Simon Commission (1928) & Nehru Report: India’s Demand for Constitutional Reform

Simon Commission of 1928 was one of the most controversial events in the Indian independence movement. The Simon Commission had been formed by the British Government with the objective of reviewing the functioning of the Government of India Act of 1919. It was expected to propose constitutional reforms of British India.

Instead, the appointment of a purely British panel by the commission aroused great ire among the people. When the commission landed in India, all sorts of protests were held against them raising the well-known slogan of “Simon go back.”

What Was the Simon Commission?

• Simon Commission, which was officially named the Indian Statutory Commission, was appointed by the British Government in 1927 under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon.
• The main aim of the commission was to study the functioning of the Government of India Act of 1919 and make suggestions for changing the constitutional and administrative structure of India.
• The commission comprised seven British members. Surprisingly, there was not even a single Indian in it.
• This was the main point of contention among Indian politicians who felt that the commission deciding the constitution of India must have some representation from Indian political parties.

Why Was the Simon Commission Sent To India?

• According to the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1919, there was dyarchy in the provinces whereby some issues were divided between the elected Indian ministers and British authorities.
• There was also provision for the review of the act after a stipulated period of time. In consequence, the British government sent the Simon Commission to assess the working of the constitution and make further reforms.
• The commission was meant to investigate on issues like provincial administration, constitutional development, communal representation, and political scenario in India.
• However, the all-British nature of the commission made the issue of constitutional review a major political problem.

Why Were Indians Against the Simon Commission?

• The most notable factor for opposition by Indians to the Simon Commission was its all-British nature without any Indian members.
• According to Indian nationalists, it is important for Indians to participate in shaping the constitutional future of their country, so that commission was considered a humiliation to Indian politics.
• Moreover, the disappointment was felt more strongly because Indian leaders were already demanding increased participation in the government and self-rule.
• Some nationalist leaders even accused the British government of controlling the speed and nature of constitutional reforms as a way of not heeding to India’s demands for self-government.

Simon Commission’s Visit to India

• The Simon Commission reached Bombay on February 3, 1928. The visit resulted in widespread agitation all over India.
• The Indian National Congress resolved to boycott the commission during its meeting in Madras in 1927, under the chairmanship of M.A. Ansari.
• Apart from the Congress, there were several other political parties that also opposed the Simon Commission. An element within the Muslim League headed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah favoured the decision to boycott the commission.
• Protests broke out in many places and strike processions took place. Black flags were used as the sign of protest, and the crowds often shouted, “Simon Go Back.”
• The role of students and youths was very significant in the protest movement.

Major Protest Against the Simon Commission in Lahore

• One such major protest took place in Lahore on October 30, 1928.
• The protest march in Lahore was spearheaded by the famous nationalist leader Lala Lajpat Rai. There was an agitated procession against the Simon Commission holding black flags.
• The police resorted to a baton charge which injured the popular nationalist Lala Lajpat Rai.
• He succumbed to his injuries and passed away on November 17, 1928.
• His death aroused anger all over India and further strengthened the anti-British sentiment among Indians.
• The incident had a great effect on revolutionary youths. Revolutionaries later regarded the martyrdom of Lala Lajpat Rai as the result of repressive policy of British rulers.

Simon Commission and Nehru Report

• The controversies relating to the commission also prompted Indian politicians to formulate their own plans for a constitution.
• In 1928, a meeting of all parties appointed a committee headed by Motilal Nehru to draft a plan of constitution for India. This report came to be known as the Nehru Report.
• The report advocated the grant of Dominion Status to India within the British Commonwealth, parliamentary government and fundamental rights and constitutional democracy.
• It also opposed the communal electorates in favour of an integrated political arrangement.
• Nehru Report highlighted the fact that Indian politicians were now becoming capable of formulating their own constitutional plan rather than reacting to the British plans.

Simon Commission and Emergence of New Nationalism

• The agitation against the Simon Commission also contributed to creating an environment in which new nationalist leaders and organizations could come into prominence.
• The death of Lala Lajpat Rai proved very significant for revolutionary organizations. Bhagat Singh was one of those revolutionaries who was profoundly influenced by the political environment created by the Simon Commission agitation.
• The event thus linked constitutional nationalism to the increasing appeal of new methods amongst certain segments of Indian youth.

Impact of the Simon Commission

• There were various repercussions for the freedom movement in India due to the Simon Commission.
• First, the boycott highlighted the ability of various political groupings to cooperate in opposition to British constitutional initiatives. The boycott involved the Congress, the Muslim League, and other nationalist organizations.
• Secondly, the Commission made Indian nationalists insist on their involvement in the process of drafting the Indian constitution. Indians ceased to wait for Britain to decide their constitutional fate.
• Finally, the Commission played a role in the emergence of the Nehru Report, which became one of the key constitutional documents of the nationalist movement.

Simon Commission and Government of India Act 1935

• The recommendations of the Simon Commission did affect further developments, even though the later Government of India Act, 1935 was beyond them.
• The Act introduced provincial autonomy and abolished dyarchy in the provinces. In addition, it envisaged the expansion of the legislative bodies and increased powers of the Indian representatives in them.
• Still, the Act did not provide for any self-government and independence of India. As a result, the demands of nationalists increased.

Key Points of the Simon Commission

• The Simon Commission was formed in 1927 to study the Government of India Act of 1919. The head of the commission was Sir John Simon, and it comprised of seven members, all of whom were from Britain.
• It reached Bombay on February 3, 1928, where it was greeted with widespread protest demonstrations.
• The popular slogan that was used during the demonstration protests was “Simon Go Back.”
• The protest at Lahore, which took place on October 30, 1928, was spearheaded by Lala Lajpat Rai, who died of injuries sustained during the protest on November 17, 1928.
• It is worth noting that the controversy surrounding the Simon Commission paved the way for the formulation of the Nehru Report of 1928.