On January 25, 1931, Gandhi and all other members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) arrested for Salt Law disobedience, were released unconditionally. The CWC authorised Gandhi to initiate discussions with the viceroy.
As a result of these discussions, a pact was signed between the viceroy, representing the British Indian Government, and Gandhi, representing the Indian people, in Delhi on March 5, 1931. This Delhi Pact, also known as the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, placed the Congress on an equal footing with the government.
What were the demands of Gandhi (Congress) on which Irwin (on behalf of the government) agreed?
1 . Immediate release of all political prisoners not convicted of violence.
2 . Remission of all fines not yet collected.
3 . Return of all lands not yet sold to third parties.
4 . Lenient treatment to those government servants who had resigned.
5 . Right to make salt in coastal villages for personal consumption (not for sale).
6 . Right to peaceful and non-aggressive picketing.
7 . Withdrawal of emergency ordinances.
The viceroy, however, turned down two of Gandhi’s demands.
(i) Public enquiry into police excesses.
(ii) Commutation of Bhagat Singh and his comrades’ death sentence to life sentence.
What were the demands of Irwin (government) on which Gandhi (Congress) agreed?
Gandhi on behalf of the Congress agreed:
(i) To suspend the civil disobedience movement.
(ii) To participate in the next Round Table Conference on the constitutional question around the three
linchpins of federation, Indian responsibility, and reservations and safeguards that may be necessary
in India’s interests (covering such areas as defence, external affairs, position of minorities, financial
credit of India, and discharge of other obligations).
Was Gandhi-Irwin Pact a Retreat?
Gandhi’s decision to suspend the civil disobedience movement as agreed under the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was not welcomed by some sections of the society.
The youth were disappointed. They had participated enthusiastically and wanted the world to end with a bang and not with a whimper.
Peasants of Gujarat were disappointed because their lands were not restored immediately (indeed, they were restored only during the rule of the Congress ministry in the province).
However, Gandhi’s decision to suspend the civil disobedience movement as agreed under the Gandhi-Irwin Pact cannot be considered a retreat because:
(i) Mass movements are necessarily short-lived.
(ii) Capacity of the masses to make sacrifices, unlike that of the activists, is limited.
(iii) There were signs of exhaustion after September 1930, especially among shopkeepers and merchants,
who had participated so enthusiastically.
Many people were jubilant that the government had been made to regard their movement as significant and treat their leader as an equal, and sign a pact with him. The political prisoners, when released from jails, were given a hero’s welcome.
Must read: Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) was far ahead than Non-Cooperation movement (NCM)
External link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi%E2%80%93Irwin_Pact
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
QUES . The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following? UPSC 2020
1 . Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference.
2 . Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement.
3 . Acceptance of Gandhiji’s suggestion for enquiry into police excesses.
4 . Release of only those prisoners who were not charged with violence.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only
Ans (b)
