Simon Go Back! The Inside Story of India’s Uprising Against British Tyranny!

Simon Go Back! The Inside Story of India’s Uprising Against British Tyranny!

Introduction to the Simon Commission

The Simon Commission, officially known as the Indian Statutory Commission, was a group appointed by the British government in 1927 to assess and report on the political situation in British-ruled India. It was tasked with evaluating the working of the Government of India Act, 1919, which had introduced limited reforms such as provincial councils and dyarchy. The Commission was named after its chairman, Sir John Simon, and arrived in India in 1928.

Background and Purpose

The Government of India Act, 1919, was designed to gradually introduce more self-governance for Indians. However, by the mid-1920s, the Indian nationalist movement, led by the Indian National Congress and other groups, demanded a more substantial role in governance and greater autonomy. As a response to this, the British government decided to set up a commission to review the constitutional progress made under the 1919 reforms and suggest further measures.

However, a key issue with the Simon Commission was that it did not include a single Indian member. All seven members were British, which made it clear to Indians that their voices were not being considered in decisions that affected their country. This exclusion was seen as a blatant insult to India’s growing demand for self-rule.

Arrival of the Simon Commission in India (1928)

The Simon Commission arrived in India on February 3, 1928, but was met with widespread protests and boycotts. Across the country, political leaders and the general public were angered by the lack of Indian representation in the Commission. The Indian National Congress, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and Motilal Nehru, spearheaded the protests. The Congress called for an all-India boycott of the Commission, with the famous slogan “Simon Go Back” being chanted in demonstrations across the country.

Many other political parties, including the Muslim League under Muhammad Ali Jinnah, also supported the boycott. Even moderates in Indian politics, such as the All India Liberal Federation, who generally supported gradual reforms under British rule, opposed the Simon Commission.

Nationwide Protests

Wherever the Simon Commission went, it was met with strikes, demonstrations, and black flag protests. Some of the most significant protests took place in cities like Bombay (now Mumbai), Madras (now Chennai), Lahore, and Calcutta (now Kolkata). The protests were non-violent in many cases, following Gandhi’s principles of civil disobedience, but they also showcased the deep anger and frustration of Indians at the British government’s indifference to their demands.

Impact on Indian Politics

The Simon Commission played a key role in uniting various factions of Indian society against colonial rule. The national sentiment was one of unity in opposition to the Commission. For the first time, many political groups came together in a collective demand for greater autonomy.

In response to the Commission, the Indian National Congress convened an All-Parties Conference in 1928 and appointed a committee headed by Motilal Nehru to draft a Constitution for India. This document, known as the Nehru Report, called for Dominion Status for India, with a system of government similar to that of other self-governing colonies like Canada and Australia.

Lala Lajpat Rai and His Role in the Protests

Lala Lajpat Rai, one of the prominent leaders of the Indian nationalist movement and a member of the Lal-Bal-Pal trio (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal), played a leading role in organizing protests against the Simon Commission. He was particularly active in Lahore, where one of the largest anti-Simon demonstrations took place.

The city of Lahore saw the arrival of the Simon Commission on October 30, 1928. A massive protest, led by Lajpat Rai, was organized in response. The protest was peaceful, with demonstrators carrying black flags and chanting slogans such as “Simon Go Back.” However, the British colonial authorities, in an attempt to break up the protest, unleashed a heavy police crackdown. The police, led by Superintendent James A. Scott, brutally lathi-charged the protesters.

During this violent confrontation, Lala Lajpat Rai was struck multiple times by police batons, including a blow to his head. Despite being severely injured, Rai famously declared, “Every blow on my body will be a nail in the coffin of British imperialism.” He was taken to a hospital, and although he initially appeared to recover, the injuries he sustained led to his untimely death on November 17, 1928. His death became a rallying cry for Indian nationalists and further intensified the anti-colonial movement.

Impact of Lala Lajpat Rai’s Death

The death of Lala Lajpat Rai outraged the nation and increased the fervor of the freedom struggle. His martyrdom inspired a new generation of revolutionaries, who believed that more radical steps were necessary to achieve independence. One such group was led by Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev. In retaliation for Rai’s death, they plotted to assassinate Superintendent James Scott, but instead mistakenly killed another officer, J.P. Saunders, on December 17, 1928. This event is often remembered as the Saunders Murder.

The assassination of Saunders led to a crackdown on revolutionary activities, but it also brought Bhagat Singh and his comrades to the forefront of the national struggle. Bhagat Singh’s subsequent trial and execution in 1931 turned him into a national hero and a symbol of resistance against British rule.

The Simon Commission Report and Its Aftermath

Despite the widespread protests, the Simon Commission completed its work and published its report in 1930. The report rejected the demand for Dominion Status and suggested only modest reforms. It recommended retaining British control over key areas such as finance, law, and order, and suggested some extension of the provincial councils’ powers but rejected any notion of full self-government for India.

The report was universally condemned by Indian political leaders, who saw it as another attempt to delay meaningful reforms. The rejection of the Simon Commission’s findings only fueled further discontent and led to the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi in 1930.

Conclusion

The Simon Commission of 1928 was a pivotal moment in India’s struggle for independence. Although it was designed to review constitutional progress, its all-British composition angered Indians and led to widespread protests. The death of Lala Lajpat Rai during a protest further galvanized the Indian nationalist movement, leading to a surge in revolutionary activities. In the broader context, the Simon Commission’s failure to address Indian demands led to the escalation of the freedom struggle, which would ultimately result in India’s independence in 1947. The Commission, though unpopular, played an important role in consolidating national unity and strengthening the resolve for self-governance.