The Simon Commission boycott, Purna Swaraj declaration, Dandi March, and the Round Table Conferences (1930-34).
The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34) marked a shift from mere "non-cooperation" with British institutions to actively breaking specific unjust laws — most famously through the Salt Satyagraha — and formally raised the demand for complete independence.
| Event | Year | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Simon Commission | 1927 (arrived India 1928) | All-British composition (no Indian members) to review constitutional reforms; met with the slogan "Simon Go Back"; Lala Lajpat Rai died from injuries in a related lathi-charge protest in Lahore |
| Nehru Report | 1928 | Motilal Nehru-led committee's response, demanding Dominion Status; largely rejected by younger radicals wanting full independence |
| Lahore Session of INC | December 1929 | Under Jawaharlal Nehru's presidency, adopted the resolution for "Purna Swaraj" (Complete Independence) as the goal; 26 January 1930 observed as the first "Independence Day" / Purna Swaraj Day |
Salt was chosen deliberately — a basic necessity used by every Indian, taxed and monopolised by the colonial state, making the protest relatable to the poorest sections of society.
| Conference/Pact | Year | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| First Round Table Conference | 1930-31 | Boycotted by the INC; no major Indian nationalist party participation |
| Gandhi-Irwin Pact | March 1931 | Gandhi agreed to suspend Civil Disobedience and attend the Second RTC; Viceroy Lord Irwin agreed to release political prisoners and allow salt production for personal use in coastal areas |
| Second Round Table Conference | 1931 | Gandhi attended as the sole INC representative; talks failed over the question of minority representation (communal electorates) |
| Civil Disobedience resumed | 1932 | Following the failure of the Second RTC, CDM resumed but with less intensity; formally withdrawn by 1934 |
| Third Round Table Conference | 1932 | INC did not participate; limited impact |
Ramsay MacDonald's Communal Award (1932) proposed separate electorates for the "Depressed Classes" (Dalits), which Gandhi opposed through a fast unto death, fearing it would permanently divide Hindu society. This led to the Poona Pact (1932) between Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar, replacing separate electorates with reserved seats for the Depressed Classes within the general electorate.
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