In the wake of C.R. Das’s death in 1925, the Swarajists faced significant political and organizational challenges. This period marked a shift in their approach as communalism surged and internal divisions deepened. As the Swaraj Party grappled with its strained coalition and ineffective legislative strategy, the emergence of Responsivists and the resurgence of communal tensions further weakened their position. This analysis explores the drawbacks and internal struggles faced by the Swarajists and contrasts them with the constructive efforts of the No-Changers.
Drawbacks
1. Impact of C.R. Das’s Death
- C.R. Das’s death on June 16, 1925, dealt a significant blow to the Swarajists, marking a turning point in their political fortunes.
- Emergence of Communalism: During this period, communalism emerged prominently in the absence of a mass movement, fueled by the colonial authorities and finding expression in communal riots.
- The shift towards parliamentary politics began to strain the internal cohesion of the Swaraj Party.
2. Strain on Swaraj Party due to Shift towards Parliamentary Politics
- Ineffectiveness of Obstructive Politics: The limitations of the politics of obstruction became evident as the Swarajists, having repeatedly outvoted the government, found themselves unable to escalate confrontation within the legislatures further.
- Lack of Coordination: The absence of a coordinated strategy between their legislative work and mass political activities outside became a noticeable gap in their approach. Heavy reliance on newspaper reporting proved insufficient for achieving broader political impact.
3. Internal Challenges and Coalition Struggles
- Struggles in Maintaining Coalition Partnerships: Internal challenges also arose as the Swarajists faced difficulties in sustaining their coalition partners.
- Shift towards Parliamentary Perks: The logic of coalition politics, combined with the lure of parliamentary perks and status, pulled some Swarajist legislators away from militant obstructionism.
- Dissension Among Nationalists: The government’s divisive strategy, aiming to create dissension among nationalists, succeeded as differences emerged within the Swaraj Party.
- In Bengal, the failure to support tenants’ rights led to a loss of support from predominantly Muslim members.
4. Emergence of Responsivity and Internal Divisions
- Internal Divisions: The emergence of Responsivity within the Swaraj Party, advocating cooperation with the government and holding office, further contributed to internal divisions.
- Withdrawal of Main Leaders: Influential leaders like Lajpat Rai and Madan Mohan Malaviya distanced themselves from the party on Responsivists and communal grounds.
- Loss of Muslim Support: The party lost Muslim support when it didn’t back the tenants’ cause against zamindars in Bengal, particularly affecting Muslim tenants.
- Reaffirming Commitment: To prevent further dissolution, combat parliamentary “corruption,” and strengthen the moral fiber of its members, the main leadership of the Swaraj Party reaffirmed its commitment to mass civil disobedience and decided to withdraw from the legislature in March 1926.
5. Gandhi’s Critique of Council Entry
- Simultaneously, Gandhi resumed his critique of council entry, expressing growing conviction in the futility and inadvisability of pursuing this path.
- In a letter to Srinivasa Iyengar in April 1926, Gandhi highlighted the negative effects of council entry on public life and its repercussions on the Hindu-Muslim question.
Drawbacks – Quick Points
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Decline of Swarajists
November 1926 Elections: The Swaraj Party went into the elections held in November 1926 as a party in disarray — a much weaker and demoralised force.
- It had to face the Government and loyalist elements and its dissenters on the one side and the resurgent Hindu and Muslim communalists on the other.
- Communal Attacks and Propaganda: A virulent communal and unscrupulous campaign was waged against the Swarajists. Motilal Nehru was, for example, accused of sacrificing Hindu interests, of favouring cow slaughter, and of eating beef.
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- The Muslim communalists were no less active in branding the Swarajists as anti-Muslim.
- Electoral Setbacks: The result was a severe weakening of the Swaraj Party. It succeeded in winning forty seats at the Centre and half the seats in Madras but was severely mauled in all other provinces, especially in U.P., C.P., and Punjab.
- Moreover, both Hindu and Muslim communalists increased their representation in the councils.
- Failed to Form Nationalist Coalition: The Swarajists also could not form a nationalist coalition in the legislatures as they had done in 1923.
- Opposition Successes: Once again the Swarajists passed a series of adjournment motions and defeated the Government on several bills. Noteworthy was the defeat of the Government on the Public Safety Bill in 1928.
- Government Response: Frightened by the spread of socialist and communist ideas and influence and believing that the crucial role in this respect was being played by British and other foreign agitators sent to India by the Communist International, the Government proposed to acquire the power to deport ‘undesirable’ and ‘subversive’ foreigners.
- Nationalists of all colours, from the moderates to the militants, united in opposing the Bill.
- In March 1929, having failed to get the Bill passed, the Government arrested thirty-one leading communists, trade unionists and other leftwing leaders and put them on trial at Meerut.
This led to strong criticism of the Government by the nationalists. The Swarajists finally walked out of the legislature in 1930 as a result of the Lahore Congress resolution and the beginning of civil disobedience.
Constructive Work by No-Changers
The No-Changers immersed themselves in constructive endeavours, establishing connections with various sections of the masses.
- Promotion of Charkha and Khadi: Ashrams emerged in regions such as Kheda and Bardoli in Gujarat, where young men and women engaged in work among tribals and lower castes.
- They actively promoted the use of charkha and khadi.
- Development of National Educational Institutions: The establishment of national schools and colleges aimed to train students within a non-colonial ideological framework.
- Social Reform and Unity: Noteworthy efforts were made towards Hindu-Muslim unity, eradication of untouchability, advocating the boycott of foreign cloth and liquor, and assisting in flood relief.
- Serving as the backbone of civil disobedience, these constructive workers played an integral role as active organisers.
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Conclusion
National education primarily favoured the urban lower-middle classes and prosperous peasants. The fervour for this form of education surfaced mainly during the excitement of the movement; in periods of passivity, students were enticed towards official schools and colleges by the promise of degrees and job opportunities. The promotion of khadi encountered hurdles due to its higher cost compared to imported cloth. While tackling the social dimension of untouchability, the campaign lacked a focus on the economic grievances of the predominantly untouchable landless and agricultural labourers. Despite the Swarajists and No-Changers following distinct paths, they maintained friendly relations and could come together whenever the need for a new political struggle arose.
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