E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi – His Life & Timescoast, a message reached Gandhi that the Viceroy wished to see him onNovember 5.The Mahatma immediately broke off his tour and travelled the 1250 miles — atwo-day train journey — to New Delhi. At the appointed hour he was usheredinto the presence of Lord Irwin. He did not enter alone. The Viceroy had alsoasked Vithalbhai Patel, the president of the national Legislative Assembly, S.Srinivasa Iyengar, the president of the Congress Party for 1927, and Dr. M. A.Ansari, the president elect of Congress for 1928.When the Indians had been seated, Irwin handed them a paper announcing theimpending arrival of an official British commission, led by Sir John Simon, toreport on Indian conditions and make recommendations for political reforms.Having read the text, Gandhi looked up and waited. The Viceroy said nothing.'Is this the only business of our meeting?' Gandhi asked.Yes,' replied the Viceroy.That was the end of the interview. Silently, Gandhi returned to southern Indiaand from there went out to Ceylon to collect money for khadi.In the days following Irwin's confrontation with Gandhi, other Indian leaderswere informed, in similar fashion of the forthcoming visit of the SimonCommission. In no case was there any discussion or elaboration. The Viceroysimply said that under Section 84a of the Government of India Act of 1919,which provided for ten-year surveys, a Statutory Commission consisting of SirJohn Simon and six other members of the British House of Commons and Houseof Lords would soon arrive in India to investigate and to suggest changes, if anywere necessary, in the Indian political system. Irwin expected Indians to testifybefore the commission and submit proposals to it.Irwin's biographer, Alan Campbell Johnson, describes this episode as 'adeplorable lack of tact in the handling of the Indian leaders'. The blame wasshared by Irwin and Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India in theBritish government. Birkenhead, a brilliant lawyer, made Indian policy inWhitehall. In doing so he was guided by an attitude epitomised in hiswww.mkgandhi.org Page 283