Third Round Table Conference and the Resumption of Civil Disobedience
Modern History › Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences · Topic 20.9
The Third Round Table Conference, held from 17 November to 24 December 1932 without the Congress, led to a White Paper in March 1933 and, through a Joint Select Committee, to the Government of India Act of 1935. After the second conference failed, the Congress resumed civil disobedience on 29 December 1931; Gandhi was arrested on 4 January 1932, and he withdrew the movement in April 1934.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences
At a Glance
- Third RTC 17 November to 24 December 1932; Congress absent
- White Paper March 1933; then a Joint Select Committee and the Act of 1935
- Resumption Working Committee decided on 29 December 1931; Gandhi arrested 4 January 1932
- Withdrawal April 1934
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences
Where Does It Fit?
This is the ninth topic of the category on the Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences. The previous topic covered the first and second conferences. This topic covers the third conference and the second phase of civil disobedience. The next topic evaluates the movement. Previous topic: First and Second Round Table Conferences.
What Was the Third Round Table Conference?
The third conference was held between 17 November and 24 December 1932. It was not attended by the Indian National Congress or Gandhi, and most other Indian leaders ignored it. The Indian states were represented by dewans and others, including Akbar Hydari, Mirza Ismail and V.T. Krishnamachari, and other Indian delegates included Aga Khan III, Ambedkar, Jayakar, Sapru, Muhammad Iqbal and Zafarullah Khan.
As at the earlier two, little was achieved. The recommendations were published in a White Paper in March 1933 and debated in the British Parliament. A Joint Select Committee was formed to examine them and frame a new Act for India. It produced a draft Bill in February 1935, which became the Government of India Act of 1935 in the course of that year. The two earlier conferences are in First and Second Round Table Conferences.
What Happened During the Truce Period, March to December 1931?
Some activity during the truce kept alive the spirit of defiance. In the United Provinces the Congress led a movement for rent reduction and against summary evictions. In the North-West Frontier Province, severe repression was used against the Khudai Khidmatgars and the peasants they led who were agitating against brutal tax collection. In Bengal, harsh ordinances and mass detentions were used in the name of fighting terrorism, and in September 1931 there was a firing on political prisoners in Hijli Jail.
How Did the British Attitude Change?
Higher British officials drew their own lessons from the Delhi Pact, which they thought had raised the political prestige of the Congress and the morale of the people and weakened British prestige. After the second conference they were determined to reverse this trend. Their policy had three considerations.
| Consideration | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1 | Gandhi would not be allowed to build up the tempo of a mass movement again |
| 2 | The goodwill of the Congress was not needed, but the confidence of those who supported the British against it, such as government functionaries and loyalists, was essential |
| 3 | The national movement would not be allowed to consolidate itself in rural areas |
The Gandhi-Irwin Pact is in Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
How Was Civil Disobedience Resumed?
After the second conference failed, the Congress Working Committee decided on 29 December 1931 to resume civil disobedience. Viceroy Willingdon refused to meet Gandhi on 31 December, and Gandhi was arrested on 4 January 1932.
The government issued a series of repressive ordinances that produced a virtual martial law under civilian control, called Civil Martial Law. Congress organisations at all levels were banned, activists, leaders and sympathisers arrested, properties confiscated and Gandhi’s ashrams occupied. Repression was particularly harsh on women, the press was gagged and nationalist literature banned.
What Was the People’s Response?
People responded with anger. Though unprepared, the response was massive: in the first four months about 80,000 satyagrahis, mostly the urban and rural poor, were jailed. Forms of protest included picketing of liquor and foreign cloth shops, illegal gatherings, non-violent demonstrations, celebrations of national days, symbolic flag hoistings, non-payment of chowkidara tax, salt satyagraha, forest law violations and a secret radio transmitter near Bombay. This phase coincided with upsurges in two princely states, Kashmir and Alwar.
