Third Round Table Conference 1932

The Third Round Table Conference, held in London, England, from November 17, 1932, to December 24, 1932, was the final installment in a series of conferences aimed at discussing India’s constitutional future. Unlike the Second Round Table Conference (1931), which witnessed the participation of Mahatma Gandhi, the Third Conference was marked by the complete absence of the Indian National Congress (INC), making it largely ineffective. The British, however, proceeded with discussions on constitutional reforms, which later influenced the Government of India Act, 1935.

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 Third Round Table Conference

The failure of the Second Round Table Conference (1931) led to increasing disillusionment among Indian nationalists. Gandhi returned to India and resumed the Civil Disobedience Movement, leading to his arrest and the intensification of British repression. Meanwhile, the British government, under Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, proceeded with constitutional deliberations despite Congress’ boycott.

By this time, the British had already introduced the Communal Award (August 1932), which granted separate electorates to various minority groups, including Muslims, Sikhs, Anglo-Indians, Europeans, and Dalits. This decision further alienated the Congress and deepened communal divisions.

Participants in the Third Round Table Conference

Unlike the previous conferences, the Third Round Table Conference had limited participation:

• British Delegation: Led by Ramsay MacDonald, with support from British officials and colonial administrators.
• Indian Representatives:
  • Princely States: Several rulers participated, supporting a federal structure while preserving their autonomy.
  • Muslim League: Represented by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who continued advocating for Muslim political safeguards.
  • Dalit Representatives: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar participated, reinforcing the demand for separate Dalit electorates.
  • Other Minorities: Sikhs, Anglo-Indians, and Europeans were present, pushing for their respective communal rights.

Absent from the Conference: 

• The Indian National Congress (INC), which refused to participate due to ongoing repression and its opposition to British policies.
• Key nationalist leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

Key Discussions and Proceedings

• Constitutional Reforms: The British continued discussions on creating a new constitutional framework for India, despite the Congress’ absence.
• Communal Representation: The issue of separate electorates remained contentious, with continued demands from minority groups and Ambedkar’s advocacy for Dalit representation.
• Federal Structure Proposal: The British reaffirmed their plan to establish an All-India Federation, combining British India and princely states under a single administrative framework.
• Finalizing the Government of India Act, 1935: The discussions at the conference laid the foundation for this Act, which became the largest constitutional reform imposed by the British in colonial India.

Failure and Outcomes of the Third Round Table Conference

The conference was largely ineffective due to:

• Lack of Congress Participation: Without the INC, the conference lacked legitimacy and mass representation.
• British Dominance in Decision-Making: The British government proceeded with reforms without genuine Indian consensus.
• Communal Divisions: Continued demands for separate electorates deepened Hindu-Muslim political rifts.

Despite its failure, the conference contributed to the framing of the Government of India Act, 1935, which introduced provincial autonomy, separate electorates, and the concept of a federal government.

Conclusion

The Third Round Table Conference was the least significant of the three, as it failed to engage India’s largest political force—the Congress. From a historical perspective, it symbolized the British strategy of imposing constitutional changes without broad nationalist consensus, deepening divisions among various Indian communities. The conference’s legacy was mainly the passage of the Government of India Act, 1935, which shaped India’s colonial governance structure until independence in 1947. Ultimately, it reaffirmed that the British could not sustain colonial rule without addressing the legitimate demands of Indian nationalists.

Also read:

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