Who among the following Indian leaders attended all three Round Table Conferences held in London to discuss India’s constitutional future?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: B. R. Ambedkar

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question relates to the constitutional discussions between British officials and Indian representatives during the early 1930s, known as the Round Table Conferences. These conferences were held in London to discuss reforms for India's future government. Knowing which leaders attended which sessions is important for understanding the roles they played in shaping constitutional debates and representing different social groups.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • There were three Round Table Conferences held in London between 1930 and 1932.
  • Different Indian leaders attended different sessions.
  • The question asks who attended all three.
  • The options include M. K. Gandhi, M. M. Malviya, B. R. Ambedkar and Annie Besant.


Concept / Approach:
The key is to recall attendance patterns. Gandhi attended only the second Round Table Conference as the sole representative of the Indian National Congress after the Gandhi Irwin Pact. Madan Mohan Malviya was present at the second and third conferences but not all three. Annie Besant, an earlier theosophist and nationalist leader, was not a central representative in all three conferences of this period. Dr B. R. Ambedkar, representing the depressed classes, participated in all three conferences, arguing strongly for safeguards and separate representation for marginalised communities.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that there were three Round Table Conferences: first (1930–31), second (1931) and third (1932). Step 2: Gandhi attended only the second Round Table Conference as the main Congress representative. Step 3: Malviya participated in more than one conference but not in all three. Step 4: Ambedkar is well known for his presence at all three conferences as a spokesperson for the depressed classes. Step 5: Annie Besant was not a regular central delegate at all three conferences during this specific period.


Verification / Alternative check:
Biographical accounts of Ambedkar and histories of the Round Table Conferences repeatedly highlight that he attended all three sessions and engaged in vigorous debates with Gandhi and others over communal representation and safeguards for the depressed classes. Lists of delegates for each conference confirm his name in all three, while Gandhi's name appears only in the second. This corroborates B. R. Ambedkar as the correct answer.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
M. K. Gandhi: Attended only the second Round Table Conference, not the first and third, so he did not attend all three.
M. M. Malviya: A respected Congress leader and educationalist, but he did not serve as a delegate at all three conferences.
Annie Besant: A significant figure in earlier phases of the national movement and the Home Rule League, but not a central participant in all three Round Table Conferences held in the early 1930s.


Common Pitfalls:
Examinees often assume that because Gandhi is the most famous nationalist leader, he must have attended every important conference, which is incorrect in this case. Others may not clearly distinguish between leaders active in the 1910s and those central in the 1930s. Remembering Ambedkar's sustained presence across all three conferences, especially in relation to the Poona Pact and the question of separate electorates, provides a reliable anchor for answering such questions.


Final Answer:
The only leader among the options who attended all three Round Table Conferences was B. R. Ambedkar.

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