You have probably studied about the boycott of the Simon Commission or seen pictures of people holding placards proclaiming, “Simon Go Back” in your history textbooks. But how well do you know about the Commission and its impact on the freedom struggle?
What was the Commission?
The Government of India Act 1919 had introduced the system of diarchy (double government) to govern the provinces of British India. However, the Indian leaders wanted a revision in the form of government. So the British Government, under political pressure, agreed to appoint a committee to study the implementation of the scheme and suggest new steps for reform.
So, in 1927, a seven-member panel was constituted under the leadership of John Simon, a Member of Parliament. It also included Clement Attlee (who went on to become the Prime Minister of England) along with other British MPs. However, Indian representatives were glaringly missing from the panel. The ignominy was not lost on Indian nationalists.
“Simon Go Back”
Demanding that Indians too be included in the decision-making process, the All-India Congress Committee in its December 1927 meeting in Madras resolved to boycott the Commission.
When the commission landed in Bombay on February 3, 1928, a country-wide hartal was organised. Wherever the commission went, there were black flag demonstrations, and cries of “Simon Go Back” rang loud.
Finally, the Commission published its two-volume report in May 1930 proposing the abolition of diarchy and the establishment of representative government in the provinces.
Did you know?
Lala Lajpat Rai took part in a non-violent protest against the Commission in Lahore on October 30, 1928. The police quashed the protest with lathi-charge. A few days later, on November 17, Rai died of injuries sustained in the incident. Before his death, he famously said, “The blows struck at me today will be the last nails in the coffin of British rule in India.”
Picture Credit : Google
