Lord Reading

Reading's government faced the Moplah Rebellion in Malabar, where Muslim peasants revolted against Hindu landlords and British authorities. The rebellion was brutally suppressed, with thousands killed and many deported, deepening communal tensions.

Reading was appointed Viceroy of India, succeeding Lord Chelmsford. His tenure focused on implementing the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms and managing the growing Indian nationalist movement, including the Non-Cooperation Movement led by Gandhi.

Reading ordered the arrest of Mahatma Gandhi for sedition following the Chauri Chaura incident and the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement. Gandhi was sentenced to six years in prison, but his imprisonment galvanized the independence movement.

After his viceroyalty, Reading served as British Foreign Secretary under Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald. He played a role in European diplomacy during the interwar period, including negotiations on disarmament and the Manchurian Crisis.