1. Delhi Manifesto and Lahore Congress

Delhi Manifesto (November 2, 1929)

• It was a conference of national leaders which issued demands for attending the Round Table Conference.
• Round Table Conference should act as a constituent assembly to formulate a constitution for implementing Dominion status.
• Congress should have majority representation at the conference.
• General amnesty for political prisoners and a conciliatory policy were requested.
• Gandhi, Motilal Nehru, and others met Lord Irwin in December 1929.
• Leaders sought assurance from Irwin that the Round Table Conference's purpose was to draft a constitutional scheme for Dominion status.
• Irwin rejected the demands of the Delhi Manifesto, stating the conference's purpose was not to draft a constitutional scheme.

Lahore Congress and Purna Swaraj (December 1929)

• Jawaharlal Nehru became the President of the Lahore session of Congress.
• Nehru declared an open conspiracy to free the country from foreign rule and invited all countrymen to join and emphasized peaceful mass movements as essential for liberation.

Decisions at the Lahore Session

• Round Table Conference was boycotted.
• Declaration of complete independence as Congress's goal.
• Authorization was given to the Congress Working Committee to launch civil disobedience, including non-payment of taxes, and urged legislators to resign.
• January 26, 1930 was fixed as the first Independence (Swarajya) Day, to be celebrated everywhere.
• December 31, 1929: On the banks of River Ravi, Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the newly adopted tricolour flag of freedom amid slogans of Inquilab Zindabad.
• Inquilab Zindabad, which can be translated as "Long Live Revolution" was coined by Moulana Hasrat Mohani in the year 1921.
• Independence Pledge (Supposed to have been drafted by Gandhi):
• Points highlighted in the pledge included the inalienable right to freedom, British exploitation, economic ruin, cultural and spiritual impact, denial of political rights, and preparation for civil disobedience for Purna Swaraj.

2. Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1934)

Dandi March (March 12 – April 6, 1930)

• The Congress Working Committee, dissatisfied with the government's lack of response to their demands, empowered Gandhi to initiate the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• The plan involved leading a 240-mile march with 78 members from Sabarmati Ashram through Gujarat villages. Upon reaching Dandi (a village near Surat) on the coast, they would defy the salt law by collecting salt from the beach.
• Symbolic breaking of the salt law by Gandhi at Dandi on April 6, marking the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Civil disobedience actions included picketing foreign liquor and cloth shops, refusal to pay taxes, lawyers giving up practice, boycott of law courts, and government servants resigning.
• Nehru's arrest led to massive demonstrations in Madras, Calcutta, and Karachi.
• Gandhi's arrest came on May 4, 1930, when he led a raid on Dharasana Salt Works on the west coast.
• Consequent upon the breaking of Salt Law by Indian people, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the colonial rulers. [UPSC 2019]

Gandhi-Irwin Pact / Delhi Pact (1931)

• On January 25, 1931, Gandhi and all other members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) were released.
• It was signed on March 5, 1931, in Delhi, where the Viceroy was representing the British Indian Government, and Gandhi was representing the Indian people. This pact placed the Congress on an equal footing with the government.
• Agreements by Irwin:
• Immediate release of non-violent political prisoners [UPSC 2020]
• Remission of unpaid fines
• Return of unsold lands
• Lenient treatment of resigned government servants
• Personal consumption salt-making rights in coastal villages
• Permission for peaceful picketing
• Withdrawal of emergency ordinances
• Rejections by Irwin:
• Public enquiry into police excesses
• Commutation of Bhagat Singh and comrades' death sentence [UPSC 2020]
• Agreements by Gandhi:
• Suspension of civil disobedience movement
• Participation in the next Round Table Conference on constitutional matters [UPSC 2020]

Karachi Congress Session (March 1931)

• It was a special session of the Congress held at Karachi to endorse the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
• While disapproving of and dissociating itself from political violence, the Congress admired the 'bravery' and 'sacrifice' of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.
• Reiteration of the goal of Purna Swaraj.
• Fundamental Rights Resolution was put forward.
• National Economic Programme Resolution was put forward.

3. Round Table Conferences

First Round Table Conference (London, November 1930 - January 1931)

• This was the first conference arranged between the British and the Indians as equals.
• Indian representation by diverse groups: Princely states, Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha, Sikhs, Parsis, Liberals, Depressed classes, Justice party, Labour, Christians, women, universities, and others.
• The Government of India was represented by Narendra Nath Law, Bhupendra Nath Mitra, C.P. Ramaswami Iyer, and M. Ramachandra Rao.
• Outcome: Inadequate achievements; discussions on India's federation, defense and finance safeguards, transfer of departments, but little implementation, civil disobedience persisted.

Second Round Table Conference (London, September 1931 - December 1931)

• Members of the Indian Liberal Party, such as Tej Bahadur Sapru, C.Y. Chintamani, and Srinivasa Sastri, appealed to Gandhi to talk with the Viceroy.
• The Indian National Congress nominated Gandhi as its sole representative.
• The Government of India was represented by C.P. Ramaswami Iyer, Narendra Nath Law, and M. Ramachandra Rao.
• Issues: Change in Viceroy from Irwin to Willingdon, Formation of a National Government in Britain, and Opposition by right-wing factions in Britain against Congress's equal negotiation.
• Deadlock on minority issues; separate electorates demanded by various groups, Gandhi opposed.
• Princely states were apprehensive about federation after the suspension of the civil disobedience movement.
• Outcome:
• Two Muslim-majority provinces were announced—North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Sindh.
• The setting up of an Indian Consultative Committee.
• Setting up of three expert committees—finance, franchise, and states.
• The prospect of a unilateral British Communal Award if Indians failed to agree.

Third Round Table Conference (November 1932 - December 1932)

• Congress and Gandhi abstained, limiting Indian leader's participation.
• Similar issues persisted, and little progress was made.
• Recommendations debated in the British Parliament, followed by the formation of a Joint Select Committee.
• Government of India Act of 1935 was enforced in July 1935 based on the committee's draft Bill.

Resumption of Civil Disobedience Movement (1931-1934)

• On the failure of the second Round Table Conference, the Congress Working Committee decided on December 29, 1931 to resume the civil disobedience movement.

4. Communal Award (1932)

• Announced by British PM Ramsay MacDonald on August 16, 1932.
• Based on findings of the Indian Franchise Committee (also called the Lothian Committee), it established separate electorates and reserved seats for minorities.
• Provided separate electorates for Muslims, Europeans, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, depressed classes, and Marathas in Bombay.
• Reserved seats for depressed classes amounted to 78.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's Stance: Advocated the distinct treatment of depressed classes as an independent minority separate from caste Hindus.

5. Summary: Key Events and Outcomes