by 1917, it was clear to the British that postponing political concessions had no benefit.
Edward Montagu who was the secretary
of state for India announced a new
constitutional objective in the House of
Commons on 20th of August
The promise of "self-governing
institutions" was a clear and significant
concession that an Indian parliament,
controlling the Indian administration, would be created
Montagu set off a massive tour of India to consult politicians and public opinion
The findings were
published in the 1918
Montagu-Chelmsford
report which became
the basis for the 1919
legislation
By the times the reforms became law,
events at Amritsar in the Punjab would
have sealed the fate of the British Empire
in India