31.Congress Government in Provinces, World War-II and Tripuri Session Flashcards
In which provinces were Congress ministries formed?
Congress ministries were formed in Bombay, Madras, Central Provinces, Orissa, United Provinces, Bihar, NWFP, and Assam.
What efforts were made by Congress ministries during their rule?
Congress ministries made efforts for people’s welfare and eased curbs on civil liberties. They repealed laws giving emergency powers, lifted bans on illegal organizations and certain books/journals, lifted press restrictions, curbed police powers, and released political prisoners.
What actions were taken by Congress ministries in Bombay?
In Bombay, lands confiscated during the Civil Disobedience Movement were restored, and pensions of officials associated with the movement were restored.
What constraints limited the Congress ministries from completely abolishing zamindari?
There were basic constraints that prevented Congress ministries from completely abolishing zamindari (landlordism) and undertaking a complete overhaul of the agrarian structure.
What laws did Congress ministries manage to legislate?
Congress ministries legislated laws related to land reforms, debt relief, forest grazing fee, arrears of rent, and land tenures.
Who were the primary beneficiaries of the land reforms implemented by Congress ministries?
Statutory and occupancy tenants were the primary beneficiaries of the land reforms, while sub-tenants and agricultural laborers did not gain significant benefits.
Why did agricultural laborers not benefit from the land reforms implemented by Congress ministries?
Agricultural laborers did not benefit as they had not been mobilized and the reforms primarily focused on tenants and landowners.
Who was elected as the president of the Congress meeting in Haripura in February 1938?
Subhash Chandra Bose was unanimously elected as the president.
What did Subhash Chandra Bose believe about the Congress ministries in the provinces?
Subhash Chandra Bose believed that the Congress ministries in the provinces had enormous revolutionary potential.
What was Subhash Chandra Bose’s focus on in terms of the country’s economic development?
Subhash Chandra Bose focused on economic development through planning and later played a role in establishing a National Planning Committee.
What resolution was passed during the Haripura Congress Session?
The session passed a resolution declaring that the Congress would provide moral support to those protesting against the governance of the princely states.
What was the international situation like following the Haripura Congress Session?
The international situation deteriorated in the months that followed, with clear indications that Europe was on the verge of war.
When and where was the Tripuri Congress Session held?
The Tripuri Congress Session was held in March 1939 in Tripuri, Central Provinces, near Jabalpur in present-day Madhya Pradesh.
How is the working committee of the Congress formed?
The working committee of the Congress is not elected but nominated by the president.
What caused a sharp internal crisis during the Tripuri Congress Session?
Subhash Bose’s election as president in the face of official opposition caused a sharp internal crisis due to the clear polarization in terms of ideology and method of future struggle.
Why did the leaders of the working committee resign during the Tripuri Congress Session?
The leaders of the working committee resigned because Subhash Bose accused them of being willing to reach a federation compromise with the government, which they felt contradicted their nationalistic principles.
Despite being ill, what did Subhash Bose advocate in his presidential speech at the Tripuri Congress Session?
Subhash Bose advocated giving Britain a six-month deadline to grant the national demand for independence. If the deadline was not met, he proposed launching a mass civil disobedience movement.
Why did Gandhi believe that ultimatums and immediate struggle were inappropriate?
Gandhi believed that ultimatums and immediate struggle were inappropriate because neither the Congress nor the masses were prepared for a fight. He also recognized the presence of communal discord, class strife, and a lack of unified vision, which would undermine any movement.
What resolution was proposed by Govind Ballabh Pant during the Congress session?
Govind Ballabh Pant proposed a resolution reaffirming faith in Gandhian policies and asking Bose to nominate the working committee “in accordance with Gandhiji’s wishes.”
Why was Bose unsuccessful in gaining Gandhi’s trust?
Despite his efforts, Bose was unsuccessful in gaining Gandhi’s trust. The main reason was the ideological differences between them. Bose desired an immediate struggle led by Gandhi, while Gandhi believed that the time was not right for a struggle.
What was the main issue between Gandhi and Bose?
