CHAPTER 8
Q-What was the Vidya Mandir scheme of 1937? [4]
It was a scheme which was introduced during the Congress rule to hinder the Muslim League from
gaining any power or control. The scheme mentioned that schools would teach Hindu religion and would
become like Hindu temples, no other religion was taught and studies were carried out in Hindi language.
Q: What was the Wardah Scheme? [4]
The Wardah Scheme was a basic education scheme introduced by Gandhi. Hindu was to be the sole
language for education. There were no religious studies and students had to spin cotton. They were
also expected to bow down in front of a picture of Gandhi.
Q: What was the Day of deliverance? [4]
Muslim league celebrated the Day of Deliverance on 16th August 1946 to celebrate the end of Congress
rule. The day was widely supported by Muslims. Quaid-e-Azam had asked for peaceful protests but
there was widespread rioting. Congress was offended by this celebration.
Q-According to Source A, why was there opposition to the Simon Commission of 1927? [3]
Reward each correct statement identified from the source with 1 mark, up to a maximum of 3.
• No Indian representation on the Commission
• Value friendship with Congress more than British concession
• Not on equal terms with British in framing new constitution
• Not satisfied with being only petitioners.
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(b) What does Source B tell us about the negotiations during the Round Table Conferences
between 1930 and 1932? [5]
LEVEL 1: Identifies surface features from the source [1]
Britain is in control of the car.
LEVEL 2: Unsupported inferences [2–3]
The driver looks under pressure to give up control of the car
LEVEL 3: Inference(s) supported by detail from the source and/or contextual knowledge [4–5]
• The driver of the car is John Bull who represents British interests at the negotiations.
• The car is travelling over bumpy ground which represents the way that negotiations went during these
years – difficult negotiations.
• The Indian in the car who represents their negotiators wants to take control from the British who are
reluctant to give up control.
• It suggests that the British feared that progress towards change might happen too quickly, hence the
reference to the brake on the car.
• The source explains why the political leaders in India were reluctant to attend the Round Table
Conferences because it shows that the decisions had already been made by the British, in the way that
John Bull wants to keep control of the car.
Q: Describe the Nehru Report. [4]
Ans: The Nehru report was introduced in 1928 as a response to British’s challenge to form their own
constitution. An All-party conference decided on Dominion status for India, India to become a federation
with a two-chamber parliament, protection of minorities and voting rights for all women and men.
Q: Who was Dr. Allama Iqbal? [4]
Ans: He was a philosopher, politician and poet who practiced law in England. He was knighted in 1922
in recognition for his poetry. He believed that Muslims need a separate country and he voiced his
opinion in his famous address as Allahabad in 1930. He was buried outside Badshahi Mosque in
Lahore.
Q: Who was Chaudri Rehmat Ali? [4]
Ans: Chaudri Rehmat Ali left India to study law at Cambridge in 1930. He attended conferences on
Hindu- Muslim relationships while he was here. He believed that muslims should have a separate
homeland and in his phamplet, ‘Now or Never’ argued in favour of partition, giving the country it’s name,
‘Pakistan’ which was also adopted later.
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Q-Describe Provincial Elections 1936. [4]
The Government of India Act of 1935 was practically implemented in 1937. The provincial elections
were held in the winter of 1936- 1937.The Indian National Congress won a clear victory in five provinces
and was the largest single party in four others. The Muslim League, however, did not fare well and won
only 109 out of the 482 seats allotted to it. Some of the Congress leaders even stated that they would
take revenge from the Muslims for 700 years of slavery
CONGRESS RULE
14 MARKS:
May 2012 and June 2008:
Qa: ‘The main reason why Congress rule (1937- 1939) was so hated /disliked because of the
introduction of the Bande Matram’ Do you agree or disagree. Explain your answer. [14]
Firstly, the Congress proved to be a pure Hindu party and worked only for the interests of Hindus. The
Bande Matram was a nationalist Hindu song which encouraged Hindus to expel Muslims from
‘Hindustan’. It was openly preaching hatred. This was not a Congress policy, but the singing of the song
was made compulsory before the start of business. The Muslims were offended and worried. However,
there were other reasons why they hated the Congress rule.
