Modern-indian-history / Debates on the Future Strategy after Civil Disobedience Movement / Gandhi's Vision - StruggleTruce-Struggle Strategy
Gandhi's Vision - StruggleTruce-Struggle Strategy
Gandhi's decision to concede to the proponents of council entry by allowing Congress members to enter the legislatures marked a significant shift in the Congress's approach towards parliamentary politics. Here's a breakdown of the key events and dynamics surrounding this decision:
- Gandhi's Conciliation: Despite apprehensions of a split within the Congress along Surat lines, Gandhi chose to conciliate the proponents of council entry by agreeing to their demand for permission to enter the legislatures. He emphasized that while parliamentary politics alone could not lead to freedom, those Congress members who could not participate in satyagraha or constructive work should not remain idle and could contribute patriotically through council work, provided they remained committed to the national cause and avoided being co-opted by constitutionalism or self-serving interests.
- Formation of Parliamentary Board: In May 1934, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) convened in Patna and established a Parliamentary Board to oversee Congress participation in elections, signaling the party's official entry into parliamentary politics.
- Gandhi's Resignation: Gandhi, sensing his divergence from prevailing trends within the Congress, announced his resignation from the party in October 1934, intending to serve it better through independent thought and action. He recognized the growing favor towards parliamentary politics, which contrasted with his emphasis on the spinning wheel and other non-cooperation methods.
- Diverse Ideological Camps: Within the Congress, diverse ideological camps emerged. While some sections favored parliamentary politics as a means to challenge British rule and achieve independence, others, led by socialists like Nehru, emphasized the need for a more radical anti-imperialist struggle. Despite ideological differences, there was a consensus that unity around the Congress, as the largest anti-imperialist mass organization, was crucial for the anti-colonial movement.
- Electoral Success: In the Central Legislative Assembly elections of November 1934, the Congress achieved significant success, capturing 45 out of 75 seats reserved for Indians, demonstrating the effectiveness of its decision to participate in parliamentary politics.
Overall, Gandhi's willingness to accommodate differing viewpoints within the Congress and his strategic approach to balance between participation in parliamentary politics and the broader anti-imperialist struggle reflected the evolving dynamics of the nationalist movement in colonial India.
