The document discusses the three Round Table Conferences (1930-1932) organized to address India's constitutional reforms, highlighting their causes, participation, and failures. Key figures like Gandhi were either imprisoned or absent, leading to unproductive discussions and failed negotiations for dominion status. Ultimately, the British government deemed the conferences unsuccessful and opted to collaborate only with parties willing to cooperate.

1. Agreements, Disagreements,
and Deadlocks: 1930-39
The three Round table Conferences
By: Anushay Abrar

2. ❏ Causes and Impacts of the three round table conferences.
❏ Reason behind their failure.
❏ Results of the conferences.

3. ❖ The three round table conferences
were a series of peace conferences
organized by the British
Government and Indian political
personalities to discuss
constitutional reforms in India.
❖ By the 1930s, many British
politicians believed that India
needed to move towards dominion
status.
Why were the round table conferences
held?

5. ● Following the Simon Commission and Congress’s demand for Swaraj ( Self-rule)
the Viceroy: announced a round-table conference on 31st January, 1929.
● It would set India’s Constitutional future. The First Round-Table Conference
assembled in London on 12th November, 1930
● This Conference was attended by the representatives of the British political parties,
Indian princes, nominees of the viceroy which included Muslims, Sikhs, the Indian
Christians, Lowest Indian caste.
● However, Congress was not represented as Gandhi and the other Congress
members was in Yeravda prison.
● This Conference was a failure because Gandhi was not present and according to
the Congress the main party’s representative was not present.

7. After negotiations; Gandhi agreed that:
➔ Congress’s civil disobedience campaign would end.
➔ He would continue to support Indian goods whilst not threatening the sale of British
products.
Gandhi would participate in the 2nd Round Table conference in London, If Gandhi called off
the civil disobedience campaign Irwin promised:
➔ Future political changes would be in the interests of India.
➔ To release from gaol (jail) supporters not guilty of violent crimes.
➔ 19000 were released.
➔ Confiscated property was returned to its owners
➔ Some emergency restrictions were relaxed.

8. I. The second Round Table Conference was held in London from 7
September 1931 to 1 December 1931 with the participation of Gandhi
and the Indian National Congress.
II. It was attended by many members and representatives of different
parties.
III. Gandhi was released from the prison only for the Round table
Conference.
IV. Gandhi was released on the basis of Gandhi-Irwin pact.
V. There were multiple factors which led to the failure of the 2nd Round
Table Conference.
1. Gandhi wanted to achieve the dominion status of India as an United
Nation.
2. He was not ready to accept the existence of other political parties.
3. He strongly believed that all the other political parties were represented
by one party which was ‘Congress’.
VI. The issue was sustainability of separate electorates but due Gandhi’s
stubborn attitude the second round table conference was also a failure.

10. ★ The third and last session was assembled
on November 17, 1932.
★ Like the first two conferences it was also
held to discuss the constitutional reforms
of India.
★ Unfortunately this conference was poorly
attended and there were hardly any
delegates.
★ Neither Mr. Jinnah Nor did Gandhi attend
this conference including the
representatives of the labour party.
★ The Conference did not produce any
results.

11. ➢ British decided to cooperate with the
Indians and arranged three conferences.
➢ All the conferences were a failure.
➢ The British reacted and decide that they
will only work with those parties who were
willing to work.
➢ Also, when Gandhi returned from london,
he and the other Congress members
were jailed again.
➢ Gandhi-Irwin pact broke when lord Irwin
was replaced by Lord Willingdon.

12. Q1: Why was Gandhi’s presence important in the Round table conference?
Q2: On whose authority, and to what extent did Gandhi “ speak for all Indians”?
Q3: Evaluate the reasons behind the anger people expressed after the
Gandhi-Irwin pact.