Modern-indian-history / Debates on the Future Strategy after Civil Disobedience Movement / Nehru’s Vision - Struggle-Victory and Opposition to STS
Nehru’s Vision - Struggle-Victory and Opposition to STS
Nehru's opposition to the Struggle-Truce-Struggle (S-T-S) strategy stemmed from his belief that the Indian national movement had evolved to a point where continuous confrontation with imperialism was necessary until its overthrow. Here are some key points regarding Nehru's stance and his advocacy for a Struggle-Victory (S-V) strategy:
- Continuous Confrontation: Nehru argued that the call for complete independence (purna swaraj) made at the Lahore Congress indicated that the movement had entered a phase where there should be no pause or truce in the struggle against imperialism. He believed that maintaining continuous pressure on the colonial government was essential to achieve the ultimate goal of independence.
- Direct Action: Nehru emphasized the need for "continuous direct action" by the Congress, indicating a preference for active and assertive forms of resistance rather than relying on periods of truce. He rejected the idea of interposing a phase of constitutionalist or peaceful protest between periods of mass struggle.
- Quest for Real Power: Nehru's criticism of the S-T-S strategy was rooted in his belief that real power could not be attained through incremental or partial measures. He argued that the movement should aim for complete victory over imperialism rather than settling for limited gains or temporary truces.
- Struggle-Victory Strategy: Nehru proposed an alternative approach, the Struggle-Victory (S-V) strategy, which implied a relentless and uncompromising pursuit of independence until victory was achieved. This strategy envisioned a continuous and escalating struggle without the interruptions of truce periods.
Nehru's opposition to the S-T-S strategy reflected his commitment to a more aggressive and uncompromising stance in the pursuit of Indian independence. His advocacy for a Struggle-Victory strategy underscored his belief in the need for sustained and unyielding resistance against colonial rule until complete liberation was attained.
