Karachi Session 1931: Feature, Resolutions, and Impact on India’s Freedom Movement

Karachi Session 1931: Shaping India’s Freedom Struggle

The Karachi Session of the Indian National Congress was held in Karachi, then part of British India (now in Pakistan), from the 26th to the 31st of March 1931. The session was critical in shaping the political course of the Indian independence movement. 

Key Events of Karachi Session 1931: Gandhi Pact, Executions, Protests

• Endorsing the Gandhi-Irwin Pact: In March 1931, Congress held a special session in Karachi to endorse the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.  
• Execution of Revolutionaries: six days before the session, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were executed.  
• Black Flag Demonstrations: Gandhi was greeted with the black flag by the Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha, protesting his failure to secure the commutation of the death sentence for Bhagat and his comrades. 

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Karachi Session Resolutions 1931: Rights, Swaraj, Unity & More

• Two Resolutions: The Congress at Karachi adopted two resolutions, one on Fundamental Rights and the other on National Economic Programme.  
• Resolution on Fundamental Rights: The Resolution on Fundamental Rights guaranteed free speech and free press, the right to form associations, the right to assemble, universal adult franchise, equal legal rights irrespective of caste, creed and sex, free and compulsory primary education, protection to culture, language, the script of minorities and linguistic groups 
• Poorna Swaraj Resolution: The Karachi Session reaffirmed the Indian National Congress’s goal of complete independence (Poorna Swaraj). The session passed a resolution demanding that the British government grant India full and immediate independence, and vowed to launch a nationwide struggle to achieve this goal.
• Civil Disobedience Movement: The Karachi Session was pivotal in endorsing Mahatma Gandhi’s call for the resumption of the Civil Disobedience Movement, which had been temporarily suspended following the signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. The session emphasized the importance of nonviolent resistance and mass movement participation.
• National Economic Programme: Significant reductions in rent and revenue for landholders and peasants, exemption from rent for uneconomic holdings, relief from agricultural indebtedness, usury control, better working conditions, including a living wage, limited hours of work, and protection of women workers in the industrial sector, the right of workers and peasants to form unions, state ownership and control of key industries, mines, and modes of transportation, and the Purna swaraj goal.  
• Critique of Communalism:  The session strongly condemned communalism and emphasized the Indian people’s unity across religious and communal lines. It emphasized the importance of forming a united front against British colonialism and rejected communalism’s divisive politics.
• Basic Political And Economic Programme: The Karachi Resolution was to remain the basic political and economic programme of the Congress in later years.

Conclusion

The Karachi Session of 1931 was critical in reaffirming the Indian National Congress’ commitment to complete independence, shaping the independence movement’s political strategies, and emphasizing the importance of nonviolent resistance and unity. It was used to mobilize the Indian masses and galvanize support for the fight against British colonial rule.

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ON KARACHI CONGRESS SESSION (1931) FAQs

Q1. What happened in Indian history in 1931?

Ans. Chandrasekhar Azad is martyrdom in a confrontation with the British in Allahabad on February 27. Mohandas Gandhi and the British Viceroy of India negotiated on March 4th. The British Government hangs independent Indian leaders Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev on March 23, 1947.

Q2. Who was the viceroy during the Karachi session?

Ans. Gandhiji made an accord with the then-Viceroy, Lord Irwin, vowing to end the civil disobedience movement and participate in Round Table Conferences in exchange for Irwin’s agreement to drop the Salt Tax, ordinances, and lawsuits against the Congress and other nationalists.

Q3. Who led the Karachi session in 1931?

Ans. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel presided over the momentous Karachi Congress Session in 1931. The Karachi session is notable for the adoption of a resolution on Fundamental Rights and the National Economic Programme. The resolution guaranteed the people’s basic civil and political rights.

Q4. What was the outcome of the Karachi meeting?

Ans. Congress issued a resolution in Karachi distancing itself from and condemning political violence in whatever form. The resolution, authored by Gandhi, praised the three martyrs’ bravery and sacrifice.

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