What Were Montague-Chelmsford Reforms? How Did The People Of India React To These Reforms?

No doubt, the people of India lent their cooperation to the British Government during the First Great War, yet as the war prolonged they were politically perturbed. Khilafat Movement had been stalled by the Muslims, and the Hindu-Muslim unity was gaining more and more strength. Side by side, an organization, namely 'Home Rule League' had emerged with the demand of complete independence of the sub continent. Under these developments the British Government was obliged to bring about some radical changes in the Indian Constitution. In 1916, Lord Chelmsford took over the viceroyalty of India. He held discussions with the representatives of all the native sects on the subject of the constitutional issue of the country.

It was on 20th August, 1917 that Montague, the Secretary of State for India, made a celebrated announcement of the British policy in regard to the framing of the future Constitution of India. He declared that the British Government intended to establish such a progressive responsible Government in India which would be gradually developed into self-Government. The responsible, Government was to be an integral part of the British Kingdom. In July, 1918, Montague, the Secretary of State for India and Lord Chelmsford, the Viceroy of India, published a joint report known as Montague-Chelmsford Report containing the following basic principles on which were to be introduced the political reforms in India.