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Factor leading up to the civil disobedience movement

Swaraj party:
with the suspension of non-cooperation movement and the continued repressive activities of the govt, a section of congress led by C.R Das and Motilal Nehru felt that the legislature should not be boycotted and the fight had to be conducted from within. This group was known as pro-changers on the other hand Sardar Patel, Rajendra Prasad, and C. Rajagopalachari among other believed that the congress should continue with the policy of boycott and fight the govt. from outside the council. This group was known as no-changes. With C.R Das as president and Motilal Nehru as secretary, the swaraj party was formed and fought election to the central legislature. From within the legislature the swarajist continued their work against the govt. the swarajist were able to bring to the attention of the govt, some of the problem of the people. At the same time they exposed all the wrong doing of the British. Unfortunately with the death of C.R Das in June 1925 the swarajist lost much of their popular support and later it was dissolve.
Simon commission:
In 1928 two years earlier than scheduled the Simon commission came to India. According to the Act of 1919, ten yrs later a commission was to be setup to check the working of the Act of 1919. The commission was headed by Sir John Simon. The commission was setup by seven British members of the parliament as there was no Indian in this commission ,wherever this commission went there were protests and greeted with Black flags as slogans of ‘Simon go back’. In one such protests march in Lahore (30th October 1928) Lala Lajpat Rai was brutally assaulted by the British surgent. Later on he died of Succumbed injury. Inspite of all the protest, Simon commission travelled to different parts of the country, met people and met their recommendation.
Nehru report (1928)
British stated that there was no Indian in the commission because they were incapable of framing the constitution as there were varied interests of the people. No set of reforms or constitution could be worked out which would be acceptable to all political parties. Taking up this challenge all party meeting was conveyed in Bombay and a committee under Motilal Nehru was formed to form a constitution for India. The draft report of this constitution is known as the Nehru report.
The viceroy’s declaration (1929)-
There was a change of govt. in Britain in 1929 the labour party under Ramsay Mac Donald formed the government on 31st October 1929. Viceroy Lord Irwin made a declaration that “the natural issue of India’s constitutional progress is the attainment of dominion status’’. Also a round table conference would be arranged to consider the recommendation of the Simon commission. The declaration was welcomed by all political parties in India but when Gandhiji and other leaders sought a definite assurance from the viceroy, no assurance was given.
Lahore session of the congress (1929) (Demand for complete independence)
The congress declared that as per the Nehru report, they would accept dominion status if granted by 1929. When this was not granted on 31st December 1929 in Lahore session of the congress under the president ship of Jawaharlal Nehru demanded Purna Swaraj or complete independence. 26th Jan 1930 was declared as the day to take the independence pledge. From 1930 till we get independence, 26th January was the day that Indians renewed this pledge to gain independence.
Impact or significance of the Civil Disobedience movement
1. First, people might have become silent for the time being, but they were not subdued. 2. Second, the govt. was convinced that bold constitutional reforms were how essential. 3. Third, the struggle had a healthy affect upon the life of the exploited, the poor and the oppressed. 4. Fourth, violence as a political weapon ceased to have much impact on the youth of India because of Gandhi’s preaching of non-violence
Gandhi-Irwin pact
The member of the round table conference made an appeal the congress to reconsider its decision to attend the conference. they also requested Gandhi to seek an interview with the viceroy Irwin to negotiate a settlement. A pact was signed between the two called the Gandhi Irwin pact on 5th march 1931.
The govt. agreed to:
1. Withdraw all ordinances and end prosecutions. 2. Release all political prisoners and those guilty of violence. 3. Permit peaceful picketing of liquor and foreign cloth shops. 4. Restore the confiscated properties of the Satyagraha. 5. Permit the free collection or manufacture of salt by person near the seacoast.
The Congress, in its turn, consented to the following:
1. To suspend the civil disobedience movement. 2. To participate in the second session of the round Table conference. 3. Not to press for investigation into police unrestrained behavior. Second Round table conference (1931) The second session of the conference began in London on 7th sept 1931 Mahatma Gandhi attended this session at the soul representative of the congress. During the conference, Gandhi found that the representatives of different communities i.e. Muslim, Sikhs, Christian and even the Princes were more interested in safeguarding their own interest rather than spending time demanding full independence. The communal issue thus hampered the progress of constitution making. Gandhiji came back very disappointed and empty handed to India.
Renewal of civil disobedience movement:
Gandhiji demand for a meeting with Viceroy Lord Willingdon was refused. Instead he was arrested on 4th Jan 1932 along with Sardar Patel. Civil Disobedience was renewed with 1. non-payment of taxes 2. picketing of shops 3. manufacture and collection of salts 4. Boycott of all British goods Congress flags were hoisted over most government buildings. it is believed that nearly 90,000 congress workers along with man, women and children were convicted and sentenced. Congress was declared illegal. Congress leader were arrested and their properties were seized. Communalism was fanned. Gradually the civil disobedience movement loss it force congress called it off in 1934.

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