View Categories

Resignation of Congress Ministries 1939: Reason, India’s Stand & World War II

3 min read

Resignation of Congress Ministries 1939: Reason, India’s Stand & World War II #

Resignation of Congress Ministries 1939: India’s Stand Against British War Decision #

During the period of British rule in India, the resignation of Congress ministers in 1939 was a significant event. The Indian National Congress issued it in response to the outbreak of World War II and the British government’s unilateral decision to include India in the war effort without consulting Indian leaders. Here’s a detailed explanation of Congress ministers’ resignations in 1939:

India’s Unilateral War Inclusion: Resignation of Congress Ministries 1939 #

  • Britain declared war on Germany in September 1939, pushing off World War II.
  • The British government declared India’s involvement in the war without seeking the consent of Indian leaders or taking into account the Indian National Congress’s demand for self-government.

Congress Demands: Autonomy and Independence in Exchange for War Support #

  • The Indian National Congress, led by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, had been advocating for increased autonomy and Indian independence.
  • The Congress had offered to help the British war effort in exchange for India’s cooperation in exchange for significant political reforms and a commitment to Indian self-rule.

Failed Talks: Congress Seeking Self-Government Amidst War Concerns #

  • Negotiations between Congress and the British government over India’s participation in the war were unsuccessful.
  • The Congress felt that their demands for self-government were not being adequately addressed and that their concerns about the war’s impact on India’s independence aspirations were being ignored.

Resignation of Congress Ministries: Protest Against British Unilateralism #

  • The Congress decided to resign from their positions in the provincial governments where they held power in response to the British government’s unilateral decision and the failure of negotiations.
  • Congress ministers in several provinces, including Madras, United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), and Bombay, tendered their resignations to the governors of their respective provinces.

Resignation of Congress Ministries: Defiance for Indian Aspirations and Self-Government #

  • The resignation of Congress ministers was interpreted as a strong protest against the British government’s disregard for Indian aspirations and lack of substantive political reforms.
  • The Congress believed that by resigning, they could demonstrate their determination to fight for India’s independence while also drawing attention to their demands for self-government.

Resignation of Congress Ministries: Catalyst for Change in Independence Struggle #

  • The resignation of Congress ministers had a profound effect on Indian politics and the nationalist movement.
  • It represented growing dissatisfaction with the British government’s handling of Indian demands, as well as the realization that alternative methods, such as non-cooperation and civil disobedience, might be required.
  • The resignation also highlighted the growing schism between the Congress and British authorities, laying the groundwork for more confrontational approaches to the independence struggle.

After Resignation: Congress Arrests Ignite Quit India Movement 1942 #

  • Following Gandhi’s resignation, the British government declared the Congress an illegal organization and arrested several leaders of the Congress, including Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.
  • The arrest of prominent leaders and the suppression of Congress activities heightened the political atmosphere, paving the way for the subsequent Quit India Movement in 1942.

#PW-OIAS Edge

Experience of Resignation of Congress Ministries (1939) in Provinces

  • During 1939, the Congress Ministries in India, which were constituted following provincial elections, achieved some triumphs, including land reforms, education expansion, workers’ rights, socioeconomic programs, and rural development. 
  • They did, however, confront considerable problems and shortcomings, such as communal conflicts, economic difficulties, limited powers, internal schisms, dismissal or resignation in some provinces, and a short tenure of rule owing to World War II. 
  • Despite their flaws, the Congress Ministries were critical to the nationalist struggle, laying the groundwork for India’s eventual independence in 1947.

 

Conclusion #

The resignation of Congress ministers in 1939 was a watershed moment in the Indian liberation struggle. It reflected the Congress’ dissatisfaction with the British government’s handling of Indian demands and signaled a shift toward more confrontational methods of achieving independence. The resignation acted as a catalyst for subsequent events, shaping the course of the nationalist movement during the turbulent period of World War II.

Previous Year Question (Prelims) #

Q1. The Congress ministries resigned in the seven provinces in 1939, because: [2012] 

  1. Congress could not form ministries in the other four provinces.
  2. The emergence of a ‘left wing’ in Congress made the working of the ministries impossible.
  3. There were widespread communal disturbances in their provinces.
  4. None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct.

Resignation of Congress Ministers (1939) FAQs #

Q1. What caused Congress ministers to resign in 1939?

Ans. In October and November 1939, the Congress ministries resigned in protest of Viceroy Lord Linlithgow’s action of driving India into World War II without the approval of her people.

Q2. Which province did not have a Congress ministry created under the Act of 1935?

Ans. The Indian National Congress won a majority in eight of the provinces in the 1937 elections, with the exceptions of Bengal, Punjab, and Sindh.

Q3. Which act provided for the establishment of provincial Congress ministries?

Ans. The Government of India Act 1935 necessitated the holding of provincial elections in British India during the winter of 1936-37.

Must Read
NCERT Notes For UPSC UPSC Daily Current Affairs
UPSC Blogs UPSC Daily Editorials
Daily Current Affairs Quiz Daily Main Answer Writing
UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers UPSC Test Series 2024
Know about Physics Wallah

Physics Wallah is an Indian online education platform, that provides accessible & comprehensive learning experiences to students of classes 6 to 12 and those preparing for JEE and NEET exams. We also provide extensive NCERT solutions, sample papers, NEET, JEE Mains, BITSAT previous year papers, which makes us a one-stop solution for all resources. Physics Wallah also caters to over 3.5 million registered students and over 78 lakh+ Youtube subscribers with 4.8 rating on its app.

We Stand Out because

We successfully provide students with intensive courses by India's qualified & experienced faculties. PW strives to make the learning experience comprehensive and accessible for students of all sections of society. We believe in empowering every single student who couldn't dream of a good career in engineering and medical field earlier.

Our Key Focus Areas

Physics Wallah’s main focus is to create accessible learning experiences for students all over India. With courses like Lakshya, Udaan, Arjuna & many others, we have been able to provide a ready solution for lakhs of aspirants. From providing Chemistry, Maths, Physics formulae to giving e-books of eminent authors, PW aims to provide reliable solutions for student prep.

What Makes Us Different

Physics Wallah strives to develop a comprehensive pedagogical structure for students, where they get a state-of-the-art learning experience with study material and resources. Apart from catering students preparing for JEE Mains and NEET, PW also provides study material for each state board like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and others.

Aiming for UPSC?

Download Our App

# #
Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

<div class="new-fform">






    </div>

    Subscribe our Newsletter
    Sign up now for our exclusive newsletter and be the first to know about our latest Initiatives, Quality Content, and much more.
    *Promise! We won't spam you.
    Yes! I want to Subscribe.