (Chairman)
    2. Clement Atlee (Assistant for Simon)
    3. Edward Cadogan
    4. George Lane Fox
    5. Vernon Hartshorn
    6. Donald Howard
    7. Harry Levy Lawson

[!question]

  • Political situation in Britain compelled
  • Tory Government of Britain in 1927, facing a prospect of electoral defeat at the hands of Labor Party (elections due in 1929)
  • Tory doesn't want to leave such a important issue to the next government
  • Communal situation in India was so deteriorated -> easy to prove that India is unfit to govern itself
  • Divert the attention of nationalist Indians from widespread starting agitation
  • Liberal Nationalist demanding a complete revision of constitutional reform, as 1919 act was not complete by itself, both in structure and implementation
  • Can be used as a bargaining instrument to divide the Swaraj Party and the Youth nationalist leaders like Subhash Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru.

Critics

  • 10 years very short to conclude the workability of the constitution or the act
  • The British argument that it is the Commission of British Parliament MPs, for non inclusion of Indians as members is hollow as
    • Two Indian Members of Parliament were there at that time
      1. Lord Sinha
      2. Mr. Saklatwala
  • Britain declared that there is no unanimity among Indians, but in reality Lord Birkenhead feared that, Indians would ally with Labour Party representatives

Mandate

  1. Enquire the
    1. working of system of government,
    2. growth of education
    3. development of representative institutions in British India
    • the subject of relations between British India and Indian states was also added to the purview of the Commission
  2. Report
    1. what extent it is desirable to establish the principle of responsible government
    2. or to what extent modify, restrict, the degree of responsible government then existing
    3. whether the establishment of Second Chambers of the local legislatures desirable or not?
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