Round Table Conferences in London

In total, there were three Round table conferences that were held in London from 1930 to 1932 between the British Government and Indian political representatives to discuss about the Simon Commission Report and the Indian constitutional developments. The Simon Commission was previously appointed to review the the Government of India Act, 1919.

First Round Table Conference

• The first Round table conference was held from November, 1930 to January, 1931 and the British Prime Minister during this conference was Ramsay MacDonald.
  
  
• 57 delegates belonging to various political parties from the British India participated in it. Congress leaders refused to attend the conference.
  
  
• From Muslim League, the leaders who attended the conference were Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Aga Khan, Mian Muhammad Shafi, Fazlul Huq and Mohammad Ali Jauhar who died in the conference itself.
  
  
• From Hindu Mahasabha, the leaders attended were B. S. Moonje and M. R. Jayakar.
  
  
• From Indian National Liberal Federation, the leaders were Srinivasa Sastri, Tej Bahadur Sapru and C. Y. Chintamani.
  
  
• From Princely States, 16 delegates attended the first Round Table conference including Akbar Hydari (Diwan of Hyderabad) and Mirza Ismail (Diwan of Mysore).
  
  
• From the Dalit community, the attended leader was Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

Second Round Table Conference

• The second Round table conference was held from September, 1931 to December, 1931. M. R. Jayakar and Tej Bahadur Sapru mediated between Irwin and Gandhi and the mediation was successful.
  
  
• On 5th March, 1931, Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed. Gandhi's demands were, (i) Release of the Satyagrahis arrested in the Salt March, (ii) Prosecution of Satyagrahis should be stopped, (iii) Manufacturing of Salt of should be allowed. In this Pact, Gandhi did not demand for the stoppage of execution of Bhagat Singh.
  
  Irwin's demands were (i) Suspension of Civil Disobedience movement and (ii) Gandhi should attend Second Round Table Conference.
  
  
• In March 1931, Karachi Special session of Congress was held and the president of this session was Vallabhbhai Patel. In this session 3 resolutions were passed, (i) Gandhi-Irwin Pact has been ratified, (ii) Resolution on Fundamental rights (by Vallabhbhai Patel) and (iii) Resolution on National Economic policy (prepared by Jawaharlal Nehru).
  
  
• Sarojini Naidu accompanied Mahatma Gandhi to the cecond Round table conference.
  
  
• Second Round table conference was not fruitful and was boycotted by Gandhiji in the middle.
  
  
• In January, 1932, the Civil Disobedience Movement was revived (second phase of Civil Disobedience movement). Mahatma Gandhi was put in the Yerawada jail in Pune.
  
  
• After the completion of Second Round table conference, in August 1932 Ramsay McDonald announced Communal Award (separate electorates (71 in number) were reserved to Dalits). Against this decision, Gandhiji took fasting unto death in the Yerawada jail.
  
  
• B. R. Ambedkar went to Yerawada jail and signed the Poona Pact in September, 1932 with Mahatma Gandhi. According to this Pact, Dalits would be given 148 joint electorates.

Third Round Table Conference

• The third Round table conference was held from November, 1932 to December, 1932. It was just a formal conference. Most of the Indian poltical leaders ignored the conference. It was neither attended by Gandhi nor the Indian National Congress.
  
  
• Tej Bahadur Sapru and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar attended all the three Round table conferences.
  
  
• Second phase of Civil Disobedience Movement got declined by the end of 1933. Congress officially withdrew the Movement in 1934.