Muslim and Hindu Communal Responses to the Nehru Report
Modern History › Simon Commission and the Nehru Report · Topic 19.4
The Nehru Report became entangled in controversy over communal representation. The Muslim League's Delhi Proposals of December 1927 asked for joint electorates with reserved seats, one-third Muslim seats in the Central Assembly and new Muslim-majority provinces, which the Hindu Mahasabha opposed. At the Calcutta conference of December 1928 Jinnah's amendments were not accepted, and in March 1929 he gave his Fourteen Points.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Simon Commission and the Nehru Report
At a Glance
- Delhi Proposals December 1927; four Muslim demands accepted by the Madras Congress
- Hindu Mahasabha Opposed new Muslim-majority provinces; wanted a unitary structure
- Jinnah’s amendments Calcutta, December 1928; not accommodated
- Fourteen Points March 1929
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Simon Commission and the Nehru Report
Where Does It Fit?
This is the fourth topic of the category on the Simon Commission and the Nehru Report. The previous topic described the recommendations of the Nehru Report. This topic covers the communal responses to it. The next topic covers Dr Ambedkar’s evidence before the Simon Commission. Previous topic: Nehru Report, 1928.
What Were the Delhi Proposals of December 1927?
The process of drafting a constitution was begun enthusiastically and with unity, but communal differences crept in and the Nehru Report became involved in controversy over communal representation. In December 1927 a large number of Muslim leaders met at Delhi at the Muslim League session and evolved four proposals for their demands to be included in the draft constitution. They were accepted by the Madras session of the Congress in December 1927 and came to be known as the Delhi Proposals.
| Proposal | Content |
|---|---|
| 1 | Joint electorates in place of separate electorates, with reserved seats for Muslims |
| 2 | One-third representation for Muslims in the Central Legislative Assembly |
| 3 | Representation for Muslims in Punjab and Bengal in proportion to their population |
| 4 | Formation of three new Muslim-majority provinces: Sindh, Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier Province |
How Did the Hindu Mahasabha React?
The Hindu Mahasabha was vehemently opposed to the proposal to create new Muslim-majority provinces and to reserve seats for Muslim majorities in Punjab and Bengal, which would ensure Muslim control of legislatures in both. It also demanded a strictly unitary structure. This attitude complicated matters.
What Dilemma Did the Drafters Face?
During the deliberations of the All Parties Conference, the Muslim League dissociated itself and stuck to its demand for reservation of seats for Muslims, especially in the central legislature and in Muslim-majority provinces. Motilal Nehru and the other drafters then found themselves in a dilemma: if the demands of Muslim communal opinion were accepted, Hindu communalists would withdraw support, and if the latter were satisfied, Muslim leaders would be estranged.
| Concession in the Nehru Report to Hindu communalists | Detail |
|---|---|
| Electorates | Joint electorates everywhere, with reservation for Muslims only where they were in a minority |
| Sindh | To be detached from Bombay only after dominion status was granted, with weightage to the Hindu minority in Sindh |
| Structure | Broadly unitary, as residual powers rested with the Centre |
The report’s main recommendations are in Nehru Report, 1928, and the idea of separate electorates in earlier laws is in Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909, and the Formation of the Muslim League.
What Amendments Did Jinnah Propose?
At the All Parties Conference at Calcutta in December 1928, which met to consider the report, Jinnah proposed three amendments on behalf of the Muslim League. They were not accommodated.
| Amendment | Content |
|---|---|
| 1 | One-third representation for Muslims in the central legislature |
| 2 | Reservation for Muslims in the Bengal and Punjab legislatures in proportion to their population, until adult suffrage was established |
| 3 | Residual powers to the provinces |
What Were Jinnah’s Fourteen Points?
Jinnah went back to the Shafi faction of the Muslim League and in March 1929 gave fourteen points that became the basis of all future League propaganda.
- A federal constitution with residual powers to the provinces, and provincial autonomy.
- No constitutional amendment by the Centre without the concurrence of the states constituting the federation.
- Adequate Muslim representation in all legislatures and elected bodies in every province, without reducing a Muslim majority to a minority or equality, and in the services and self-governing bodies.
- One-third Muslim representation in the central legislature, and one-third of any cabinet at the Centre or in the provinces.
- Separate electorates, and no bill or resolution to pass if three-fourths of a minority community consider it against their interests.
- No territorial redistribution to affect the Muslim majority in Punjab, Bengal and the North-West Frontier Province.
- Separation of Sindh from Bombay, and reforms in the North-West Frontier Province and Baluchistan.
- Full religious freedom to all communities, and protection of Muslim rights in religion, culture, education and language.
