Post-Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) Era (1934 onwards)

 Here are the notes covering the points mentioned in the lecture:

Context: Post-Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) Era (1934 onwards)

1. End of CDM (1934):

   • The Civil Disobedience Movement (శాసన ఉల్లంఘన ఉద్యమం) officially ended in 1934.

   • It ran from 1930-1934 in two phases, interrupted by the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931).

   • Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference after the pact.

2. Political Situation in 1934 ("What Next?"):

   • Similar to the situation after the Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM - సహాయ నిరాకరణ ఉద్యమం), divisions emerged within the Congress.

   • Post-NCM Factions:

     • Pro-changers (Swarajists - స్వరాజిస్ట్): Favored entering legislative councils (e.g., C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru, Vithalbhai Patel).

     • No-changers: Focused on constructive work (నిర్మాణాత్మక కార్యక్రమాలు) (Gandhi's followers).

   • Post-CDM Factions (Three main trends):

     • Trend 1: Enter Councils (New Swarajists - న్యూ స్వరాజిస్ట్):

       • Aimed to contest the upcoming 1934 central legislative assembly elections (last under the 1919 Act).

       • Leaders: Bhulabhai Desai (బాబూలాల్ దేశాయ్), Asaf Ali (అసఫ్ అలీ), M.A. Ansari (ఎంఏ అన్సారీ).

     • Trend 2: Mass Movement (Socialists):

       • Opposed council entry, favored continuing mass struggle.

       • Formation of the Congress Socialist Party (CSP - కాంగ్రెస్ సోషలిస్ట్ పార్టీ) within Congress.

       • Criticized Gandhi's approach.

       • Leaders: Acharya Narendra Dev (ఆచార్య నరేంద్ర దేవ్ - 1st Secretary), Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), Ram Manohar Lohia (రామ్ మనోహర్ లోహియా).

       • CSP later played a key role in the Quit India Movement (1942), often operating underground. Aruna Asaf Ali (అరుణా అసఫ్ అలీ) was prominent.

     • Trend 3: Constructive Work (Gandhians):

       • Led by Gandhi, focusing on social reform.

       • Gandhi resigns from INC (1934):

         • Stated reason: To dedicate himself fully to Harijan upliftment (హరిజన ఉద్ధరణ) following the Poona Pact (1932) experience.

         • Established: All India Anti-Untouchability League (later Harijan Sevak Sangh - హరిజన సేవక్ సంఘ్), Harijan newspaper (weekly).

         • Alternative view/Underlying reason: Growing differences with Nehru and others; criticism of his 'Struggle-Truce-Struggle' (STS - పోరాటము-విరమణ-పోరాటము) strategy (Nehru preferred 'Struggle-Victory').

1937 Provincial Elections

1. Basis: Held under the Government of India Act, 1935, which granted Provincial Autonomy (రాష్ట్ర స్వయం ప్రతిపత్తి).

2. INC Participation: The Indian National Congress contested elections fully for the first time at the provincial level.

3. Results:

   • Elections held in 11 provinces. 6 had bicameral legislatures (Bengal, Bihar, Bombay, UP, Madras, Assam - Code: B3UMA).

   • INC Victory: Formed ministries in 8 out of 11 provinces.

   • Non-INC Governments (in 3 provinces):

     • Sindh: Coalition of Independents and Muslim League (ML). CM: Allah Bakhsh (అల్లా బక్ష్).

     • Punjab: Unionist Party (supported Simon Commission). CM: Sikandar Hayat Khan (హయత్ ఖాన్).

     • Bengal: Krishak Praja Party (ప్రజా కర్షక్ పార్టీ) coalition. CM: Fazlul Huq (ఫజల్ ఉల్ హక్). (He later moved the 1940 Pakistan Resolution).

4. Significance of Results:

   • Muslim League (ML) & Hindu Mahasabha (HM): Performed poorly, even in Muslim-majority areas. This indicated they did not represent the entire Muslim or Hindu populations respectively at that time.

   • Rejection of Communal Parties: Voters largely rejected parties based purely on religious identity.

   • Rise of Communalism: Despite electoral losses, these parties intensified communal propaganda afterwards.

Congress Ministries (1937-1939)

1. Duration: Congress ministries functioned for approximately 28 months.

2. Pirpur Committee (పీర్పూర్ కమిటీ):

   • Appointed by the Muslim League (ML).

   • Task: To investigate the alleged mistreatment of Muslims in Congress-ruled provinces.

   • Report: Claimed Muslims were discriminated against and their rights ignored by Congress governments. ML used this report to justify the demand for Pakistan.

Resignation of Congress Ministries (1939)

1. Context: World War II: Started on September 1, 1939 (Hitler/Germany attacked Poland).

2. Linlithgow's Declaration: The Governor-General, Lord Linlithgow, declared India's participation in WW-II on behalf of Britain without consulting Indian leaders or provincial governments.

3. INC Response:

   • Objected strongly to the unilateral declaration.

   • Demanded clarification on Britain's war aims and India's future status.

   • As no satisfactory response was given, all 8 INC provincial ministries resigned on October 22, 1939. (Date is important).

4. Muslim League's Reaction:

   • Jinnah and the ML welcomed the resignations.

   • Called for celebrating December 22, 1939, as the "Day of Deliverance" (విమోచన దినం) from Congress "tyranny".

   • Support for Day of Deliverance: Received support from the Justice Party (anti-Congress in Madras) and B.R. Ambedkar (representing the All India Depressed Classes Federation, critical of Congress's approach to Dalit issues).

5. Aftermath: Governor's rule was imposed in the provinces where Congress had resigned, lasting until the next elections in 1946.

Transition: The resignation of Congress ministries and the onset of WW-II set the stage for the next phase of the freedom struggle, including the August Offer, Individual Satyagraha, and the Cripps Mission.