Secondly, Education Schemes like the Wardah Scheme were introduced. The basic principle was that
the first seven years of schooling woild be devoted to manual labour and spinning cotton was introduced
in the school curriculum. This was severely resented as it was a medival form of education. There was
no religious education, teaching was to be in Hindi and all students were expected to bow in front of
Gandhi’s picture.
Another scheme, the Vidya Mandar Scheme indirectly aimed at converting all non-Hindus to Hinduism.
It was introduced in all schools and colleges. It’s objective was to glorify Hindu myths and heroes and
adopt them as national icons. Muslims felt it was an attempt to subvert a love for Islam.
Later, the Congress ministries resolved that all government officers in all the provinces ruled by the
Congress must wear uniform made of Khaddar (rough-spun cotton). This reinforced Gandhi’s teaching
as a result threatening Muslim’s religion. Hindu was declared the official language and Devanagari was
declared as the official script.
Then, Congress insisted on flying it’s tri-colour flags on all public and local buildings, as if they had
conquered these bulidings. It was given the status of a national flag. The Congress closed the doors of
government offices for Muslims which was the main source of income for them.
Moreover, Muslims feared that a major aim of the Hindus was to erase Muslim culture. In some places
Hindu extremists behaved in an appalling way. Muslims were forbidden to eat beef and received harsh
punishments if they slaughtered cows. Azaan was forbidden and attacks were carried out on mosques.
Noisy processions were arranged near mosques at prayer time and pigs were sometimes pushed into
the mosques. Sometimes there were anti-Muslim riots in which Muslims were attacked and their houses
and property set on fire. Muslims felt that when they reported such incidents, decisions were taken
against them.
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In the light of the above discussion it can be concluded that Bande Matram was not the only reason for
the Muslims to dislike Congress rule but there were other reason too that were aiming to drowning
Muslim identity and culture in a wave of Hindu nationalism. Thus, reason for hating Congress rule was
also the tyranny they carried our against the Muslims for if they hadn’t happened, other things may not
have been hated so much.
Reason Congress rule (1937- 1939) was so hated /disliked:
The Bande Matram, was a nationalist Hindu song which encouraged Hindus to expel Muslims from
‘Hindustan’. This was not a Congress policy, but the singing of the song was made compulsory before
the start of business. The Muslims were offended and worried.
Education Schemes like the Wardah Scheme were introduced. There was no religious education,
teaching was to be in Hindi, spinning cotton was introduced and all students were expected to bow in
front of Gandhi’s picture.
Another scheme, the Vidya Mandar Scheme introduced in all schools and collages had it’s objective to
glorify Hindu myths and heroes and adopt them as national icons. Muslims felt it was an attempt to
subvert a love for Islam.
Hindi was declared the official language and the Congress flag was given the status of the national flag.
Muslims were forbidden to eat beef and received harsh punishments if they slaughtered cows. Azaan
was forbidden and attacks were carried out on mosques. Noisy processions were arranged near
mosques at prayer time and pigs were sometimes pushed into the mosques.
Sometimes there were anti-Muslim riots in which Muslims were attacked and their houses and property
set on fire. Muslim economy was also affected as the Congress stopped their main source of income in
government jobs.
Q- Who was Ramsay McDonald? [4]
James Ramsay MacDonald was a British politician who was the first Labour Party member to become
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He made the Communal Award. The Communal Award also known
as MacDonald Award. It was announced after Round Table Conference (1930–32) and extended
the separate electorate to depressed Classes (now known as the Scheduled Caste) and other minorities
Q-What was the Communal Award? [4]
The Communal Award was made by the [[British prime minister].