As an analytical point, the Fourteen Points asked for a federal system with strong provinces and protection through separate electorates and veto-like safeguards, which was in many respects the opposite of the Nehru Report’s broadly unitary scheme with joint electorates, so the two positions could not be bridged at that stage.
Why Was the Nehru Report Found Unsatisfactory?
The Muslim League, the Hindu Mahasabha and Sikh communalists were unhappy with the report. The younger section of the Congress under Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Bose was also angry, regarding dominion status as a step backward; the events at the All Parties Conference strengthened their criticism. Nehru and Bose rejected the Congress’s modified goal and jointly set up the Independence for India League. The decision on the goal was taken at Lahore, described in Lahore Congress and Purna Swaraj.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Fourteen Points A stock Prelims fact and a Mains point on communal politics
- Competing communal demands Shows why a united constitutional answer failed
- Independence for India League Links to the radical turn in the Congress
What Came Next?
The next topic describes Dr Ambedkar’s evidence before the Simon Commission in October 1928. Next topic: Dr Ambedkar and the Simon Commission.
Key People and Terms
- Delhi Proposals Four Muslim demands of December 1927
- Hindu Mahasabha A Hindu organisation that opposed the Muslim demands
- Fourteen Points Jinnah’s list of Muslim League demands, March 1929
- Residual powers Powers not specifically given to either the Centre or the provinces
- Independence for India League Set up by Nehru and Bose
- Weightage Extra representation given to a minority
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Delhi Proposals: December 1927; four proposals.
- Calcutta All Parties Conference: December 1928; Jinnah’s three amendments.
- Fourteen Points: March 1929.
- Hindu Mahasabha wanted a unitary structure.
- Nehru and Bose set up the Independence for India League.
Do Not Confuse With
- Delhi Proposals and Fourteen Points December 1927 versus March 1929
- Jinnah’s amendments and Fourteen Points Three amendments at Calcutta, then fourteen demands
- Residual powers Nehru Report: Centre; Jinnah: provinces
Memory Hook
Delhi asked, Mahasabha refused, Calcutta rejected, and Jinnah answered with fourteen points.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the communal controversy over the Nehru Report. These points add depth.
- Dilemma Satisfying one community estranged another
- Positions League, Mahasabha and Sikh groups
- Outcome Fourteen Points and the radical Congress section
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Examine the communal responses to the Nehru Report and the significance of Jinnah’s Fourteen Points.”
How to Answer
- Delhi Proposals Muslim demands and Congress acceptance.
- Opposition Mahasabha and compromise attempts.
- Calcutta Jinnah’s amendments and rejection.
- Fourteen Points Basis of later League politics.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the Delhi Proposals?
In December 1927 Muslim leaders at the League session in Delhi made four proposals: joint electorates with reserved seats for Muslims, one-third Muslim seats in the central Assembly, representation for Muslims in Punjab and Bengal by population, and new Muslim-majority provinces of Sindh, Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier. The Madras Congress accepted them.
Why did the Hindu Mahasabha oppose the Muslim proposals?
It strongly opposed creating new Muslim-majority provinces and reserving seats for Muslim majorities in Punjab and Bengal, since this would ensure Muslim control of both legislatures. It also demanded a strictly unitary structure, which complicated the drafting of the Nehru Report.
What did Jinnah propose at the Calcutta All Parties Conference?
In December 1928 Jinnah proposed three amendments for the Muslim League: one-third Muslim representation in the central legislature, reserved seats for Muslims in Bengal and Punjab in proportion to population until adult suffrage, and residual powers for the provinces. The conference did not accommodate them.
What were Jinnah's Fourteen Points?
Given in March 1929, they called for a federal constitution with residual powers to provinces, provincial autonomy, separate electorates, one-third Muslim representation at the Centre and in cabinets, protection of Muslim majorities in Punjab, Bengal and the Frontier, separation of Sindh, and safeguards for religion and culture.
How did younger Congress leaders react to the Nehru Report?
Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Bose regarded dominion status in the report as a step backward. They rejected the Congress modified goal and jointly set up the Independence for India League, pressing for complete independence from British rule.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Delhi Proposals were made in December 1927.
The Madras session of the Congress accepted them.
2 The Hindu Mahasabha supported the creation of new Muslim-majority provinces.
It was vehemently opposed.
3 Jinnah gave his Fourteen Points in March 1929.
They became the basis of League propaganda.
4 Jinnah's Calcutta amendments of December 1928 were accepted by the All Parties Conference.
They were not accommodated.
5 Nehru and Subhash Bose set up the Independence for India League.
They rejected the Congress's modified goal.
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