The Simon Commission also known as the Indian Statutory Commission, was an all-white Commission under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon. In 1919, the British government declared that the Simon Commission would be sent to India to question the workings of the Indian Constitution.

After ten years, the British government appointed the Commission in 1927. This was seen by Indians as a deliberate attempt to insult them owing to the non-inclusion of Indian leaders in the Commission. Leaders like Gandhi, Nehru, Jinnah, Lala Lajpat Rai, and more were against the onset of the Commission and stood for a boycott of the Simon Commission.

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Background of Simon Commission

• In the Government of India Act of 1919, the Dyarchy system was introduced and it was also mentioned that a Commission would be appointed in India after ten year in order to study the constitutional reforms.
• The Government of India Act of 1919 introduced the Dyarchy system and also mentioned a provision that a Commission would be appointed in India after ten year in order to study the constitutional reforms.
• On November 8, 1927 the Simon Commission was set up by the British government, which was under the priministership of Stanley Baldwin at the time.
• The Simon Commission was a seven-member Commission, which was also known as the Indian Statutory Commission.
• The Simon Commission was an all-white Commission. The members of this Commission were British. It was criticised because there was not a single Indian representative in the Commission.
• The purpose of this Commission was to recommend to the British government questions raised about constitutional reforms in British India.
• The conservative British government, in power at the time, feared electoral defeat by the Labour party of Britain. To protect their foothold in India, the British government appointed the Simon Commission in 1927; although the Commission was due only in 1929.
• Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India, iterated that the Indians were not capable of formulating a scheme of constitutional reform that could be accepted by different sections of Indian politics.
• Thus, he was responsible for setting up the Simon Commission in the year 1927.

If you are reading the Modern History NCERT Notes on Simon Commission article, you may also be interested in learning more about NCERT Notes on Rise of Gandhi in the Indian freedom struggle.

Indian Response to Simon Commission

Opposition Against Simon Commission

• The Simon Commission 1927, provoked a large outrage among the Indian masses.
• On February 3, 1928 (the day of the landing of Simon Commission) its members were attacked by a mob of protestors.
• Country wide hartals and mass rallies were employed to show the outrage.
• Wherever the Simon Commission went, people demonstrated black flags and chanted the slogan “Simon go back “
• In 1927, the Indian National Congress session under M.A. Ansari decided to boycott the Commission at every stage and in every form.
• Jawaharlal Nehru passed a snap resolution stating complete independence as the goal of Congress.
• Mahatma Gandhi did not participate in any movement though he was against the Simon Commission
• Dr. Ambedkar demanded for the political protection of the depressed class.
• Demonstrators were repressed by the police. Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, G.B.Pant were beaten up by the Police.
• In October 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai received severe lathi charges on his chest and as a result he died on November 17, 1928

Support Towards Simon Commission 

• The liberals of Hindu Mahasabha supported the congress decision.
• A section of Muslim league led by Muhammad Shafi at Lahore supported the government.
• The Justice party in the South and Unionists in Punjab supported the Simon Commission.

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Recommendations of Simon Commission

The Simon Commission report consisted of two volumes. Its major recommendations are as follows.

• Abolition of Dyarchy
• Establish representative government at the provinces
• Governor should have discretionary power in administrative power and internal securities.
• Provincial legislative council members should be increased.
• Government of India to have complete control over the High court.
• Retained separate communal electorates and extended to other communities
• The Governor general to have complete power to appoint cabinet members.
• No universal franchise
• North west frontier provinces and Baluchistan should get local legislatures and rights to be represented at the center.
• Sindh to be separated from Bombay and Burma to be separated from India.
• Indian army should be Indianised.
• Consultative council of greater India to be established.

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Impact of Simon Commission

• New generation of youth made their first footprint in political actions. They were the most active participants of the protest.
• The radical forces began to demand not only complete independence but also major socio economic reforms.
• Lord Birkenhead’s challenge to produce an agreed constitution was accepted by several political parties and paved the way for unity.

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