Nehru Report:

Outline:
Background
Nehru Report
Recommendations Of The Nehru Report
Reaction To The Nehru Report
Quaid’s Amendments
Conclusion

Background:

Simon Commission came to India in Feb-March, 1928 from the Britain. All
political parties rejected the Simon Commission and its report. Lord Birkenhead,
who was British Secretary of State Of India, was very much offended on the
treatment extended to the Simon Commission when the Indian political parties
rejected the recommendations of the Simon Commission, he declared in the
parliament,” The Indian are so divided, opposed and fed up of each other that
they are unable to provide an unanimously accepted constitution.”
Nehru considered this statement as an insult offer the political leaders of India
and decided to prepare a report comprising of a plan for India.

Nehru Report:

All-Parties Conference was held on 19th May, 1928. During this conference a
seven-member committee under the chairmanship of Motilal Nehru was formed
to formulate an agreed constitution. The report presented by the committee is
known as “Nehru Report.” Nehru Report was presented on 10th August, 1928
and admonished government that if the report was not implemented immediately,
Non-cooperation movement would be launched in the whole Sub-continent. The
report contained the following recommendations:
1. Full-responsible government on the model of the constitution of self
governing dominions to be introduced in the Sub-continent.

2. Separate electorate should be replaced by the joint electorate with the

reservation of seats for minorities in proportion to their population.
 3. The foreign affairs defence and army should be placed under the control of
the parliament and viceroy.
4. Sindh should be separated from Bombay.
5. Full provincial status should be given to NWFP and Baluchistan.
6. Unitary form of government to be introduced in the centre.
7. Hindi should be made official language.

Reaction To The Nehru Report:

The Nehru Report shocked the Muslims because it envisaged the establishment
of Hindu Raj in the guise of a responsible government. It made the Hindu-Muslim
rift final and irrevocable. The anti-Muslim Hindu designs brought the unity
among the Jinnah League and the Shafi League. When the report was discussed
in the Indian Legislature Assembly, Jinnah and other Muslim leaders rejected it
in strong words. According to K.K Aziz:

“There is a little doubt that the Nehru Report conferred the real power upon
the Hindu majority and envisaged a Hindu Raj. At least that was the impression
it conveyed to the Muslim mind. The Lucknow Pact had been forgotten.
The good old days of the Khilafat Movement were fled never to return. The
unity of the Congress-League scheme was buried deep under the debris of
communal riots.”

Quaid’s Amendments:

An All-Party National Conference was held in Calcutta in December, 1928 to

consider the Nehru Report. Quaid-e-Azam proposed amendments to the Nehru
Report.
 One-Third representation for the Muslims in the central legislature.
 Muslim presentation in the Bengal and Punjab provinces on the basis of
population.
 Residuary powers be given to the provinces instead of the central
government.
All the amendments, proposed by Quaid-e-Azam when put to vote were rejected
by the Hindu majority. Likewise, Quaid-e-Azam rejected the Nehru Report
altogether and declared,
 “The Committee has adopted a narrow minded policy to ruin the political
future of the Muslims. I regret to declare that the report is extremely
ambiguous and does not deserve to be implemented.”

Owing to the partiality of the Nehru Report, Quaid-e-Azam presented his

celebrated fourteen points. Majorly, among the Q’s points were the demands for
Federal system with full provincial authority having one third Muslim
representation and to enjoy full religious liberty.

Conclusion
Dr. KK Aziz assessed the situation in words
With the end of the Khilafat movement the short honeymoon of Hindu-
Muslim unity also came to an end and hostilities re-emerged but this time
with a greater intensity and prospects of unity between the two nations
ceased to exist. The Nehru Report put a seal on this conflict and peace
disappeared from India for good.
Anyhow good aspects of NR was the reawakening and growing awareness
amongst the Muslim of necessity of forging unity in their ranks and files.