Swaraj Party

 

Context: The Path to Independence (Analogy)

• The lecture frames the Indian independence movement post-1857 as a journey of "Seven Steps" (ఏడు అడుగులు).

• The 1857 Revolt is likened to a "first love failure."

• Achieving Independence is like marriage, and Partition is like divorce, happening simultaneously.

• The first three steps mentioned are:

  1. Swadeshi Movement

  2. Home Rule League (HRL)

  3. Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM)

• The fourth step is the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) - శాసన ఉల్లంఘన ఉద్యమం.

End of Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM)

• NCM ended abruptly in February 1922 due to the violence at the Chauri Chaura incident.

• Gandhi, adhering to non-violence, called off the movement.

• The Congress Working Committee (CWC) formally stopped the movement through the Bardoli Resolution.

The Intermediate Period (1922 - ~1930): Passive Stage

• This period between the NCM and the start of CDM (around 1930) was marked by a lack of large-scale mass movements, termed the "Passive Stage" (స్తబ్దత).

• There was a sense of political vacuum (రాజకీయ శూన్యత).

• Gandhi's Arrest: In March 1922, Gandhi was arrested under the Sedition Act (రాజద్రోహ చట్టం - Section 124A) for articles written in Young India criticizing British policies. He was sentenced to 6 years but released in 1924 due to health issues (health problems/illness).

  • Comparison: Tilak was also sentenced to 6 years under the Sedition Act in 1908.

• Viceroy: Lord Reading was the Viceroy during the Swaraj Party's formation and early period.

Emergence of Pro-changers and No-changers

The political vacuum led to a debate within Congress on the future course of action, resulting in two main factions:

1. Pro-changers (మార్పు కోరేవారు):

   • Advocated for changing the NCM's strategy, specifically the boycott of legislative councils.

   • Their policy was "Entry Councils" (శాసన మండలి/సభల్లోకి ప్రవేశం) – participate in elections, enter the councils, and obstruct British policies from within ("End or Mend"). It was seen as Non-cooperation within the councils.

   • Leaders: C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru, Ajmal Khan, Vithalbhai Patel.

2. No-changers (మార్పు కోరని వారు):

   • Wanted to continue the NCM's original programme, including the council boycott.

   • Feared that council entry would lead to a desire for power, political corruption, and divert focus from mass struggle.

   • Advocated for focusing on the Constructive Programme (నిర్మాణాత్మక కార్యక్రమాలు).

   • Leaders: Rajendra Prasad (RP), Vallabhbhai Patel (VP), C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji).

   • Constructive Programme Elements:

     • Promoting Khadi (hand-spun cloth - చేత్తో వడకాలి).

     • Working for Hindu-Muslim Unity (Gandhi fasted for 21 days at Maulana Kalam's house).

     • Abolition of Untouchability (అస్పృశ్యత నివారణ) (Linked to Article 17 later).

       • Example: Gandhi renamed the Kaliparaj tribe (నల్లని ప్రజలు) in Bardoli as Raniparaj (అరణ్య ప్రాంత ప్రజలు - forest people).

       • Example: Chianlal Bhatt learned the Kaliparaj language to campaign against alcohol among them.

       • Example: Ravishankar Maharaj worked for the upliftment of the Beraya tribe in Kheda.

     • Preparing the masses for the next phase of struggle (CDM).

Formation of the Swaraj Party

• At the INC Gaya Session (December 1922), presided over by C.R. Das, the resolution for council entry proposed by the Pro-changers was defeated by the No-changer majority.

• Following this defeat, C.R. Das resigned as INC President.

• C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru announced the formation of the Congress-Khilafat Swaraj Party on December 31, 1922. (Established 1922, NOT 1923).

  • President/Chairman: C.R. Das

  • Secretary: Motilal Nehru

• Party Name Rationale:

  • "Congress": Signified they were still part of the broader Congress ideology, differing only on council entry.

  • "Khilafat": To maintain Hindu-Muslim unity and appeal to Muslims.

  • "Swaraj": Signified their ultimate goal.

• Their slogan effectively was "Entry Councils for Swaraj."

Swaraj Party: Activities and Achievements

• 1923 Elections:

  • Won 42 out of 101 seats in the Central Legislative Assembly (CLA). A significant number.

  • Gained a clear majority in the Central Provinces (CP).

  • Emerged as the largest party in Bengal.

• Local Body Elections (1923-24):

  • C.R. Das elected Mayor of Calcutta (CEO: Subhas Chandra Bose - Netaji).

  • Vallabhbhai Patel elected Chairman of Ahmedabad Municipality.

  • Jawaharlal Nehru elected Chairman of Allahabad Municipality.

  • Rajendra Prasad elected Chairman of Patna Municipality.

  • Note: This indicates even some No-changers participated at the local level, likely sanctioned by the party.

• In the Councils:

  • Effectively used speeches to criticize and expose flawed British policies to the public.

  • Vithalbhai Patel was elected as the Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly (first Indian Speaker).

  • Successfully defeated/blocked the Public Safety Bill in 1928.

    • Context of Bill: Aimed to prevent the entry and propaganda of foreign Communists and Socialists in India, seen as a threat by the British. Defeating it was a major success for the Swarajists.

Gandhi's Role and Reconciliation

• Gandhi was released from prison in 1924 (due to health).

• He presided over the INC Belgaum Session in 1924 (his only time as INC President).

• To prevent a split in the INC (like the 1907 Surat Split), Gandhi endorsed the Swarajists' council entry programme.

• He stated, "I am impressed" with the Swaraj Party's work.

• Gandhi-Das Pact: An agreement reached where Swarajists would work within the councils as an integral part of Congress, while No-changers would focus on the Constructive Programme outside. This maintained unity.

Decline of the Swaraj Party

• C.R. Das's death in 1925 was a major blow.

• The party subsequently weakened and split into factions:

  • Responsivists: (e.g., Madan Mohan Malaviya, Kelkar, possibly Lajpat Rai). Influenced by Hindu Mahasabha, willing to cooperate with the government to protect Hindu interests.

  • Non-Responsivists: (Led by Motilal Nehru). Accused by the other faction of being anti-Hindu.

• By 1930, with the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement imminent, the Swaraj Party effectively merged back into the mainstream INC.

Additional Points

• Subhas Chandra Bose (Netaji): Political guru was C.R. Das. CR Das's newspaper was Forward. Netaji later resigned from INC and formed the Forward Bloc party (linking the names helps memory).

• Political Ideologies: Mentioned briefly - Capitalism (profit-driven), Socialism (welfare state, work-based distribution), Communism (need-based distribution, ability-based work).