Slogan Against the Arrival of Simon Commission

The Simon Commission was welcomed with the slogan “ Simon Go Back”. The Simon Commission was a group appointed by the British government in 1927 to review the Government of India Act of 1919 and recommend changes. It caused a lot of controversy in India due to the absence of any Indian members on the commission. But why was Simon Go Back used? Let’s explore the timeline of this significant event in Indian history.

Arrival Of The Simon Commission In India

The Simon Commission was formalized as the Indian Statutory Commission. The Commission was appointed in November 1927. Its primary objective was to evaluate the functioning of the Government of India Act 1919 and propose reforms based on its findings. The Commission comprised seven British members as there were no Indian representatives.

• The Simon Commission arrived in Bombay on February 3, 1928.
• The members of the commission were greeted with protests and boycotts by the Indian National Congress and other Indian political parties.
• The commission was chaired by Sir John Simon, a British politician, and consisted of six other members.
• The Commission’s arrival sparked the beginning of the “Simon Go Back” movement, symbolizing the Indian populace’s rejection of the Commission.

Lala Lajpat Rai gave the slogan “Simon Go Back” along with the protestors in Punjab.

Also Read – When And Why Did Simon Commission Come To India?

Protests And Boycotts Due To Arrival

• The absence of any Indian members in the commission led to widespread protests across India with the slogan Simon Go Back
• The Indian political parties viewed the commission as an insult to the Indian people and a way for the British government to continue its rule without considering Indian opinions.
• The All-India Congress Committee passed a resolution asking Indians to boycott the commission and observe a day of protest on the day of its arrival.

The failure of the Simon Commission to garner Indian support and its recommendations led to the Round Table Conferences in 1930-32. These conferences aimed at discussing further constitutional reforms with Indian representatives, paving the way for the Government of India Act 1935.

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This blog was all about why Simon Go Back was used. If you want to read more articles like this, you can get Short notes on the Modern History of India here. Also, you can visit our general knowledge page on Indian History!