Gandhi, Ambedkar and British Policy at the Second Round Table Conference, 1931

Abstract

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi has been criticised by historians for his stubborn, obstinate, and uncompromising behaviour at the second session of the Round Table Conference held at London, England, in 1931, that resulted in Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar signing the Minorities Pact. It is also stated that if only Gandhi had agreed to seats being reserved in the Indian legislatures for the ‘Untouchables’, they would have reconciled to joint electorates. Scholars have generally overlooked that Gandhi was never ever opposed to the ‘Untouchables’ being represented in the legislatures, even if they were over-represented. In fact, he was eager to ensure them proper representation and even stated his willingness to guarantee, by legislation, certain seats in legislatures to be held by the ‘Untouchables’. However, the British Government, set to counterpoise one community against another, pre-empted such moves. Also, the representatives of the ‘Untouchables’ at the Conference did not put up any precise proposal for constitutional reserved seats for the ‘Untouchables’ for Gandhi’s approval or rejection. They continued to hold tightly onto their demand for separate electorates that was backed explicitly and implicitly by the British Government. Following the advice of the British Premier, Ramsay MacDonald, the ‘Untouchables’, the Europeans, the AngloIndians, the Indian Christians, the Sikhs, and the Muslims formed a united anti-Congress front at the Conference. They bypassed Gandhi and produced the Minorities Pact to prevent the Conference from endorsing Gandhi’s proposals. The Minorities Pact resulted in consolidating the communal demands and, therefore, sanctified the British ploy to divide India.