Second Round Table Conference 1931

The Second Round Table Conference, held in London, England from September 7 to December 1, 1931, was a crucial event in India’s constitutional negotiations with British authorities. Unlike the First Round Table Conference (1930-31), which lacked representation from the Indian National Congress (INC), this session saw the participation of Mahatma Gandhi as the sole representative of the INC. Despite high hopes, the conference ended in deadlock, primarily due to differences over communal representation and Britain’s unwillingness to grant immediate self-governance.

Check the chronology and also read:

• 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

Background and Context of the Second Round Table Conference

The Second Round Table Conference was convened following the failure of the First Round Table Conference, which lacked mass representation and failed to make significant progress. The INC’s Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-31) had intensified nationalist demands, forcing the British to negotiate. As a result, Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India, signed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (March 1931), which led to:

• The suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement
• The release of political prisoners
• The Congress’ participation in the Second Round Table Conference

This created an atmosphere of cautious optimism, but deep political divisions remained.

Participants in the Third Round Table Conference

The conference included three major groups:

• British Delegation: Led by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, with key officials including Winston Churchill and Samuel Hoare.
• Indian Delegation:
  • Indian National Congress: Represented solely by Mahatma Gandhi, who demanded complete Swaraj (self-rule) and rejected separate electorates.
  • Muslim League: Led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, advocating for separate electorates for Muslims.
  • Dalit Representatives: Led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, demanding separate electorates for Dalits.
  • Princely States: Various princely rulers sought to protect their political autonomy.
  • Other Minorities: Sikhs, Anglo-Indians, and business representatives also had their own demands.

This diverse representation highlighted India’s internal divisions, which the British tactically exploited to weaken nationalist unity.

Key Discussions and Proceedings

• Demand for Full Independence: Gandhi pushed for complete self-rule, rejecting British-imposed safeguards and separate electorates.
• Communal Representation Debate: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s demand for separate Dalit electorates led to a clash with Gandhi, who opposed such provisions, arguing for a unified nationalist front.
• The Federal Structure Proposal: The British proposed an All-India Federation with princely states, but Congress opposed any arrangement short of full independence.
• Economic and Social Reforms: Discussions included labor rights, trade policies, and land reforms, but little concrete action was taken.

Failure and Outcomes of the Second Round Table Conference

Despite intense discussions, the conference ended in failure due to:

• British Reluctance: The British government refused to grant full self-rule and sought to maintain imperial control.
• Communal Divisions: The Hindu-Muslim divide deepened, as Jinnah insisted on separate electorates while Gandhi opposed them.
• Dalit Representation Dispute: The Gandhi-Ambedkar conflict over separate Dalit electorates led to an impasse, later resolved through the Poona Pact (1932).
• Lack of Consensus on Constitutional Reforms: The British eventually moved forward with their own proposals, leading to the Communal Award of 1932 and the Government of India Act, 1935.

Conclusion

The Second Round Table Conference was a pivotal yet disappointing chapter in India’s independence struggle. While Gandhi’s presence elevated its importance, deep-rooted communal tensions and British divide-and-rule tactics prevented any breakthrough. However, the conference made it clear that the Congress, as India’s primary nationalist force, could not be ignored in future negotiations. Ultimately, the failure of the Round Table Conferences fueled further nationalist agitation, eventually leading to India’s independence in 1947.

The Second Round Table Conference illustrated both the growing strength of Indian nationalism and the British strategy of political fragmentation, which delayed India’s path to sovereignty but could not prevent it.

Also read:

https://www5.open.ac.uk/research-projects/making-britain/content/round-table-conferences-1930-1932