Gandhi–Irwin Pact

The Gandhi–Irwin Pact, also known as the Delhi Pact, was a political agreement signed on 5 March 1931 between Mahatma Gandhi, representing the Indian National Congress, and Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India. The pact marked a significant turning point in India’s struggle for independence, bringing a temporary truce between the British government and Indian nationalists during the Civil Disobedience Movement. It was a milestone in the constitutional and political development of modern India, as it reflected the growing recognition of the Indian National Congress as the legitimate voice of Indian aspirations.

Background and Context

The origins of the Gandhi–Irwin Pact lie in the political turbulence following the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) and the subsequent Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34). The British government’s failure to meet nationalist demands for self-government led the Congress to intensify its resistance.
In 1928, the Simon Commission, appointed by the British without Indian representation, provoked widespread protests. The Indian response was the Nehru Report (1928), which proposed dominion status for India. However, the British government’s indifference prompted the Congress to adopt the resolution for complete independence (Purna Swaraj) at the Lahore Session in December 1929.
In January 1930, Mahatma Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement, which began with the historic Dandi March (12 March – 6 April 1930) against the salt tax. The movement spread rapidly across the country, leading to mass arrests, violence, and repression. The government responded with stringent measures, imprisoning over 90,000 people, including top Congress leaders.
Despite the crackdown, the movement demonstrated the power of non-violent resistance and compelled the British authorities to consider negotiations. Lord Irwin, a moderate by temperament, was inclined towards conciliation and sought to restore order through dialogue rather than force.

Course of Negotiations

Preliminary efforts at negotiation began in late 1930, encouraged by public opinion in Britain, which was increasingly sympathetic to India’s demand for justice. Several British political leaders, including members of the Labour Party, urged conciliation.
By early 1931, the government released some Congress leaders, paving the way for talks. Mahatma Gandhi, released from prison in January 1931, represented the Congress in direct discussions with Lord Irwin between 17 February and 5 March 1931 in Delhi. The talks were cordial but intense, as Gandhi insisted on the recognition of civil rights and the release of political prisoners.
The negotiations culminated in the Gandhi–Irwin Pact, which was signed on 5 March 1931 and formally endorsed by the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) at its Karachi Session (March 1931).

Main Terms of the Pact

The Gandhi–Irwin Pact was essentially a compromise agreement, with mutual concessions aimed at ending hostilities and paving the way for political dialogue. Its key provisions included:
Concessions by the British Government:

• Withdrawal of all ordinances and laws issued to suppress the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Release of all political prisoners who had not been convicted of violence.
• Restoration of confiscated properties belonging to satyagrahis, wherever possible.
• Permission for peaceful picketing of liquor and foreign cloth shops.
• Allowing Indians to make and sell salt freely in coastal areas.
• Suspension of prosecutions for violation of salt laws and other civil disobedience offences.

Concessions by the Indian National Congress:

• Suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Participation by the Congress in the Second Round Table Conference in London.
• Agreement to pursue further negotiations with the government through constitutional means rather than mass agitation.

Though the pact did not promise immediate independence or dominion status, it symbolised a temporary reconciliation between the colonial government and the nationalist leadership.

Significance of the Gandhi–Irwin Pact

The pact was of great political and historical importance in India’s freedom struggle.

• It represented the first formal dialogue between the British government and the Indian National Congress on equal footing.
• The recognition of Congress as a legitimate political organisation marked a major moral victory for Indian nationalism.
• It demonstrated the effectiveness of non-violent resistance (Satyagraha) as a political weapon.
• The agreement created a more favourable atmosphere for India’s representation in the Second Round Table Conference (September–December 1931).

The pact also had symbolic importance, as Gandhi met Lord Irwin on terms of dignity and equality. The image of Gandhi in his simple attire shaking hands with the Viceroy in full regalia became an enduring symbol of India’s moral strength against imperial authority.

Criticism and Opposition

The Gandhi–Irwin Pact, however, was not without controversy. It faced criticism from multiple quarters:

• Revolutionaries and extremists, such as Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh’s supporters, regarded the pact as a betrayal of the revolutionary spirit. They were disappointed that Gandhi did not secure the release of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev, who were awaiting execution.
• British conservatives and officials criticised Lord Irwin for making excessive concessions, arguing that the agreement weakened British authority.
• Some Congress leaders believed the pact achieved too little, as it failed to secure guarantees of dominion status or fundamental political reforms.

Nevertheless, Gandhi defended the agreement as a pragmatic step towards negotiation and a temporary pause in conflict to assess British intentions.

Aftermath and the Second Round Table Conference

Following the signing of the pact, Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference in London in September 1931 as the sole representative of the Indian National Congress. However, the conference ended in disappointment, as there was no consensus on constitutional reforms or communal representation.
Upon Gandhi’s return to India in December 1931, the government under the new Viceroy, Lord Willingdon, adopted a repressive stance, re-arresting Congress leaders and banning the movement once again. This marked the resumption of the Civil Disobedience Movement, although it lacked the initial momentum and was finally suspended in 1934.
Despite its short-term failure, the Gandhi–Irwin Pact set a precedent for future political negotiations between Indian leaders and the British government, leading eventually to the constitutional developments of the 1930s and 1940s.

Historical Evaluation

The Gandhi–Irwin Pact holds an important place in India’s nationalist history for several reasons:

• It illustrated Gandhi’s diplomatic acumen and his ability to combine moral authority with political negotiation.
• It confirmed that mass movements and civil disobedience could force the colonial government to engage in dialogue.
• It established a framework for constitutional evolution, culminating in the Government of India Act of 1935.