(a) What was the Simon Report?

[4]

Ans: Sir John Simon had chaired a commission in 1927 to consider further political reforms in
India. There was no Indian representation on the commission and this was opposed
Especially as its membership had been carefully selected to oppose self-government.
Congress and ML boycotted it. SC reported in 1930, main points were federal system with
More powers to provinces, diarchy ended with provincial government in hands of ministers
Responsible to elected legislatures, Governors to choose all ministers from parties that had
Majority support, Provincial Prime Ministers would be free from control by the governor or
Central government, NWFP to be given a legislative council but no government, no change in
Central executive and Council of Greater India to be set up representing India and the
Individual provinces to discuss matters of all-India concern. Unacceptable to both Congress
And ML

3. Why did Jinnah produce his 14 points of 1929? [7]

 Jinnah decided to issue 14 points in response to Nehru Report (1928) which was a
scheme of constitution for India. It included several points which were against Muslim
interests. The Nehru Report suggested joint electorate (in place of separate electorate
for Muslims), unitary form of government (in place of federal form of government)
and Hindi as national language for India. These points were clearly against Muslim
interests and were not liked by the Muslims.
 Jinnah suggested three amendments to the Nehru Report but these were rejected by
the Congress. It clearly showed that the Congress was not sincere with the Muslims.
 At the annual meeting of Muslim League in March 1929 at Delhi. Jinnah gave his
points in order to safeguard and protect the rights and interests of the Muslims. The
14 Points were the first ever demand of the Muslim League put to the British. These
demands covered all aspects of Muslim interests at the time.
Question: Why did Jinnah produced his 14 points in 1929? [7]

Answer: Muhammad Ali Jinnah produced his 14 points in response to the crisis over the Nehru Report of
1928. It was also a golden opportunity for the Quaid to set his demands.
The main objectives of the Nehru Report were to threaten the Muslim interest like they recommended in
Nehru Report that no separate electorate for the Muslims, no one-third in the central assembly, no
reservation of seats for the Muslims in Punjab and Bengal. Thus the Nehru Report was nothing else then the
Congress document and thus totally opposed by Muslims of the sub-continent.

The Hindus under Congress threatened the Government with a disobedience movement if the Nehru report
was not implemented into the act by December 31, 1929. This Hindu attitude proved to be a milestone in the
freedom movement of the Muslims. It also proved to be a turning point in the life of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
After reading the Nehru Report Quaid-e-Azam tried to get amendments in the Nehru Report in All Party
conference in Calcutta, but he did not succeeded. This was the very moment when Jinnah announced a
‘Parting of the ways’. The Muslims wanted a separate homeland as they were different from the Hindus
culturally; religiously and politically therefore, in March 1929 Quaid-e-Azam compiled a set of
recommendations that greatly influenced Muslim thinking for a better part of the next decade. So in his 14
points Jinnah stated that the safe guard and protection for the rights and interests of the Muslims must be
given, the demand of federal form of Government, provincial autonomy, protection of minorities, separate
electorates, religious freedom to all and one-third seats for all Muslims and it further demanded that Sind
must be separated from Bombay and full provincial status must be given to N.W.F.P and Baluchistan
.
These 14 points set out the demands of the Muslims for any future negotiation with either Congress or the
British. These 14 points became inspiration for the Muslims of the sub-continent because it convinced that
the Hindus and the Muslims were two separate nation