Image: Gandhi at the Round Table Conference, 1931. Historical photograph.
The Round Table Conferences in London between 1930 and 1932 were part of Britain’s effort to discuss constitutional reforms for India. Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference in 1931 as the sole representative of the Indian National Congress.
Why the conferences were held
The conferences followed growing political pressure for constitutional reform and the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Gandhi in London
Gandhi travelled to London after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact temporarily suspended civil disobedience. He argued for political arrangements that reflected Indian demands for self-government.
The question of representation
The conference included representatives of different communities and political interests. Disagreements over minority representation and separate electorates became central issues.
No final agreement
The Second Round Table Conference did not produce the constitutional settlement Gandhi sought. Civil disobedience resumed after his return to India.
Historical significance
The conferences provide an important window into the constitutional negotiations that preceded the Government of India Act 1935 and later developments toward independence.
Read NewsNationOnline’s Civil Disobedience feature and Poona Pact feature.
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