Table of Contents
Introduction
The Simon Commission, formally known as the Indian Statutory Commission, was a body appointed by the British Government in November 1927 to inquire into and report on the constitutional future of India. It was named after its chairman, Sir John Simon, a prominent British lawyer and politician.
Simon Commission: Important Facts
- Simon Commission officially known as as Indian Statutory Commission, was a group of 7 Members of the British Parliament under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon.
- After introducing the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms in 1919, the British Government declared that a commission would be sent to India after ten years to look into the functioning of the constitutional system in India and to suggest more reforms for India.
- British government (Conservative government under Stanley Baldwin) appointed the Simon Commission on 8th November 1927.
- The Commission contained seven members who were members of the British Parliament.
- The Commission was strongly opposed by many Indians because it contained seven members of the British Parliament but did not include Indians.
- The Indian National Congress, at its session held at Madras in December 1927, passed a resolution for the boycott of the Simon Commission. A faction of the Muslim League, led by Mohammed Ali Jinnah, also decided to boycott the Commission.
- However, a section of Muslim League led by Mohammed Safi, Hindu Mahasabha, Unionist Party in Punjab, Justice Party in Madras, Central Sikh Sangh did not oppose the commission.
- The commission visited twice to India (February-March, 1928 and April 1929).
- Despite the protests, the Simon Commission submitted its report in 1930, recommending limited constitutional reforms
Members of the Commission
- Sir John Simon (Liberal, chairman)
- Clement Attlee (Labour Party)
- Harry Levy-Lawson
- Edward Cadogan (Conservative)
- Vernon Hartshorn (Labour)
- George Lane-Fox (Conservative)
- Donald Howard
Protests Against Simon Commission
- The Simon Commission arrives in Bombay (February 1928).
- When the Simon Commission arrived, it was met with mass protests and demonstrations across the country. Protestors gathered with black flags and banners that said: “Simon Go Back.”
- When the commission visited Madras on 3 February 1928, Tanguturi Prakasam Panthulu (Andhra Kesari) gave the slogan “Go back Simon Commission“.
- Indian leaders, including members of the Indian National Congress and other nationalist groups, called for boycotts, strikes, and hartals to protest against the Simon Commission.
- Lala Lajpat Rai’s Death: One of the most tragic incidents associated with the protests against the Simon Commission was the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. He was leading a protest against the Commission in Lahore in 1928 when he was severely injured in a police lathi charge. He later died because of these injuries.