- Government of India Act of 1919 provided for the appointment of a commission after a gap of ten years to investigate the progress of scheme and make suggestions to the government.
- In 1927, the Conservative Government itself decided to appoint a commission, as it feared loss by the labour party in upcoming elections and did not want to leave the question of India in the hands of ‘irresponsible Labour hands’.
- The Government of India Act, 1919 too failed to satisfy Indians and deliver due reforms.
- Indian Statutory Commission was appointed under chairmanship of Sir John Simon. It was an all-white seven-member commission.
- Simon Commission was to enquire “into the working of the system of government, the growth of education and the development of representative institutions in British India and matters connected therewith” and to report “as to whether and to what extent it is desirable to establish the principle of responsible government or to extend, modify or restrict the degree of responsible government then existing therein, including the question whether the establishment of Second Chambers of the local legislatures is or is not desirable.”.
- Lord Birkenhead justified the exclusion of Indians by asserting that in so far as the Commission was appointed by Parliament its personnel had to be confined to members of Parliament.
Recommendations of Simon Commission
Simon commission published its report in 1930. Some of its recommendations were:
1. Abolish dyarchy and bring representative government in provinces with more autonomy.
2. Governor should be given discretionary power in the field of internal security and administrative power for safeguarding the interests of different communities.
3. Rejected parliamentary responsibility at the centre. Cabinet members are to be appointed by the governor-general. The Government of India should have full control over the high court.
4. Communal electorate to be retained till tensions between Hindu-Muslims exist. This should be extended to other communities as well. But no universal franchise was mentioned.
5. Consultative council of Greater India with representatives from British provinces and Princely states should be established.
6. Recommended local legislature for NWFP (North-West Frontier Province) and Baluchistan with a right to be represented at the centre.
7. Sindh should be separated from Bombay and Burma from India.
8. Army should be Indianised but British forces must be retained.
Impact of Simon Commission
Appointment of Simon Commission and the Indian reaction to it brought a new charge to the freedom struggle movement:
1. Radical forces now demanded not just complete independence but socio-economic reforms as well.
2. Political leaders from various communities came together in response to Lord Birkenhead’s challenge that Indians were not able to frame a constitution that could be unanimously accepted by various communities.
3. The Nehru Report of 1928 was a result of this event.
Reaction of Indians
- There was a chorus of protests against an all-white commission by the Indians.
- It infuriated them as foreigners would be deciding the constitutional fate of Indians and saw it as a violation of the principle of self-determination. The reaction it produced was immediate and nearly unanimous.
Response by different parties
- 1927, Madras session (President-M.A. Ansari): A resolution was passed to boycott the commission at every stage and on every platform. A snap resolution was passed declaring complete independence as the goal of Congress.
- The liberal section of Hindu Mahasabha and a faction of the Muslim League under Jinnah supported the boycott decision.
- While groups such as Unionists in Punjab and Justice Party in the South decided not to boycott the commission.
Public Response
- A countrywide hartal and mass rallies were organised when the commission came to India in February 1928. ‘Go back Simon’ slogans were being raised.
- A new generation of youth got a channel to participate in political actions which also provided fertile ground for the spread of radical socialist ideas as was seen with the emergence of groups such as Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha. Nehru and Bose emerged as new youth leaders.
- The protests were met with severe repression. Senior leaders like- Jawahar Lal Nehru and G.B. Pant and Lala Lajpat Rai in Lahore were lathi-charged.
