Dialogues

The British then held a series of Round Table Conferences in London. The first (November 1930) was held without the Congress, so it was meaningless. Gandhi was released in January 1931, and long talks led to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931): civil disobedience was called off, prisoners released, and salt manufacture allowed on the coast.

At the second Round Table Conference (late 1931), Gandhi claimed that the Congress represented all of India. His claim was challenged by the Muslim League (which claimed to speak for Muslims), the Princes (who claimed the Congress had no stake in their territories), and B. R. Ambedkar (who claimed to represent the lowest castes).

Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for the depressed classes. Gandhi opposed them, arguing that they would perpetuate the stigma of untouchability and divide Hindu society. Ambedkar believed that political power was necessary for the depressed classes to win equality.

The Government of India Act of 1935 promised some representative government. In the 1937 elections, the Congress formed ministries in eight of the 11 provinces.

When the Second World War broke out in 1939, the Congress ministries resigned in protest, because India had been dragged into the war without being consulted. In 1940, the Muslim League passed a resolution demanding a measure of autonomy for the Muslim-majority areas. In 1942, the Cripps Mission tried to reach a compromise, but failed. Who speaks for India?