Government of India Act (1935)

The roundtable Conference could not solve the constitutional problem of India but they
enabled the government to understand the problems and to take some concrete steps to
solve them. The recommendations of these conferences were contained in a white paper,
which was published in 1933 and discussed in the British Parliament. The parliament
passed the bill which was enforced in the country as “Government of India Act, 1935”. It
was a last set of legislation provided by the government of India.
The act contained two parts, provincial; the provincial part of the Act of 1935 was enforced
when general elections in the country was held in 1937 and it remained enforce till the
transfer of power in 1947. Federal part of the act never brought into operation and the
Central Government was remained under the act of 1919.
For the first time the provinces were given more authority and power and made them
separate entities.
The system of “Diarchy” was dropped at the provincial level but introduced at central
government level: Reserved (defense, foreign affairs, ecclesiastical affairs and
administration of tribal areas) for Governor-General assisted by 3 appointed councilors.
The supremacy of the British Parliament reminded intact as no Indian Legislatures was
authorized to notify or amend the Constitution.
Representatives and responsible government at Provincial level was introduced.
The provincial executive was handed over to representatives of the people who were
accountable before the provincial legislature.
NWFP was given the full provincial status. Two new provinces of Sindh and Orissa were
created, which increased the total number of province to eleven.
Parliamentary system was introduced and the provinces were given the full autonomy.
Every provinces was given a council of ministries whose advice was binding on the
governor.
The property qualifications was lowered which gave 35 million Indians the right to vote (1/4
of Indian adult population).
Two house central parliament: Lower (Assembly) contained 250 members, elected from
‘British India’ and 125 nominated from princely states; Upper (Council of States) contained
156 members, elected from ‘British India’ and 104 nominated from princely states
Evaluation: This act of 1935 failed to win appreciation from various sector. The political
leaders of
India rejected it for it failed to meet the demands of the different political faction. Quaid-e-
Azam declared that it was a ‘Defective document’. The federal system was defective in
many
ways. This act provided the basis for negotiations, which is finally resulted in British leaving
India.
Parliamentary systems had been set up in which the Indian people were to gain increasing
representation. The people were not given the rights. All authority was vested in the
parliament which was a British institution.
o Nehru remembered it as ‘Act of Slavery’
o Gandhi called it ‘a car with strong brakes but no engine’
o Jinnah described it as ‘Thoroughly rotten, fundamentally bad and totally unacceptable’
ELECTIONS (1937)
The government announced to hold election to the provincial legislative assemblies in 1936-
37. There was 1771 seats of provincial assemblies. Although both Muslim league and
Congress had rejected the Act of 1935 but still they decided to contest the elections.
The results of the election were shocking for the Muslims of India and for the Muslims
league, which could not get mentionable support from the voters. Congress achieved a big
victory and managed to get clear majority in five provinces and formed coalition in few other
provinces
(Bombay, Bengal and N.W.F.P) to form its ministries on the eight provinces.
Reasons for the defeat of Muslim League:
o It was the 1st major election of the Muslim League as a mass party.
o Congress was the oldest, richest and best organization political party where as Muslim
o League was middle class organization with insufficient funds.
o There was no link between the masses and the leaders of Muslims League who belonged
to the high class society so it was quite ‘image problem’.
o  As the provincial autonomy was guaranteed according to the act of 1935, so this thing
made Muslims League leaders overconfident and no fear or threat of Hindu domination in
the
o Muslims majority provinces.
Formation of ministries: The Congress adapted a rigid attitude after winning the elections
in majority. Congress leaders behaved in a dictatorial manner and imposed their own will.
The Congress took offices in eight provinces. The congress was also reluctant in sharing
the power with the Muslims League and laid down degrading conditions for the Muslim
League to be included in the ministry. The Muslim League rejected these terms and pure
Congress ministries were formed.
Rule of Congress 1937-39 (Known as Congress tyrannies)
The congress began it rule by imposing its will on the Muslim minorities in the provinces
under its rule. The Muslims were forbidden to eat beef. Severe punishments were awarded
to those who
slaughtered the ‘mother cow’. Every effort was made to humble and humiliate Islam. A
policy was made by the Congress to erase the Muslim’s culture. Hindi was imposed as the
official language in all the provinces. Azan was banned and organized attacks were made
on the Muslims who were busy in worship in the mosques. Noisy processions were passed
near the mosques at prayer times. Pigs were pushed into the mosques and Azan was
interrupted. The
Muslims lodged complaints with the authorities but the decision were always against the
Muslims.
Although it was not their official policy, but during this rule Muslims suffered ‘Congress
Tynnaries’
Bande Matram: It was a song in which degrading remarks were used against the Muslims
and Islam written by a Bengali novelist Bankim Chatterjee. The Congress insisted on
commencing the day’s beginning by the recitation of this Song and also adapted it as the
national anthem. Widdia Mander scheme: This educational policy aimed at converting the
non-Hindus to Hinduism. It was introduced in educational institutes. The students were
asked to pay respect and homage to Gandhi’s picture with folded arms in posture of Hindu
worship and sing Hymns in his praise. Dr. Zakir Hussain a Congress Muslim was the author
of this Scheme.
Wardha Scheme: A basic education scheme was launched by Gandhi as Wardha, later
known as Wardha Scheme and was introduced in all Congress education ministries.
Spinning Cotton by hand was made a part of the school curriculum and teachings was to be
in Hindi. It aimed at creating at creating a high respect among the young minds about the
Hindi heroes and religious leaders. It sought to isolate the young generation of the Muslims
from their religion, culture and civilization. It also aimed at injecting the political ideas of the
Congress into the minds of Muslim children. If completely ignored religion and favored Hindi
at the cost of Urdu.
Hindu-Muslims riots: During the congress rule organized attempts were made on the
honor, properties and lives of the Muslims. The Hindus were to assault the Muslims and the
properties were set on fire. Muslims children and women were abducted.
Muslims mass contact campaign: The main objective of this campaign was to crush the
popularity of the Muslims league amongst the Muslim. The campaign began by directly
contacting the Muslims masses with a view to win them over to the Congress.