It could not be sustained for long, because Gandhi and other leaders had no time to build up the tempo and the masses were unprepared. In April 1934 Gandhi decided to withdraw the movement. Though people had been cowed by superior force, they had not lost political faith in the Congress, and they had won freedom in their hearts. As an analytical point, the contrast with 1930 is clear: the first phase gave the Congress time to prepare in 1929 and a leader at liberty, while the second began when the government had taken the initiative, which meant that the movement was defending, not advancing. The overall assessment is in Evaluation of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Origin of the Act of 1935 Links the conferences to the White Paper and the Government of India Act
- Second phase Resumption and withdrawal dates are Prelims facts
- Change in government policy Shows how repression was planned
What Came Next?
The next topic evaluates the Civil Disobedience Movement. Next topic: Evaluation of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Key People and Terms
- White Paper March 1933 publication of the conference recommendations
- Joint Select Committee A British parliamentary committee that prepared the Bill
- Civil Martial Law Virtual martial law under civilian control
- Hijli Jail Site of a firing on prisoners in September 1931
- Truce period The months from March to December 1931
- Government of India Act of 1935 The Act that resulted from the conferences
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Third RTC: 17 November to 24 December 1932; Congress absent.
- White Paper March 1933; draft Bill February 1935; Act 1935.
- CWC decision 29 December 1931; Gandhi arrested 4 January 1932.
- About 80,000 jailed in the first four months.
- Movement withdrawn April 1934.
Do Not Confuse With
- Third RTC and White Paper The conference gave recommendations; the White Paper published them
- First phase and second phase 1930-31 versus 1932-34
- Civil Martial Law and martial law Virtual martial law under civilian control
Memory Hook
A conference without Congress, a Paper in white, and a second struggle fought on the government’s ground.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the second phase of the movement. These points add depth.
- Government policy Prevent a rural mass movement
- Response Large jailings, weak preparation
- End Withdrawal in 1934
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Why was the second phase of the Civil Disobedience Movement less effective than the first?”
How to Answer
- Resumption Failure of the second conference.
- Government action Civil Martial Law.
- Response Large but unprepared.
- Conclude Withdrawal in 1934.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Third Round Table Conference?
The third conference was held from 17 November to 24 December 1932 and was not attended by the Congress or Gandhi. Little was achieved, but its recommendations went into a White Paper of March 1933 and led to the Government of India Act of 1935.
How did the Third Round Table Conference lead to the Government of India Act of 1935?
Its recommendations were published as a White Paper in March 1933 and debated in the British Parliament. A Joint Select Committee examined them and produced a draft Bill in February 1935, which was enacted as the Government of India Act in 1935.
When was civil disobedience resumed?
The Congress Working Committee decided to resume civil disobedience on 29 December 1931 after the second conference failed. Viceroy Willingdon refused to meet Gandhi on 31 December, and Gandhi was arrested on 4 January 1932.
What was Civil Martial Law?
It was the virtual martial law under civilian control created by a series of repressive ordinances in 1932. Congress bodies were banned, leaders arrested, property confiscated, ashrams occupied, the press gagged, and repression was especially harsh on women.
How did the second phase of civil disobedience end?
About 80,000 satyagrahis were jailed in the first four months, but Gandhi and others had no time to build up the tempo and the masses were unprepared. In April 1934 Gandhi withdrew the movement, though people had not lost faith in the Congress.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Third Round Table Conference was attended by Gandhi.
Neither the Congress nor Gandhi attended.
2 The White Paper of March 1933 contained the recommendations of the Round Table Conferences.
It led to the Government of India Act of 1935.
3 Civil disobedience was resumed after the Working Committee decision of 29 December 1931.
Gandhi was arrested on 4 January 1932.
4 Gandhi withdrew the second phase of civil disobedience in April 1934.
The masses had been unprepared.
5 The Third Round Table Conference ended in 1931.
It was held in November and December 1932.
Related Topics
Browse the full Modern History index