Simon Commission

Introduction

The Simon Commission was set up by the British government to probe the Indian Government Act 1919.

There were some controversial issues related to this commission that resulted in the rise of nationalism. Though Simon commission was established to deal with the Indian reforms, not even a single Indian official was a part of the committee. This commission was also termed the Statutory Commission of India. There was a feeling of humiliation among the leaders as there were no representatives. It was concluded that the Indians did not accept the principles of the commission.

About Simon Commission

The government that consists of rules and regulations formed Simon Commission. The main aim of this commission was to revise the constitutional structure of India in the management of the Government of India. This commission was established ten years from 1919 under the Government of India act 1919.

Later this Commission was revised and formed in India in the year 1928 to revise the reforms of the constitution on Britain’s biggest and vital possession. The Government of British introduced this commission the investigate the structure of the constitution of India and report it back to the British government.

Simon Commission: Background

Edwin Montagu and Lord Chelmsford passed this act and the citizen of India wanted to change the structure of the monarchy formed by the government. This commission consists of only the member of the British and excludes the members of India.

The exclusion of the member of India resulted in a sense of humiliation among the Indians and they are understood from it that the people of the British would not judge their fate. Lord Birkenhead did the set-up of this commission. He rebuked the people of India due to their inability to establish and revise the structure of the reforms. Clement Atlee was part of this commission and the late became the prime minister of the United Kingdom.

He supported the independence of India. His leadership qualities in this commission resulted in a positive approach for the Indians, as they became a democratic country. This Commission was formed in India in the month of February.

Simon Commission: Suggestions

Image 1:Suggestions of the Simon Commission

The Commission had established some final reports to the British government in the year 1930. The following are the suggestions −

• The concept of diarchy was abolished in India. Under the act of the government, this was gradually abolished. The main of this act was to establish the form of representative of Government.

• The suggestion by this commission was to draw the power of the Governor in the territory. Little had changed in the independent part of India.

• This commission elongated the time part of the Government to govern their territory.

• This commission favoured most of the people of India who were the voters until and unless tension arises between the Hindus and the Muslims.

• This commission failed to provide the primary amenities and it was not touchable and some sort of invincible. This commission failed to provide education.

• The conferences of Round Table were formed due to this commission as it was suggested and this was the discussion of the counterpart of India.

Reasons for Indians’ Opposition to Simon Commission

As the members of India were not included in a commission this was the reason they oppose this Commission. This also resulted in widespread protests all over the country. The party of the Indian National Congress suggested withdrawing this Commission.

The decision of boycotting this commission was taken in the Madras session in the year 1927. The members of other parties also opposed this commission like Jinnah-led Muslim League, the Liberal faction in Hindu Mahasabha, etc. The oppositions started certain slogans against it and protested by showing black flags.

Mahatma Gandhi was one of the leaders who did not participate in that protest but he too opposed this commission when it arrived in India in the month of February.

Impact of Simon Commission

Simon Commission was impacted on several grounds as this risen the patriotism among the peoples of India. Due to this commission, the Civil Disobedience Movement was taken place. With the rude behaviour of the British, the people of India decided to fight for their freedom and to make India a democratic country. At that time, the only agenda was to get whole India back into the hands of the respective country people.

Therefore, by the suggestion of this Commission, the act of the government was formed and this made it mandatory to revise the rules and regulations of this commission and to change the structure of the Constitution.

Later, another part that was impacted was Congress won the election of provincial and came into power. In order to counter that Committed the act of 1935 was incorporated into the Constitution of India.

This commission gave rise to a new political philosophy, i.e., Revolutionary Nationalism. That followed by a spike in other organizations like Hindustan Socialist Republican Army/Association and Chittagong Armoury Raid, and also leaders like Surya Sen, Bhagat Singh, and a few others.

Conclusion

Simon Commission’s suggestion was formed where most of its parts were followed by the concept of the modern history of India. Many people of India fought hard for their independence along with the leaders. The majority of the leaders oppose this Commission. This gave the rise to the new leaders to achieve independence. Therefore, the majority of the people were once again shocked and followed the movement and the suggestion of that commission.

FAQs

Q1.What was the reason for opposing the Simon Commission?

Ans.This commission was extremely opposed by many Indians and their leaders. The majority of the leaders besides Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi were against this Commission. This was opposed because it excluded the members of India from the commission and allowed only the members of the British.

Q2.What were the advantages of the Simon Commission?

Ans.This commission arrived in India to revise the various reforms of the constitutions and suggest them back to the government of British. One member was the member of this commission, which supports the formation of a self-regulating government in India.

Q3.What was Revolutionary Nationalism?

Ans.This was the nationalism in the case of the commission where due to the bad attitude of the British, the people of India decided to fight for their freedom and to make India a democratic country. They opposed the commission and fought hard for their freedom.