Lord Willingdon

Willingdon was appointed Viceroy of India, succeeding Lord Irwin. His tenure was marked by a hardline approach to the Indian independence movement, including the suppression of the Civil Disobedience Movement and the arrest of Congress leaders.

Willingdon launched a crackdown on the Indian National Congress, arresting Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and thousands of other activists. He banned Congress organizations and imposed emergency powers, effectively crushing the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Willingdon's government implemented the Communal Award, which granted separate electorates for minorities, including depressed classes (Dalits). The award was opposed by Gandhi, who went on a fast-unto-death, leading to the Poona Pact.

Willingdon's tenure saw the passage of the Government of India Act 1935, which proposed a federal structure and provincial autonomy. The act was a major constitutional reform but was criticized for retaining British control over key areas and for its communal provisions.