Simon Commission: Modern Indian History for UPSC & PSC Exam

Introduction

Simon Commission: Important Facts

Simon Commission
John Simon
  • 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.

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