The main issue between Gandhi and Bose was their ideological differences. Gandhi was unwilling to lead a Congress struggle along Bose’s radical lines, just as Bose was unwilling to compromise on his ideas.
Why did Bose ultimately resign as President of the Congress?
Bose saw no other choice but to resign because of the ideological differences and the lack of support for a split in the Congress. He resigned in April 1939, and Rajendra Prasad was elected President of the Congress, resolving the crisis for the time being.
Who attempted to mediate between Subhash Chandra Bose and Gandhi?
Nehru attempted to mediate between Subhash Chandra Bose and Gandhi.
Why did Subhash Chandra Bose refuse to resign?
Subhash Chandra Bose refused to resign because he insisted that the Working Committee reflect the new radical trends and groups that had elected him, but he also refused to nominate his own Working Committee.
Who was elected as the President of the Congress after Subhash Chandra Bose’s resignation?
Rajendra Prasad was elected as the President of the Congress after Subhash Chandra Bose’s resignation.
Why did Congress Socialists and Communists oppose a division in the national movement?
Congress Socialists and Communists opposed a division in the national movement because they believed that its unity must be preserved at all costs for the interests of the anti-imperialist struggle.
What new political party did Subhash Chandra Bose and his supporters establish?
Subhash Chandra Bose and his supporters established the Forward Bloc, a new political party within the Congress.
What action was taken against Subhash Chandra Bose by the Working Committee?
The Working Committee removed Subhash Chandra Bose from his position as the president of the Bengal Provincial Congress Committee and barred him from holding any Congress office for three years after he called for an all-India protest against an AICC resolution.
How did the Congress respond to India being drawn into the Second World War?
The Congress decided to support the war effort conditionally, despite not liking the unilateral action of the British.
What were the two basic conditions put forward by the Congress in their offer to cooperate in the war effort?
The two basic conditions were: (1) Convening a constituent assembly after the war to determine the political structure of a free India, and (2) Establishing some form of genuinely responsible government at the Centre immediately.
How did the viceroy, Linlithgow, respond to the Congress’ offer?
The viceroy, Linlithgow, rejected the Congress’ offer.
Why did the Congress argue that these conditions were necessary?
The Congress argued that these conditions were necessary to win public opinion for the war.
What were the areas of consistent hostility for the Congress regarding the war?
The Congress consistently opposed Fascism, Nazism, militarism, and imperialism, showing greater consistency than the British record.
Where was the official Congress position adopted regarding Indian support to British war efforts?
The official Congress position was adopted at the Wardha session of the Congress Working Committee.
What was Gandhi’s stance on Indian support to the Allied powers during the war?
Gandhi advocated unconditional support to the Allied powers due to his dislike of fascist ideology and his sympathy towards democratic nations.
What was the opinion of Subhas Bose and other socialists regarding the war?
Subhas Bose and other socialists believed that both sides in the war were imperialists seeking to protect their colonial possessions and gain more territories. They opposed supporting either side and saw it as an ideal time to launch a civil disobedience movement.
How did Jawaharlal Nehru view the war and India’s participation?
Nehru believed that justice was on the side of Britain, France, and Poland, but he also recognized them as imperialist powers. He advocated no Indian participation in the war until India itself was free but also cautioned against taking advantage of Britain’s difficulty by immediately starting a civil disobedience movement.
Where was the Congress Working Committee meeting held to discuss different opinions on Indian support to the war efforts?
The Congress Working Committee meeting was held in Wardha.
What was the resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee regarding Indian support to the war efforts?
The resolution condemned Fascist aggression and stated that India could not be a party to a war fought for democratic freedom while that freedom was denied to India. It called for the end of imperialism in British colonies and the establishment of full democracy in India.
How did the Congress leadership approach the British government’s response?
The Congress leadership wanted to give every chance to the viceroy and the British government.
What was Viceroy Linlithgow’s response to the Congress’ resolution?
Viceroy Linlithgow refused to define British war aims beyond resisting aggression. He proposed consulting representatives of various communities, parties, interests in India, and the Indian princes to modify the Act of 1935. He also suggested the establishment of a consultative committee.
