Gandhi-Irwin Pact, March 1931

An important pact between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, the viceroy of India at the time, was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, which was signed on March 5, 1931. In the context of the Civil Disobedience Movement, it was a pivotal moment in the Indian freedom movement. Gandhi’s participation in the Second Round Table Conference in London was made possible by this political agreement, which sought to put an end to the ongoing agitation.
In contemporary Indian history, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact is crucial because it illustrates the changing dynamic between Indian nationalists and the British colonial government.

Historical Background of Gandhi-Irwin Pact

How Did the Pact Come to Be?

• Following the historic Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha), in which Mahatma Gandhi and thousands of Indians disobeyed the British Salt Laws, the Civil Disobedience Movement was started in 1930.The movement revealed the oppressive aspects of British rule and led to widespread arrests, including Gandhi’s.
  • The Indian National Congress (INC) boycotted the First Round Table Conference in London in 1930, which led to its failure.
• Lord Irwin and the British government were eager to include the Congress in the Second Round Table Conference.
• While Gandhi was detained at Yerwada Jail, talks between him and Lord Irwin started, and in March 1931, the agreement was signed.

Date and Signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact

• Date Signed: 5 March 1931
• Location: Delhi
• Indian Representative: Mahatma Gandhi
• British Representative: Lord Irwin

 Key Provisions of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact

 Concessions by the British Government

1. Political Prisoner Release: All non-violent political prisoners should be released right away.
2. Return of Confiscated Property: The Civil Disobedience Movement required the restoration of properties that had been seized.

3.Peaceful Picketing Allowed:  Indians were permitted to peacefully picket liquor and foreign cloth shops.

4. Right to Manufacture Salt: For their own use, coastal communities were allowed to freely produce salt.
5. Relaxation of Salt Laws: Strict limitations on the production of salt were partially removed.

Concessions by Gandhi and Congress

1. The Civil Disobedience Movement was put on hold.
   2. The Congress’s involvement in the Second Round Table Conference.
   3. Non-intervention in British administration throughout the truce.

Image Source: National Archives of India – https://x.com/IN_Archives/status/1764954193247273080

Significance of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact

Immediate Outcomes

• Put an end to large-scale demonstrations for a while to allow for talks.
  • Made sure Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference so Congress could be directly represented.
  • Confirmed the Congress’s authority as the principal representative of Indian ambition.

Political and Social Impact

• Draw attention to the fact that the Congress-led national movement could no longer be ignored by the British.
  • Solidified Gandhi’s position as the freedom movement’s unchallenged leader.
  • Enhanced the Indian National Congress’s standing internationally by marking the first official discussion between Gandhi and a sitting viceroy.

Criticisms and Limitations

Failure to Save Bhagat Singh

• Many Indians, especially young revolutionaries, were incensed when Gandhi refused to commute the death sentences of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev in spite of popular pressure.
  • Congress moderates and revolutionary nationalists became estranged as a result of this incident.

Lack of Constitutional Progress

• Neither constitutional concessions nor promises of Swaraj (self-rule) were included in the agreement.
  • It was seen by many Indian leaders as a short-term compromise that offered no real progress towards independence.

British Divide-and-Rule Policy Intact

• The agreement excluded labour organisations, peasants, and revolutionaries, enabling the British to keep Congress apart from other groups.The colonial government was able to maintain its divide-and-rule policies because of this selective negotiation approach.

Historical Importance of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact

The Gandhi-Irwin Pact holds a unique place in India’s freedom struggle. It was:

• A tactical pause in the freedom struggle that demonstrated that peaceful resistance could compel the British to engage in direct negotiations;
• A rare instance of direct negotiation between Indian leaders and the British government.
• A forerunner to subsequent discussions that resulted in the 1935 Government of India Act.

Conclusion

An important turning point in the Indian independence movement, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact symbolises the strength of political compromise and nonviolent resistance. In addition to highlighting Gandhi’s widespread appeal and the Indian National Congress’s increasing power, it also highlighted the difficulties in negotiating with a colonial power that was unwilling to cede actual authority. The agreement is still a testament to the strategic use of dialogue in India’s protracted and difficult-fought freedom movement, even though it was unable to bring about any significant constitutional reforms.

Check the chronology and also read:

• Dandi March, 12 March 1930 to 6 April 1930
• First Round Table Conference, 12 November 1930 to 19 January 1931
• Gandhi-Irwin Pact, 5 March 1931
• Second Round Table Conference, 7 September to 1 December 1931
• Third Round Table Conference, 17 November 1932 to 24 December 1932