Swaraj Party (1 January 1923)

Introduction #

Following the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement and Gandhi’s incarceration (March 1922), nationalist ranks disintegrated, disorganised, and demoralised. A dispute began among Congressmen over what to do during the transition period, sometimes known as the movement’s inactive phase.

Swaraj Party Formation and Timeline #

• On 1 Jan 1923, C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru and others announced the foundation of the Congress-Khilafat Swarajya Party, also known as the Swarajist Party, with C.R. Das as president and Motilal Nehru as one of its secretaries.
• Aim & objective:
  Achieving Swaraj: The purpose of the section was stated in the 1924 constitution as achieving Swaraj by the people of India via all lawful and peaceful methods.
  Constant Resistance: According to the party’s manifesto, the Swarajists would pursue a policy of uniform, continuous, and constant resistance in the council.

Swaraj Party Election Manifesto #

• British Motive: The guiding motive of the British in governing India lay in the selfish interests of their own country.
• Continues Exploitation: the so-called reforms were only blind to further the said interests under the guise of granting a responsible government, the real goal being to continue exploitation of the country’s unlimited resources by keeping Indians permanently subservient to Britain
• Self Government: The Swarajists would present the nationalist demand for self-government in councils
• Continued Resistance: if this demand were rejected, they would implement a policy of uniform, continuous, and coherent obstruction within councils to make governance through councils impossible; councils would thus be wrecked from within by creating deadlocks on every measure.

Pro-Changers No-Changers #

Arguments of Swarajists #

• Motive to join council: The Swarajists have various motives for wanting to join the councils. In a moment of political vacuum, council work would energise the populace and maintain their morale.
• Work from within: The presence of nationalists would dissuade the government from filling the councils with unwanted characters who might be used to legitimise government actions.
• Political Warfare: There was no intention of using the councils as vehicles for the progressive change of colonial administration; they may be utilised as an arena for political warfare.

No-Changers’ Arguments: #

• Political Corruption: The No-Changers felt that legislative work would lead to a lack of revolutionary enthusiasm and political corruption.
• Working together: Everyone would be better prepared for the next phase of civil disobedience if they worked together.

Methods of Swaraj #

• Sabotage Method: The policy of continuous, uniform, and constant obstruction, such as obstructing the passage of government measures, generating deadlocks, and so on.
• Patriotism in locomotion technique: The method of regularly walking in and out. As a result, the Swarajists were known as peripatetic patriots.
• Rule and Procedures: The Swaraj Party also established rules and procedures for its legislative council members.