Why did the Simon Commission visit India? Why was it opposed in India?
In 1927, the Government of England appointed a Commission which was headed by Sir John Simon. That is why it was called the Simon Commission. This Commission came to India in 1928 with the objective of examining the results of the reforms of 1919. It was an all-white Commission having no Indian member. So people in India opposed it wherever it went. It was welcomed with black flags. Everywhere slogans like “Simon: Go Back” were raised. But the British Government adopted all repressive measures to crush this peaceful protest. In Lahore, the protestors were Lathi-charged by the police in which Lala Lajpat Rai was wounded. He suffered a blow of Lathi on his forehead which proved fatal and died a few days afterward. All the political parties of the country severely criticized these repressive measures of the British Government. Gandhi himself did not participate in the protests against the Simon Commission but however, had blessed all the peaceful protestors.
