How successful were the three Round Table Conferences of 1930-32?

1. How successful were the three Round Table Conferences of 1930-32?
Hamza Mahmood
http://olevel-answers-cie.blogspot.com

2. First Round Table Conference: 12 Nov 1930 – 19 Jan 1931
SUCCESSES
 Federal type of government agreed among the participants; committee formed to
come up with proposals for structure of the government (Federal Structure
Subcommittee)
 British agreed to grant self-rule at provincial level
 Princes agreed to join the federation as far as their interests are safeguarded
FAILURES
 No consensus developed on the structure of federation; strong Indian Union or loose
federation?, residuary powers with center or provinces?
 Congress boycotted no chance of acceptance of reforms in India

3. Second Round Table Conference: 7 Sep – 31 Dec 1931
SUCCESSES
 NWFP to give full governor’s status
 Sindh was agreed to be a separate province with responsible governor
 Minorities developed consensus on separate electorate
 Voice of minorities heard in the British Parliament; granted with Communal Award
next year
FAILURES
 Gandhi’s stubbornness; rejected the demand of minorities on separate electorate
 No formula devised for communal proportions by the Minorities Committee; London
decided on Communal Award

4. Third Round Table Conference: 17 Nov – 24 Nov 1932
SUCCESSES
 No new issue created
FAILURES
 No solution of the pending disputes
 Congress boycotted being largest political stakeholder, no reforms could be
implemented in India without its involvement
 Quaid-e-Azam M. A. Ali Jinnah not invited to conference

5. Conclusion
 The main objective of the conferences was to develop consensus on constitutional
reforms for India which was not achieved. Therefore, the conferences were a failure
on the whole.
For detailed discussion, you can contact Hamza Mahmood on Skype ID: hamza.mahmood95