Q3. b. How successful was the Muslim League in 1937 elections? [7]
The ML was successful in 1937 elections to some extent. Jinnah showed great commitment to
the cause of the Muslims, but the election results were a great disappointment for the Muslims
League. Congress won absolute majorities in five provinces and was the largest single party in
four others. It was invited to form ministries in the United Provinces, the Central Assam and the
NWFP. Even in the three remaining provinces (Punjab, Sindh and Bengal) where there was a
Muslim majority, the League did not do farewell. It won only 109 of the 482 seats reserves for
Muslims.
The election had not been a success for the Muslim League, but it had brought benefits for them.
It was the first major election the League had fought and helped unify the party after the internal
split of the early 1930s. They learned a great deal about how to contest elections. It realized that
it had to improve its organization and planning. The League knew that its support lay more in
areas where the Muslims were a minority, rather than a majority. Where there was a majority the
Muslims did not feel threatened by Hindu domination. It also realized that it had an ‘image
problem’. Its leaders were seen as aristocrats and provinces, whereas many Muslims at this time
were poor and illiterate
Q5. b. Why was the Government of India Act of 1935 so important to the future of the
subcontinent? [7]
Some provincial autonomy was granted which meant that every provincial government was
allowed to devise and carry out their own programs and be responsible to their own legislature.
• This was the first time that this had been allowed and was seen as an important step forward.
• Ministers in the provinces could have control over all departments except when governors
chose to intervene in cases of public order or to veto a bill
• It provided additional rights for the local population to vote – some 5 times the previous
numbers at 35 million in total.
• Provisions for a federal government were established for the first time, which meant that
princely states could decide to participate politically in affairs concerning the sub-continent.
• However, key decisions relating to external relations and defense were retained by the British,
and opposed by the Indians.

Q6. b. Why was there so much opposition to the Government of India Act of 1935?
The Indian Act of 1935 was not liked nor was even appreciated by the Indian people. This was
opposed for a number of reasons. One was that the Governor General was head of federation and
could exert special powers in the reserved subjects. All the ultimate control was in the hands of
the viceroy and G.G. The act appeared to grant real power to the people of India, but in reality
things were a little different.
Provincial governor also had special powers in the two reserved areas. They had the authority to
dismiss ministers and even the right to dismiss the whole administration and rule by
proclamation during a period of emergency. However, the governors were asked to act upon the
advice of Ministers, which seemed to be very beneficial.
Another reason was that the part concerning the central Govt. was never introduced because the
princes rejected the new arrangements. Although the act appeared to give the Indians a say in
running their own country, there was a very limited franchise. The property qualification for
voting meant that only 25% of Indians population was allowed to vote in the provincial elections.
The act was opposed on all sides of India. The Congress, ML and even the princes of states
disliked and resented this act. Nehru called it a “charter of slavery’ and said that it had so many
safeguards that is was like ‘a machine with strong breaks but no engine’. To Jinnah it was simply
‘thoroughly rotten, fundamentally bad and totally unacceptable. It could also be a reason that this
Jinnah’s thinking was a cause of his opposition towards this act.

Q7. b: How important was the Indian act of 1935 to the future of the subcontinent? [7]
This act of 1935 was extremely important for a no. of reasons. It governed India as this was the
last major legislation that the British passed before Independence was granted. One of the reason
was for which it was important was that some provincial autonomy was granted. This was the
first time that this had been allowed and was seen as an important step forward.
Ministers in the provinces could have control over all departments, except when governors
choose to intervene in cases of public order or to veto a bill they disliked. This was a draw back
since it meant that the real power was in the hand of the governors. Another reason was that it
granted more voting rights to the people of India i-e 25% of the population of India was now
having the right to vote which was 5 times larger than that in 1909.
 The act also recommended a federal form of govt. for India which enables the princes to
participate in the political affairs of India. The final and the most important reason was that
although it suited no-one, the act was an important point in the move towards independence.
It proved the basis for the negotiations which finally resulted in the British leaving India.
Parliamentary systems had been set up in which the Indians people were to gain increasing
representation. Due to this election of 1937 were organized in which the congress won and made
the Muslims to face a hard time due to which the thought of independent nation was much more
developed resulted in the independence moving nearer.

Q10. c. How successful were the provincial elections held in India in 1937? Explain your
answer. [14]
LEVEL 1: Simple statement [1–2] The elections were useful for the Indians
LEVEL 2: Describes elections/identifies success and/or less success [3–4] Congress won most
seats and Muslims were disappointed
LEVEL 3: Explains the success OR less success of the elections [5–7]
LEVEL 4: Explains the success AND less success of the elections [6–9]
Successful for Hindus/Congress:
• Congress won majorities in 5 provinces and largest single party in 4 others • Saw themselves as
the sole party representing Indians
• Led to formation of cabinets in 8 provinces. For Muslims/Muslim League:
• First major election fought and helped to unify the Muslim League
• Led to improvements in organization and planning
• Learnt that their support lay in areas where Muslims in minority rather than in majority
• Recognition of an ‘image problem’ as its leaders were seen as not in touch with ordinary
Muslims.
Less successful for Hindus/Congress:
• Congress alienated the Muslim League after the elections which led to difficulties in future
negotiations
• Attitude of Congress and Nehru hardened Muslim views towards a separate nation.