The Communal Award also known as MacDonald Award was announced after Round Table
Conference (1930–32) and extended the separate electorate to depressed Classes (now known as
the Scheduled Caste) and other minorities.
The separate electorate was introduced in [Indian council Act 1909] for Muslims and extended to Sikhs,
Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans by Government of India Act 1919.
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The separate electorate was now available to the Forward Caste, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, Indian
Christians, Anglo-Indians, Europeans and Depressed Classes (now known as the Scheduled Caste) etc
The award attracted severe criticism from Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi was ready to award separate electorates to Muslims and Sikhs. But Gandhi was reluctant to
give separate electorates to scheduled castes.
He was afraid of division inside Congress and Hindu society due to separate scheduled caste
representations. But Ambedkar insisted for separate electorate for scheduled caste.
Q- How successful were the provincial elections held in India in 1937? Explain your answer. [10]
LEVEL 4: Explains the success AND less success of the elections [6–9]
Successful for Hindus/Congress:
• Congress won majorities in 5 provinces and largest single party in 4 others
• Saw themselves as the sole party representing Indians
• Led to formation of cabinets in 8 provinces.
For Muslims/Muslim League:
• First major election fought and helped to unify the Muslim League
• Led to improvements in organization and planning
• Learnt that their support lay in areas where Muslims in minority rather than in majority
• Recognition of an ‘image problem’ as its leaders were seen as not in touch with ordinary Muslims.
Less successful For Hindus/Congress:
• Congress alienated the Muslim League after the elections which led to difficulties in future negotiations
• Attitude of Congress and Nehru hardened Muslim views towards a separate nation.
Q-Explain why the Muslim community objected to the rule of the Congress party between 1937
and 1939. [7 ]
Level 3: Explains reasons 5–7 (Five marks for one explanation, six marks for two explanations, seven
marks for three explanations) e.g.
• The erosion of Muslim identity and culture. Muslims were forbidden to eat beef and received harsh
punishments if they slaughtered cows.
• Hindi was enforced as the official language and organised attacks were made on mosques. This made
the Muslim community feel that their language and religion were being made worthless.
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• Bande Matram, a nationalistic Hindu song, was adopted. It encouraged Hindus to expel Muslims from
‘Hindustan’. Singing of the song was made compulsory before the start of business every day in the
provincial assemblies.
• Another scheme, the Widdia Mandar scheme, indirectly aimed to convert all non-Hindus to Hinduism.
It was introduced in all schools and colleges. It promoted Hindu myths and heroes, adopting them as
national icons. Muslim groups felt it was an attempt to subvert their faith.
• The Wardha scheme was a new educational policy that required students to bow before Gandhi’s
picture each day. Spinning cotton by hand was introduced into the school curriculum. Teaching was in
Hindi with no religious education, which meant that Muslim students were at a disadvantage and again
they felt this was a covert attempt at conversion by Congress.
Importance of Government of India Act 1935
Indians had increasingly been demanding a greater role in the government of their country since the
late nineteenth century. The most important feature of the Act was that for the first time the British raj
had allowed a certain amount of provincial autonomy. Parliamentary systems with two chamber had
been set up and Indian provincial ministers could carry out their own programmes in the provinces.
N.W.F.P was given the status of a fully-fledged province and two new provinces were created, Orissa
and Sindh. Jinnah had demanded for Sindh to be a separate province.
Although the British had no intention of giving up India, their power over the provinces was weakening
and eventual independence came closer. Provisions for a federal government were established at the
centre for the first time and the princely states could get involved politically in affairs which concered
the subcontinent.
The Act was also important because it gave a larger proportion of the local population the opportunity
to exercise some power and voice their opinions. The property qualification was lowered which give
the vote to a total of 35 million people out of which 5 million were women.
