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Pak Studies History IGCSEPDF 59
181 pagesrevision 46928
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In November 1917, John Montague, secretary of state of India and Lord Chelmsford, viceroy
carried a fact finding tour of India. After the talks with the local leaders they come up with a
constitutional solution of India’s problems.
Report suggested a bicameral legislature at center with upper house as the council of state
and lower house as the Legislative Assembly. The major shift of British political maneuvering
was the inclusion of more elected members so Legislative assembly would have 145
members with 103 elected members. At provincial level, Diarchy was introduced which
distributed the powers into reserved (British Governors) and
transferred (Indian Ministers) subjects through which British retained the power. The right of
the separate electorate which was previously given only to Muslims was now extended to
Sikhs too. The number of voters was increased to 5.5 million.
The reforms kept power in the hands of British, Indians were given minimal powers.Viceroy
could veto any decision and make and introduce any law. Indians who fought with British in
World War-I expected greater concessions. Congress and Muslim League who had recently
come closer to each other then and were striving for self-rule did not accept the proposals.
The reforms were condemned in the joint session of congress in 1918, only the moderates
supported it, who were soon excluded from the party. The British had not accepted the
separate electorate in true letter and spirit.
Rowlatt act was an extension of Defense of India Act 1915. It gave the powers to the police
to arrest anyone without warrant and detain him without the right to bail. People could not
hold meetings. They could be tried privately by three high court judges and had no right to
appeal. It had tragic results as it caused uproar in India, strikes and
demonstrations took place. The protests were so violent that British thought it could prove to
be another war of 1857.
The protests against Rowlatt act were going on in whole Punjab. Another version is that
Sikhs were celebrating their Vaisakhi event in Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. 20,000 People
were gathered there. General Dyer was appointed to control the law and
order situation. The army closed the door and opened fire, resultantly 400 people were killed
and 1200 injured by the attack. General Dyer’s act was reprimanded by the British but his
cadre was enhanced which aggravated the Indian rage towards the British. He was
murdered by Indian freedom fighter Udham Singh in retaliation of
Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1927.
Consequently, it can be said that
Montague-Chelmsford give rise to the oppressive feelings towards Indians which also
caused the opposition of Rowlatt Act and ultimately killings in Jallianwala massacre.
Swaraj party was setup on 1st January 1923 by Indian politicians and members of Indian
National Congress. Inspiration was taken by the concept of swaraj which means
selfgovernment. Most important leaders of this party were Chittaranjan Dās (President) and
Motilāl Nehru (Secretary)-Father of Jawāharlāl Nehru. Jinnāh also joined this party after
Events from 1923 to 1929
Q: What was Swaraj party? [4]