The Nehru Report was made in response to a challenge thrown by Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India, who was serving under the British government. Under the Act of 1919, the British government was required to introduce new reforms in India every 10 years. In 1927, the Simon Commission was sent to India by the British government to assess the working of the 1919 Act and to recommend further constitutional reforms.
However, the Simon Commission became a contentious issue in India as it consisted only of British members and lacked any Indian representation. This led to widespread protests and demands for an all-Indian commission to look into the matter. Most of the Indian political parties, including the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League, decided to boycott the Simon Commission on the grounds that it did not include Indian voices.
In response to this boycott, Lord Birkenhead challenged the Indian political parties to present a unified and unanimous constitution of their own that would serve as a proposal for India's future governance. He said that if the Indians were capable and competent enough to formulate such a constitution, the British government would consider implementing it.
As a result of this challenge, an All Parties Conference was convened in January 1928 in Delhi, which brought together delegates from various important parties, including the Indian National Congress, All India Muslim League, National Liberal Federation, Hindu Mahasabha, and others. However, the conference failed to reach a consensus on issues related to minority rights.
Subsequently, during the third session of the All Parties Conference held in Bombay in May 1928, it was decided to form a committee to determine the basic features of the future constitution of India. This committee, chaired by Motilal Nehru, was tasked with drafting a proposal that could be presented to the British government as a unified demand from the Indian political parties.
The Nehru Report, therefore, was the outcome of this committee's efforts. It aimed to present a comprehensive plan for self-governance and constitutional reforms in India, reflecting the aspirations and demands of the Indian political leadership at that time. The report attempted to address various issues related to governance, representation, and fundamental rights for the people of India.
However, it faced criticism for not adequately addressing the rights of religious minorities, particularly the Muslims, and this led to further political tensions in India.
Proposals in the Report
Dominion Status: The report demanded that India be granted the status of a Dominion within the British Commonwealth. This status would grant India greater autonomy in its internal affairs while remaining a part of the British Empire.
Federal Structure: The report proposed a federal structure for India, with a division of powers between the central government and provincial governments. This system aimed to balance the need for a strong central authority with regional autonomy.
Bicameral Legislature: The report suggested the establishment of a bicameral legislature at the central level, consisting of an Upper House (Council of States) and a Lower House (Legislative Assembly). The members of the Upper House were to be partly elected and partly nominated.
Responsible Government: The Nehru Report advocated for responsible government at both the central and provincial levels. The idea was to have ministers responsible to the legislature, similar to the parliamentary system in the United Kingdom.
Abolition of Separate Electorates: The report recommended the abolition of separate electorates based on religion, which had been previously provided for in the Government of India Act 1919. Instead, it advocated for joint electorates with reservation of seats for religious minorities.
Universal Adult Suffrage: The report proposed granting the right to vote to all adult citizens of India without any discrimination based on caste, creed, or gender. This was a progressive proposal to ensure democratic representation for all.
Religious and Linguistic Minorities: The report addressed the rights of religious and linguistic minorities, proposing reserved seats for minority communities in the legislatures and protection of their cultural and educational rights.
Minority Representation: The report suggested that Muslims should enjoy one-fourth representation in the Central Legislature.
Provincial Status for North-West Frontier Province: The North-West Frontier Province should be given full provincial status.
Separate Sindh from Bombay: Sindh should be separated from the Bombay Presidency and given a separate administrative status.
Hindi as the Official Language: The report proposed making Hindi the official language of India.
The Nehru Report was a significant milestone in India's constitutional journey, and its proposals laid the foundation for future discussions on India's self-governance and constitutional reforms. However, it faced opposition from various quarters, particularly from the All India Muslim League and other minority groups, who felt that it did not adequately protect their rights and interests.
The Nehru Report Rejected
The Nehru Report faced strong opposition and was ultimately rejected by the All-India Muslim League on January 21, 1929.
Ignoring Muslim Views: Many Muslims felt that their views and interests had been ignored in the formulation of the Nehru Report. They believed that the report heavily favored the views of the Indian National Congress and did not adequately address the concerns of the Muslim community.
Disregarding the Lucknow Pact: The Lucknow Pact of 1916 had been a significant agreement between the Congress and the Muslim League, which included provisions for separate electorates and representation for Muslims in legislative bodies. The Nehru Committee did not take into account the Delhi Proposals, which were an extension of the Lucknow Pact, leading to Muslim dissatisfaction.
Inadequate Muslim Representation: The Nehru Report did not meet the Muslim League's demands for adequate representation in the central legislature. The Muslim League had asked for one-third representation, but the Nehru Committee only offered one-fourth representation, which the Muslims deemed insufficient.
Incomplete Consideration of Muslim Demands: While the Nehru Report considered some of the Muslim demands, it was seen as incomplete and did not fully address their concerns. For instance, the report's consideration of the separation of Sindh from Bombay and constitutional reforms in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) was perceived as lacking, and the Muslim-majority region of Balochistan was overlooked.
Language Issue: The report proposed making Hindi the official language of India, which was opposed by many Muslims who feared it would marginalize their languages and cultures.
Representation in Punjab and Bengal: The Muslim League foresaw that adult suffrage might not be implemented in Punjab and Bengal and, therefore, sought the reservation of seats for Muslims based on population.
The rejection of the Nehru Report by the Muslim League deepened the political divide between Hindus and Muslims in India and marked a significant setback in the efforts to find a consensus on India's future governance and constitutional setup.
Jinnah (RA)’s Amendments to the Nehru Report
The proposed amendments by Muhammad Ali Jinnah (RA) to the Nehru Report were an effort to address the concerns and demands of the Muslim community in India. Jinnah wanted to safeguard the interests of Muslims within the broader framework of India's future governance.
Here are the four amendments proposed by Jinnah to the Nehru Report:
One-Third Muslim Representation: Jinnah proposed that one-third of the elected representatives in both houses of the legislature should be reserved for Muslims. This was aimed at ensuring adequate and proportionate representation for the Muslim community in the central government.
Reservations in Punjab and Bengal: In case adult suffrage (universal suffrage) was not established in Punjab and Bengal, Jinnah suggested that there should be reserved seats for Muslims based on population for a period of ten years. This was intended to protect Muslim interests in those regions where Muslims were a significant minority.
Residuary Powers for Provinces: Jinnah demanded that residuary powers, which refer to powers not specifically allocated to the central government, should be vested in the provinces rather than the central legislature. This was to grant more autonomy and decision-making authority to the provinces.
Full Provincial Status for NWFP and Balochistan: Jinnah advocated that both the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Balochistan should be given full provincial status, allowing them greater control over their own affairs.
These amendments were aimed at accommodating the concerns of the Muslim community and ensuring their adequate representation and protection of interests within the framework of a united India. However, the Indian National Congress, led by Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders, did not accept these amendments, leading to a major rift between the Congress and the Muslim League.
The failure to reach a consensus on the Nehru Report's proposals and the rejection of Jinnah's amendments further deepened the political divide between Hindus and Muslims in India.
Later, Gandhi put forward a resolution suggesting that the British be given a one-year period to accept the recommendations of the Nehru Report. If the British government did not accede to the demands within this timeframe, a campaign of non-cooperation would be initiated. The resolution was duly passed by the gathering. It was also decided that January 26 would be celebrated as Independence Day.
Jinnah (RA) characterized this moment as the "parting of the ways''. This moment marked the beginning of a more assertive stance by the Muslim League, with a clear articulation of Muslim demands and the pursuit of a separate homeland for Muslims in the Indian subcontinent. The subsequent events shaped the course of Indian history and had far-reaching implications for the region.
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