Q: Why was there so much opposition to the Government of India Act of 1935? [7]
Firstly, the Government of India Act was opposed on all sides in India. The Indian hopes of achieving
dominion status. The act seemed to give more seats and representation, however Provincial governors
had special rights and could dismiss a minister or the whole administration.
Secondly, though the voting was reduced and 35 million more people could vote, it was only 25 % of the
population due to the property qualification. The finances of both the federation and the provinces were
kept under very tight control by the British.
Thirdly, the system of diarchy was to be introduced at the central level. That would mean that the
Governor- general would gain power over the steelwork of the country: defence, security and foreign
policy. The representative of the British crown in India was the Viceroy, and an Executive council, once
again made up solely of Englishmen. The princes resented a loss of power it would entail and did not
like the Act. Nehru called it a ‘Charter of Slavery’ and Jinnah called it ‘throughly rotten, fundamentally
bad and totally unacceptable.
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Q-Were Jinnah’s 14 Points the most important development in the Pakistan Movement between
1929 and 1940? Explain your answer. 14
Level 5: Explains with evaluation 14 (As top of Level 4 plus judgement / evaluation)
Level 4: Explains Jinnah’s 14 Points AND other development(s) 9–13 (Two explanations, one 14 Points
and one on other developments, are worth nine marks.
Additional explanations awarded up to 13 marks) 14 Points
• Set out the demands of any future negotiations with either Congress or the British Government. It was
apparent that any Hindu-Muslim cooperation had now come to an end;
• Formed the basis of demands for a separate homeland. It also convinced the movement that Hindu
and Muslim communities should form separate nations. Muslim groups were united in support of
these demands, which became their ultimate goal. Other developments
• Allama Iqbal further developed the concept of two separate nations in 1930 with the Allahabad
Address in which he became the first Muslim leader to suggest partition in keeping with the Two-
Nation Theory; his views became an inspiration to Muslims;
• Rahmat Ali also developed the Pakistan Movement in 1933 with his ‘Now or Never’ pamphlet in which
he stated that the Muslim community should have their own homeland called Pakistan;
• The Government of India Act of 1935 introduced a federal system of government, but the Muslim
League had expected more concessions from the British. However, it was important to the
development of the Pakistan Movement as it was in place at partition and became the instrument by
which Pakistan was first governed;
• The Pakistan Resolution (Lahore Resolution) in 1940 set out the path towards independence in the
1940s, the Muslim League became the driving force of this process by committing to the establishment
of an independent Muslim state.
Q-Was the introduction of Jinnah’s 14 Points in 1929 the most important factor in the
development of the Pakistan Movement between 1928 and 1935? Give reasons for your
answer. [14]
The Nehru Report of 1928 was produced in response to demands for future constitutional reforms and
the committee, which drew it up, had minimal Muslim representation. It reported on the future of the sub-
Continent by looking to dominion status with no need for separate electorates. This totally alienated the
Muslims and marked the end of any future co-operation between them and the Congress. However,
Jinnah made one final attempt to preserve the relationship in his 14 Points of 1929 in which he
proposed three amendments to the report. These proposals were met with refusal and marked what he
called –the parting of the ways.
The 14 Points set out the demands of any future negotiations with either Congress or the British
Government. The demands were also to form the basis of the Muslims demands for a separate
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homeland. It also convinced them that the Hindus and Muslims were two separate nations which was to
be further developed by Allama Iqbal in 1930.
The 1st Round Table Conference proposed a federal system for India which was approved. Sind was to
be given a separate identity and a govt. However, Congress boycotted it and there was deadlock on
the federal system. The minorities couldn’t reach a conclusion. In the 2nd RTC Congress attended an
minorities entered into an agreement on their demands. However, in the 3rd RTC Congress was absent
again and the gulf proved too great between the two sides.
The Government of India Act of 1935 introduced a federal system of government which was
disappointing to the Muslim League who had expected more concessions from the British. The period of
the Congress Rule and the associated atrocities ensured that the Muslim League became the focal
point for all Muslims. The chief ministers of Punjab, Bengal and Assam all joined the Muslim League.
