Evaluation of the Act

● Numerous ‘safeguards’ and ‘special responsibilities’ of the governor-general worked as brakes in the proper functioning of the Act.

● In provinces, the governor still had extensive powers.

● The Act enfranchised 14 per cent of British Indian population.

● The extension of the system of communal electorates

Views

We framed the Act of 1935 because we thought that was the best way...of maintaining British influence in India.

Lord Linlithgow, viceroy (1936-43)

We are provided with a car, all brakes and no engine.

Jawaharlal Nehru

The process of constitutional advance in India is determined by the need to attract Indian collaborators to the Raj.

B.R. Tomlinson

and representation of various interests promoted separatist tendencies which culminated in partition of India.

● The Act provided a rigid constitution with no possibility of internal growth. Right of amendment was reserved with the British Parliament.

The Long-Term British Strategy ● Suppression could only be a short-term tactic. In the long run, the strategy was to weaken the national movement and integrate large segments of the movement into colonial, constitutional and administrative structure.

● Reforms would revive the political standing of constitutionalist liberals and moderates who had lost public support during the Civil Disobedience Movement.

● Repression earlier and reforms now would convince a large section of Congressmen of the ineffectiveness of an extra-legal struggle.

● Once Congressmen tasted power, they would be reluctant to go back to politics of sacrifice.

● Reforms could be used to create dissensions within Congress—right wing to be placated through constitutional concessions and radical leftists to be crushed through police measures.

● Provincial autonomy would create powerful provincial leaders who would gradually become autonomous centres of political power. Congress would thus be provincialised and the central leadership would get weakened.