Gandhi Irwin Pact
Gandhi – Irwin Pact is also known as Delhi Pact which was a political agreement between Mahtma Gandhi and Lord Irwin (Viceroy of India at that time) signed on 5th March 1931.
Table of Contents
Background
By the year 1930, the atrocities of the British government were at their peak. Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress Party had no option but to protest peacefully against the atrocities of the British government. This protest begins at the ground level on March 12, 1930, with the start of the Dandi March (Salt March) by Mahatma Gandhi and his supporters.
On 12th March 1930, Mahatma Gandhi and his supporters reached Dandi after doing a long march from Sabasmati Ashram to Dandi and broke the salt law by picking up a handful of salt and taking an oath of breaking the salt law. Thus Mahatma Gandhi and his supporters broke the Salt Law on 6th April 1930. This news spread like fire in the whole country. People started making salt from sea water and stopped paying salt tax to the British government.
It was the begining of the Civil Disobedience Movement. This movement played an important role in weakening the British government and strengthening the Indian Independence movement.
Now the British Government wanted to suppress this movement by hook or by crook. At that time the Prime Minister of Britain was Ramsay MacDonald. On the reccommendation of the Simon Commission, the British government organized the first Round Table Conference between 12th, November 1930 to 19th, January 1931. The representatives of the Congress party demanded for Poorna Swaraj in the first round table conference which was rejected by the British government.
When the British Government rejected the demand of the Poorna Swaraj the leaders of the Congress party boycotted the First Round Table Conference.
This incident created all the circumtaces favourable for the political agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and the Viceroy Lord Irwin which is known as Gandhi Irwin Pact.
After the failure of the First Round Table Conference, the then prime minister of Britain- Ramasy MacDonald told the then viceroy of India Lord Irwin that we are going to organize the Round Table Conference again, so you should talk to Mahatma Gandhi and ensure that he will definitely attend the Second Round Table Conference.
Gandhi- Irwin Pact Or Delhi Pact
On the several request of Lord Irwin Mahatma Gandhi agreed to discuss regarding this pact. Finally on 5th March 1931 Mahatma Gandhi accepted to sign this political agreement with the following conditions.
1. Suspension of Civil Disobedience Movement
Mahatma Gandhi agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement, which was started with Dandi March (Salt March or Salt Satyagrah).
2. Participation in Round Table Conference
The Indian National Congress agreed to participate in the Second Round Table Conference in London.
3. Release of Political Prisoners
The British government agreed to release all political prisoners who had been arrested for participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement (except those guilty of violence).
4. Right to Peaceful Protest
Indians were allowed to peacefully picket liquor and foreign cloth shops.
5. Confiscated Property
The government agreed to return confiscated properties of those who had not been convicted of violent crimes.
6. Removal of Salt Tax Restrictions
The British agreed to permit Indians to make salt for personal use, effectively ending the monopoly that led to the Salt March.
7. Withdrawal of Ordinances
Repressive ordinances imposed to curb the movement were to be withdrawn.