LEVEL 5: As Level 4: also produces a judgement or evaluation. [9-13]
THE PAKISTAN RESOLUTION 1940
- Initially, Jinnah did not approve Allama Iqbal, and Chaudhry Rehmat Ali’s views regarding separate
homeland.
- After Congress rule, things were much changed.
- On 22 March 1940, the League had its annual session in Lahore.
- The Bengal Premier Molvi Fazl e Haq put forward a resolution. It said ‘Regions in which Muslims were
numerically a majority, as in North-Western and Eastern Zone of India, should be grouped to
autonomous and sovereign units’.
- The Resolution was passed on 23 rd March 1940. Initially came to be known as The Lahore
Resolution. Later the Pakistan Resolution.
Q-What was the Simon Report? [4]
Sir John Simon had chaired a commission in 1927 to consider further political reforms in India. There
was no Indian representation on the commission and this was opposed especially as its membership
had been carefully selected to oppose self-government. Congress and ML boycotted it. SC reported in
1930, main points were federal system with more powers to provinces, diarchy ended with provincial
government in hands of ministers responsible to elected legislatures, Governors to choose all ministers
from parties that had majority support, Provincial Prime Ministers would be free from control by the
governor or central government, NWFP to be given a legislative council but no government, no change
in central executive and Council of Greater India to be set up representing India and the individual
provinces to discuss matters of all-India concern. Unacceptable to both Congress and ML.
Round Table Conferences, 1930-1932
Organizer: Labour Government
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In response to the inadequacy of the Simon Report, the Labour Government, which had come to power
under Ramsay MacDonald in 1929, decided to hold a series of Round Table Conferences in London.
The first Round Table Conference convened from 12 November 1930 to 19 January 1931. Prior to the
Conference, M. K. Gandhi had initiated the Civil Disobedience Movement on behalf of the Indian
National Congress. Consequently, since many of the Congress' leaders were in jail, Congress did not
participate in the first conference, but representatives from all other Indian parties and a number of
Princes did. The outcomes of the first Round Table Conference were minimal: India was to develop
into a federation, safeguards regarding defence and finance were agreed and other departments were
to be transferred. However, little was done to implement these recommendations and civil disobedience
continued in India. The British Government realized that the Indian National Congress needed to be part
of deciding the future of constitutional government in India.
Lord Irwin, the Viceroy, met with Gandhi to reach a compromise. On 5 March 1931 they agreed the
folowing to pave the way for the Congress' participation in the second Round Table Conference:
Congress would discontinue the Civil Disobedience Movement, it would participate in the second Round
Table Conference, the Government would withdraw all ordinances issued to curb the Congress, the
Government would withdraw all prosecutions relating to offenses not involving violence and the
Government would release all persons undergoing sentences of imprisonment for their activities in the
Civil Disobedience Movement.
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. Two weeks before the Conference
convened, the Labour government had been replaced by the Conservatives. At the conference, Gandhi
claimed to represent all people of India. This view, however, was not shared by other delegates. In fact,
the division between the many attending groups was one of the reasons why the outcomes of the
second Round Table Conference were again no substantial results regarding India's constitutional
future. Meanwhile, civil unrest had spread throughout India again, and upon return to India Gandhi was
arrested along with other Congress leaders. A separate province of Sind was created and the interests
of minorities were safeguarded by MacDonald's Communal Award.
The third Round Table Conference (17 November 1932 - 24 December 1932) was not attended by the
Indian National Congress and Gandhi. Many other Indian leaders were also absent. Like the two first
conferences, little was achieved. The recommendations were published in a White Paper in March 1933
and debated in Parliament afterwards. A Joint Select Committee was formed to analyse the
recommendations and formulate a new Act for India. The Committee produced a draft Bill in February
1935 which was enforced as the Government of India Act of 1935 in July 1935.
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