SPI History · Modern India
From the Swaraj Party to the Poona Pact
The national movement from 1923 to 1932: the Swaraj Party, the Simon Commission, Purna Swaraj, the Salt March and Civil Disobedience, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact and the Poona Pact, with the books and songs of the movement.
Why this matters
Twelve questions in the bank, ten of them EASY. Three ask who formed the Swaraj Party and two ask about the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, so a few facts carry most of the page. The MODERATE ones ask why Gandhiji fasted in 1932 and who led the Muslim League in 1930.
Concept 1 of 3: The Swaraj Party, the Simon Commission and Purna Swaraj
After Non-Cooperation ended, the Congress split on what to do next. One group went into the councils to fight from inside. Then a British commission with no Indian member united everyone against it, and in 1929 the Congress asked for complete independence.
Definition
- C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress in 1923, to contest the council elections.
- Younger leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose pushed instead for complete independence.
- The Simon Commission, set up under Sir John Simon to look into the working of the constitutional system in India and suggest changes, reached India in 1928. It had no Indian member and was met with the slogan "Go back Simon".
- At the Lahore session of December 1929, under Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress adopted the demand for Purna Swaraj (complete independence). 26 January 1930 was celebrated as Independence Day.
- In 1930 Sir Muhammad Iqbal, as president of the Muslim League, spoke of the need for separate electorates for Muslims.
| Event | Year | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| Swaraj Party formed | 1923 | C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru, within the Congress |
| Simon Commission reaches India | 1928 | No Indian member; "Go back Simon" |
| Lahore Congress | December 1929 | Purna Swaraj resolution; president Jawaharlal Nehru |
| First Independence Day | 26 January 1930 | Celebrated after the Lahore resolution |
| Muslim League president | 1930 | Sir Muhammad Iqbal |
| Karachi Congress | 1931 | Resolution on Fundamental Rights |
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The same idea in a practice question:
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Example 1 · Modern India · From the Swaraj Party to the Poona Pact
Who formed the ‘Swaraj Party’ within the Congress ?
Motilal, not Jawaharlal
The Swaraj Party was formed by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru, the father. His son Jawaharlal Nehru wanted complete independence instead, and an option pairing Jawaharlal with C.R. Das is wrong.
Lahore for Purna Swaraj, Karachi for Fundamental Rights
Purna Swaraj was adopted at Lahore in December 1929. The Karachi session of 1931 passed the resolution on Fundamental Rights. The two sessions are often printed side by side.
Concept 2 of 3: Civil Disobedience, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact and the Poona Pact
Gandhiji chose salt, something every Indian used, to start a new movement. This time people were asked not just to refuse cooperation but to break colonial laws. A truce with Irwin paused it, and a quarrel with Ambedkar over separate electorates ended in a fast and a pact.
Definition
- The Salt March began from Sabarmati on 12 March 1930 and reached Dandi on 6 April 1930, where Gandhiji broke the salt law by making salt.
- A key feature of Civil Disobedience was the large-scale participation of women: they joined protest marches, made salt and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops.
- The Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 5 March 1931: Gandhiji called off Civil Disobedience and agreed to attend the Second Round Table Conference in London; the government agreed to release political prisoners. It did not promise independence.
- Dr B.R. Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for the Dalits. Gandhiji felt they would slow the Dalits' joining society, and began a fast unto death in 1932.
- The Poona Pact of September 1932 ended the fast: the Depressed Classes got reserved seats in the councils, but they were voted for by the general electorate.
| Event | Date | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Salt March | 12 March to 6 April 1930 | Sabarmati to Dandi; Gandhiji broke the salt law |
| Civil Disobedience | From 1930 | Large-scale participation of women |
| Gandhi-Irwin Pact | 5 March 1931 | Movement called off; political prisoners released; Gandhiji to attend the Round Table Conference |
| Second Round Table Conference | London, 1931 | Gandhiji attended; talks broke down |
| Gandhiji's fast unto death | 1932 | Against separate electorates for Dalits |
| Poona Pact | September 1932 | Reserved seats for the Depressed Classes, general electorate |
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The same idea in a practice question:
Practice questionEasy
Example 2 · Modern India · From the Swaraj Party to the Poona Pact
Which one of the following provisions is related to Gandhi - Irwin Pact?
