What is it?
- Montagu’s Statement of August 1917, also known as the August Declaration of 1917, was a speech delivered by Edwin Samuel Montagu, the secretary of state for India, in the British House of Commons on August 20, 1917.
- The statement outlined the British government’s policy towards India and its plans for granting self-government to the Indian people.
Reasons
- The impact of the First World War and growing revolutionary activities influenced the British government’s change in policies towards India.
- Edwin Montagu criticized India’s governance system and expressed support for Indian self-government during a House of Commons debate.
- Montagu became Secretary of State for India and shared sympathy for the aspirations of the Indian people.
Outcomes
- Legitimization of Nationalist Demands
- Emphasis on Responsible Government
- Limited Power Transfer
- Introduction of Dyarchy