What did the Congress demand from the government regarding war aims and democracy in India?
The Congress demanded that the government declare its war aims and how the principles of democracy would be applied to India after the war.
What approach did Gandhi ultimately adopt regarding Indian support to the war efforts?
Gandhi aligned himself with Nehru’s position, which was adopted by the Congress Working Committee.
When was the August Offer made?
The August Offer was made in August 1940.
What did the British government propose in the August Offer?
The British government proposed dominion status for India, the formation of a representative Indian body to draft a constitution after the war, the extension of the Viceroy’s Council to include more Indian participation, and the constitution of an advising war council after the war.
What powers would the British government retain according to the August Offer?
The British government would retain control over defense, finance, home affairs, and all Republic of India services.
Why did the Indian National Congress reject the August Offer?
The Indian National Congress rejected the August Offer because they desired complete independence, but were offered Dominion status instead.
What action did Mahatma Gandhi take after the rejection of the August Offer?
Mahatma Gandhi launched the Individual Satyagraha, a campaign to affirm the right to free expression.
Why were Gandhi and his supporters not in favor of an immediate mass struggle?
They were not in favor of an immediate mass struggle because they believed that the Allied cause was just, there was a risk of communal riots due to lack of Hindu-Muslim unity, the Congress organization was in disarray, and the masses were not prepared for a struggle.
What were some concerns raised by Gandhi and his supporters regarding an immediate mass struggle?
They expressed concerns about communal sensitiveness and the potential for communal riots, the disarray of the Congress organization, and the lack of readiness of the masses for a struggle.
What was the viewpoint of Gandhi and his supporters regarding the Allied cause?
Gandhi and his supporters believed that the Allied cause was just.
Why did Gandhi and his supporters believe that the atmosphere was not conducive for a mass struggle?
They believed that the Congress organization was in shambles and the overall atmosphere was not suitable for a mass struggle.
What factor did Gandhi and his supporters consider regarding the readiness of the masses for a struggle?
They believed that the masses were not prepared for a struggle at that time.
What was the purpose of the Individual Satyagraha?
The purpose of the Individual Satyagraha was to affirm the right to free expression, rather than to gain independence.
Why did Gandhi insist on Individual Satyagraha after the August Offer?
While radicals and leftists wanted to start a large-scale civil disobedience movement, Gandhi insisted on Individual Satyagraha to avoid potential violence and embarrassment for the United Kingdom.
What did Gandhi hope to convey through the Individual Satyagraha?
Gandhi wanted to convey that India should not be taken for granted by the British and that the principles of freedom and basic rights for which Britain was fighting Nazi Germany and Fascism should be equally applicable to Indians.
How did Gandhi differ from the radicals and leftists regarding building a free India?
Gandhi did not want to build a free India on the ruins of the British Empire, contrasting with the viewpoint of radicals and leftists.
Why did Gandhi believe that a mass movement could turn violent?
Gandhi believed that a mass movement had the potential to turn violent, and he wanted to avoid such a situation.
Why did Gandhi launch the Individual Satyagraha?
Gandhi launched the Individual Satyagraha to oppose the war and refute British propaganda that India was enthusiastically supporting the war of her own volition.
What was Gandhi’s request to the Viceroy, and how did the Viceroy respond?
Gandhi requested the Viceroy to oppose the war and allow him to ask his people to do the same. However, the Viceroy refused to accept his request.
Who was the first person chosen for the Individual Satyagraha, and where did they begin their campaign?
Vinoba Bhave was the first person chosen for the Individual Satyagraha, and he began his campaign at Paunar, located just five miles from Wardha.
What were the reasons given by Vinoba Bhave for asking people not to participate in the government’s war effort?
Vinoba Bhave asked people not to participate in the government’s war effort due to the government’s refusal to establish a Provisional National Government, dragging India into the war without consent or consultation, and denying freedom to preach against the war.
What happened to Vinoba Bhave after delivering anti-war speeches?
Vinoba Bhave was arrested on October 21, 1940, and sentenced to three months in prison for his participation in the Individual Satyagraha.
