EMERGENCE OF SWARAJISTS, SOCIAL IDEAS, REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITIES AND OTHER NEW FORCES Flashcards
Who were Swarajists?
Those who advocated entry into legislative councils came to be known as the Swarajists.
Eg Motilal Nehru, Ajmal Khan and C.R. Das wanted to end or mend these councils.
Who were No Changers?
Those who opposed council entry came to be known as the No Changers.
Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad, M.A. Ansari and C. Rajagopalachari. They advocated concentration on constructive work, and continuation of boycott and non cooperation.
Formation of Congress Khilafat Swarajya Party?
The differences over the question of council entry between the two schools of thought resulted in the defeat of the Swarajists’ proposal of ‘ending or mending’ the councils at the Gaya session of the Congress (December 1922). C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru resigned from the presidentship and secretaryship respectively of the Congress and announced the formation of Congress-Khilafat Swaraiya Party or simply Swarajist Party, with CR Das as the president and Motilal Nehru as one of the secretaries.
Gandhi’s Attitude towards Swarajists?
- Gandhi was initially opposed to the Swarajists.
- In November 1923 elections, the Swarajists had managed to win 42 out of 141 elected seats and a clear majority in the provincial assembly of Central Provinces.
- There was a government crackdown on revolutionary terrorists and the Swarajists towards the end of 1924; this angered Gandhi and he expressed his solidarity with the Swarajists by surrendering to their wishes.
- Both sides came to an agreement in 1924 (endorsed at the Belgaum session of the Congress in December 1924 over which Gandhi–the only time–presided over the Congress session) that the Swarajists would work in the councils as an integral part of the Congress.
Swarajists activity in the Congress?
Gradually, the Swarajist, position had weakened because of widespread communal riots, and a split among Swarajists themselves on communal and Responsivist-Non-responsivist lines. The government strategy of dividing the Swarajists the more militant from the moderate, the Hindus from the Muslims was successful. The Swarajists lost the support of many Muslims when the party did not support the tenants’ cause against the zamindars in Bengal (most of the tenants were Muslims). Communal interests also entered the party.
The death of C.R. Das in 1925 weakened it further.
Who were Responsivists?
The Responsivists among Swarajists- Lala Lajpat Rai, Madan Mohan Malaviya and AC Kelkar- advocated cooperation with the government and holding of office wherever possible. Besides they also wanted to protect the so called Hindu interests. The communal elements accused leaders like Motilal Nehru, who did not favour joining the council, of being anti-Hindu even as Muslim communalists called the Swarajists anti-Muslim.
In 1930, the _____ finally walked out as a result of the Lahore Congress resolution on purna swaraj and the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Swarajists.
Achievements of Swarajists?
- They voted out the government several times, even on matters relating to budgetary grants, and passed adjournment motions.
- They agitated through powerful speeches on self-government, civil liberties and industrialisation.
- Vithalbhai Patel was elected speaker of Central legislative Assembly in 1925.
- A noteworthy achievement was the defeat of the Public Safety Bill in 1928 which was aimed at empowering the Government to deport undesirable and subversive foreigners.
- By their activities, they filled the political vacuum at a time when the national movement was recouping its strength.
- They exposed the hollowness of the Montford scheme.
- They demonstrated that the councils could be used creatively.
Drawbacks of Swarajists?
- The Swarajists lacked a policy to coordinate their militancy inside legislatures with the mass struggle outside. They relied totally on newspaper reporting to communicate with the public.
- They failed to resist the perks and privileges of power and office.
- Conflicting ideas limited their effectiveness.
- They failed to support the peasants.
- An obstructionist strategy had its limitations.
Constructive work by No Changers?
- Ashrams in kheda and Bardoli popularized the use of charkha and khadi.
- National schools and colleges set up.
- Significant work for Hindu Muslim unity, removing untouchability, boycott of foreign cloth and liquor.
- Constructive work served as the backbone of civil disobedience.
Criticism of Constructive work?
- National education benefitted the urban lower middle classes and the rich peasants only.
- Popularisation of khadi was an uphill task since it was costlier than the imported cloth.
- No emphasis was laid on the economic grievances of the landless and agricultural labourers comprising mostly the untouchables.
Rise of left wing in Congress?
- Marxist and Socialist ideas inspired many groups which led to the rise of a left wing within the Congress, represented by Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose.
- These young nationalists were dissatisfied with the Gandhian ideas.
- They were critical of both Swarajists and No Changers.
- They wanted complete independence (purna swaraj).
- They raised the question of internal class oppression by capitalists and landlords.
The Communist Party of India was formed by?
CPI was formed in Tashkent by M.N. Roy, Abani Mukherji and others after the second Congress of Commintern.
Who was the first to be elected to the leadership of Commintern (Communist International)?
M.N. Roy.
People jailed in Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy case?
- In 1924, many communists
1. S.A. Dange
2. Muzaffar Ahmed
3. Shaukat Usmani
4. Nalini Gupta were jailed in Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy case.
5. MN Roy was charged in absentia.
The Indian Communist Conference at Kanpur formalised the foundation of the Communist Party of India in which year?
In 1925.
Meerut Conspiracy case?
In 1929, the Government crackdown on communists resulted in the arrest and trial of 31 leading communists, trade unionists and left wing leaders; they were tried at Meerut in the famous Meerut Conspiracy case.
In 1928 who presided over the All Bengal Students’ Conference?
Jawaharlal Nehru.
In Gujrat, the Bardoli Satyagraha was led by?
Vallabhbhai Patel (1928).
