Simon Commission and Nehru Report

1. Introduction to the Simon Commission and Nehru Report

• The Simon Commission (1927) and Nehru Report (1928) were critical events in the 1920s that shaped India’s struggle for independence.
• These events highlighted Indian dissatisfaction with British rule and the growing demand for constitutional reforms.

Key Events Overview
Simon Commission (1927)
Nehru Report (1928)

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2. Simon Commission (1927)

1. Background:

   • The Government of India Act, 1919, included a clause to review constitutional progress in 10 years.
   • The British government appointed the Simon Commission in 1927, two years ahead of schedule, to address this.

2. Composition:

   • The commission consisted entirely of British members with Sir John Simon as the chairman.
   • No Indian representation in the commission, which sparked widespread outrage.

3. Indian Response:

   • The absence of Indians was seen as a deliberate exclusion of Indian voices.
   • The slogan "Simon, Go Back!" became a rallying cry for protests.
   • Protests were led by prominent leaders, including Lala Lajpat Rai, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Subhas Chandra Bose.

4. Key Events:

   • Nationwide strikes and demonstrations took place.
   • Lala Lajpat Rai was brutally lathi-charged during a protest in Lahore, which led to his death.
   • Revolutionary groups like the HSRA avenged his death by assassinating J.P. Saunders.

5. Recommendations of the Simon Commission:

   • Proposed federalism in India.
   • Recommended the continuation of separate electorates for minorities.
   • Suggested more powers for provincial governments.

Key Facts About Simon Commission
Formation Year
Chairman
Response in India
Outcome

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3. Nehru Report (1928)

1. Background:

   • In response to the Simon Commission, Indian leaders convened to propose an alternative.
   • The All Parties Conference (1928) appointed a committee under Motilal Nehru to draft a constitution for India.

2. Provisions of the Nehru Report:

   • Dominion Status: India would remain within the British Commonwealth but have complete autonomy.
   • Fundamental Rights:
     • Equality before law, right to free speech, freedom of religion, and protection of minorities.
   • No Separate Electorates:
     • Rejected separate electorates for minorities, advocating joint electorates instead.
   • Federal Structure:
     • A federal government with residuary powers vested in the center.

3. Significance:

   • The Nehru Report was India’s first constitutional proposal drafted by Indians.
   • It became a symbol of Indian unity and a direct challenge to British authority.

4. Opposition to the Nehru Report:

   • The Muslim League opposed it for rejecting separate electorates, which were crucial to their demands.
   • Hindu Mahasabha criticized its concessions to Muslims.

Key Provisions of the Nehru Report
Dominion status within the British Commonwealth.
Equal rights for all citizens, irrespective of religion.
Joint electorates instead of separate electorates.

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4. Impact of the Simon Commission

1. National Unity:

   • The widespread rejection of the Simon Commission united Indians across political and regional lines.
   • Both moderates and extremists in the Indian National Congress (INC) opposed it, along with the Muslim League.

2. Revival of Revolutionary Movements:

   • The death of Lala Lajpat Rai during protests intensified revolutionary activities.
   • Bhagat Singh and his associates of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) assassinated J.P. Saunders in Lahore to avenge Rai’s death.

3. Constitutional Progress Delayed:

   • The recommendations of the Simon Commission were largely ignored due to Indian opposition.
   • The failure of the commission highlighted the need for Indians to take charge of their constitutional future.

4. Round Table Conferences:

   • The commission’s failure to address Indian concerns led to further political negotiations, including the Round Table Conferences (1930–1932).

Impact of Simon Commission
United Indians against British policies.
Sparked revolutionary activities after Lala Lajpat Rai's death.
Paved the way for further negotiations like the Round Table Conferences.

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5. Reactions to the Nehru Report

1. Congress Endorsement:

   • The Indian National Congress adopted the Nehru Report in 1928 and used it as a basis to demand Dominion Status.

2. Muslim League Opposition:

   • The Muslim League opposed the rejection of separate electorates, which they considered essential for safeguarding Muslim interests.
   • This led to increasing communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims.

3. Demand for Purna Swaraj:

   • Younger leaders in the INC, such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose, criticized the limited goal of Dominion Status.
   • In 1929, the INC, under Gandhi’s leadership, adopted the resolution for Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence).

Reactions to the Nehru Report
Endorsed by the INC as a constitutional proposal.
Opposed by the Muslim League for rejecting separate electorates.
Led to the adoption of Purna Swaraj as a demand in 1929.

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6. Comparison Between the Simon Commission and Nehru Report

Aspect	Simon Commission	Nehru Report
Origin	British-appointed committee (1927).	Drafted by Indian leaders (1928).
Composition	No Indian members.	Entirely Indian-led committee.
Objective	Review constitutional progress.	Propose a constitution reflecting Indian aspirations.
Key Features	Federalism, continuation of separate electorates.	Dominion status, fundamental rights, joint electorates.
Reception in India	Widely opposed, sparked protests.	Mixed reactions, supported by INC but opposed by Muslim League.

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7. Timeline of Key Events

Year	Event
1927	Simon Commission formed, met with protests in India.
1928	Nehru Report drafted and presented by Indian leaders.
1929	INC adopts Purna Swaraj resolution at Lahore Session.

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8. Significance of the Simon Commission and Nehru Report

1. Strengthened National Unity:

   • The rejection of the Simon Commission brought Indians together against British imperialism.
   • The Nehru Report provided a common platform for Indians to articulate their constitutional demands.

2. Foundation for Future Movements:

   • Both events laid the groundwork for the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–1934) and the eventual demand for full independence.

3. Increased Political Awareness:

   • The Simon Commission protests and Nehru Report debates engaged a wider section of Indians, increasing political consciousness.

4. Polarization of Indian Politics:

   • The divergence between the INC and the Muslim League deepened, setting the stage for communal tensions.

Significance of the Events
Unified Indians against British policies.
Laid the foundation for the demand for complete independence.
Highlighted communal divisions in Indian politics.

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Key Takeaways

1. Simon Commission:

   • The exclusion of Indians from the commission led to widespread protests and united Indians in their opposition.

2. Nehru Report:

   • The first Indian-led constitutional proposal that articulated the demand for Dominion Status and fundamental rights.

3. Legacy:

   • These events were pivotal in transitioning the nationalist struggle from demands for reform to the demand for Purna Swaraj.

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