The salt law was not abolished
The Gandhi-Irwin Pact released political prisoners. It did not abolish the salt law and it did not promise independence.
The 1932 fast was about electorates
Gandhiji's fast unto death in 1932 was against separate electorates for Dalits, the clash with Dr Ambedkar. It was not about violence in the movement or the failure of a conference.
Concept 3 of 3: Books, songs and images of the movement
A nation is also built from songs, pictures and books that people share. A few of these are asked by their author, so learn each one with its maker.
Definition
- Vande Mataram, the national song, was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and included in his novel Anandamath.
- Jana Gana Mana, the national anthem, was written by Rabindranath Tagore.
- The best-known painting of Bharat Mata is by Abanindranath Tagore.
- Hind Swaraj (1909) was written by Mahatma Gandhi. It argued that British rule lasted only because Indians cooperated with it.
| Work | Kind | By |
|---|---|---|
| Vande Mataram | National song (in the novel Anandamath) | Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay |
| Jana Gana Mana | National anthem | Rabindranath Tagore |
| Bharat Mata | Painting | Abanindranath Tagore |
| Hind Swaraj (1909) | Book | Mahatma Gandhi |
| The Discovery of India | Book | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Gulamgiri (1873) | Book | Jyotirao Phule |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a practice question:
Practice questionEasy
Example 3 · Modern India · From the Swaraj Party to the Poona Pact
Who wrote the 'Vande Matram'?
Two Tagores, two works
Rabindranath Tagore wrote Jana Gana Mana; Abanindranath Tagore painted Bharat Mata. Neither wrote Vande Mataram, which is Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's.
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
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Reference tables (3)
The Swaraj Party, the Simon Commission and Purna Swaraj6 rows
| Event | Year | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| Swaraj Party formed | 1923 | C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru, within the Congress |
| Simon Commission reaches India | 1928 | No Indian member; "Go back Simon" |
| Lahore Congress | December 1929 | Purna Swaraj resolution; president Jawaharlal Nehru |
| First Independence Day | 26 January 1930 | Celebrated after the Lahore resolution |
| Muslim League president | 1930 | Sir Muhammad Iqbal |
| Karachi Congress | 1931 | Resolution on Fundamental Rights |
Civil Disobedience, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact and the Poona Pact6 rows
| Event | Date | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Salt March | 12 March to 6 April 1930 | Sabarmati to Dandi; Gandhiji broke the salt law |
| Civil Disobedience | From 1930 | Large-scale participation of women |
| Gandhi-Irwin Pact | 5 March 1931 | Movement called off; political prisoners released; Gandhiji to attend the Round Table Conference |
| Second Round Table Conference | London, 1931 | Gandhiji attended; talks broke down |
| Gandhiji's fast unto death | 1932 | Against separate electorates for Dalits |
| Poona Pact | September 1932 | Reserved seats for the Depressed Classes, general electorate |
Books, songs and images of the movement6 rows
| Work | Kind | By |
|---|---|---|
| Vande Mataram | National song (in the novel Anandamath) | Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay |
| Jana Gana Mana | National anthem | Rabindranath Tagore |
| Bharat Mata | Painting | Abanindranath Tagore |
| Hind Swaraj (1909) | Book | Mahatma Gandhi |
| The Discovery of India | Book | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Gulamgiri (1873) | Book | Jyotirao Phule |
Watch out for (5)
- Motilal, not Jawaharlal→ The Swaraj Party, the Simon Commission and Purna Swaraj
- Lahore for Purna Swaraj, Karachi for Fundamental Rights→ The Swaraj Party, the Simon Commission and Purna Swaraj
- The salt law was not abolished→ Civil Disobedience, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact and the Poona Pact
- The 1932 fast was about electorates→ Civil Disobedience, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact and the Poona Pact
- Two Tagores, two works→ Books, songs and images of the movement
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