World War II and Indian Freedom Struggle: The Congress Crisis and the Bose-Gandhi Divide

As the world was plunged into the abyss of the Second World War, the waves of change were felt far beyond the frontlines and the home fronts of the belligerent nations. In the vast swathes of Asia and Africa under colonial rule, the war ignited discussions, debates, and actions that would define the future of millions. India, the “jewel in the crown” of the British Empire, was no exception. Indian nationalists saw in the turmoil a poignant opportunity to intensify their struggle for freedom.

However, the path was not clear-cut. The strategies and ideologies that had bound the leaders of the Indian National Congress together were being tested as never before. This was a period of intense ideological introspection for the Congress leadership, a period that required navigation between the urgency imposed by global events and the imperatives of internal cohesion and public morale.

Congress Crisis on Method of Struggle

Disarray in the Wake of Civil Disobedience

• Gandhi’s Discontent:
  • Corruption and Indiscipline: After the civil disobedience movement, Gandhi was troubled by what he perceived as a decline in ethical conduct and the spirit of self-sacrifice within the Congress ranks. 
  • He publicly voiced his discontent with the rise in corruption and the falling discipline among Congress workers.
  • Leadership Rivalries: The internal dynamics of Congress were further complicated by infighting and power struggles, with Gandhi lamenting the petty squabbles that had taken precedence over the national interest.
• Membership and Ethics:
  • Bogus Membership: One of Gandhi’s specific grievances was the issue of bogus membership—people artificially inflating Congress membership numbers to manipulate internal elections and, by extension, the direction of the movement.
  • Unethical Practices: The machinations to control Congress committees, often through underhanded means, drew Gandhi’s ire as they went against his principles of honesty and transparency in public life.

The Debate over Continued Struggle

• Gandhi’s Philosophy:
  • Need for Internal Cleansing: Gandhi’s philosophy was clear: the Congress needed to purify itself, to return to the principles of Satyagraha, and to self-rule within before taking the fight to the colonial masters.
  • Mass Mood: Additionally, Gandhi sensed a fatigue among the masses. 
    • He held the conviction that launching a movement without the enthusiastic participation of the people would be ill-timed and ineffectual.

The Counter-Argument

• Imperative to Persist: Contrasting Gandhi’s cautious stance, other Congress leaders argued that the momentum of the nationalist movement must be maintained. 
  • With the world distracted by war, they believed it was the opportune moment to apply pressure on the British.
• Readiness over Perfection: These leaders contended that waiting for organizational perfection and unanimous public support could mean missing a critical window for action. 
  • The struggle, they argued, must continue with or without ideal conditions.

Navigating between Morality and Momentum

• Strategic Dilemmas: The leadership of the Congress faced a strategic dilemma to wait and reform or to move forward with an imperfect apparatus. 
  • This was a debate not merely of political strategy but of moral philosophy.
• The War as a Backdrop: The Second World War presented a global crisis that the nationalist leaders could not ignore. 
  • The struggle for freedom was now part of a larger narrative, and Congress had to define its role in this new context.

Haripura and Tripuri Sessions: Subhash Bose’s Views

Preceding the Haripura Session

• Bose’s Foundation in the Congress:
  • Provincial Leadership: As the president of the Bengal Provincial Congress Committee, Subhash Chandra Bose was instrumental in organizing the youth and promoting trade union movements.
• Ideological Stance and Actions:
  • Disagreements with Congress Leadership: Bose frequently found himself at odds with other Congress leaders, including Gandhi, particularly on the question of the intensity and nature of the freedom struggle.
  • Opposition to Dominion Status: Along with Jawaharlal Nehru, Bose opposed the Motilal Nehru Report advocating dominion status, demanding complete independence instead.
  • Formation of the Independence League: In his push for ‘Purna Swaraj’ (complete independence), Bose established the Independence League, underscoring his commitment to an immediate and unqualified end to British rule.

The Haripura Congress Session (1938)

• Unanimous Election to Presidency: Bose was unanimously elected President during the Haripura session, indicating his significant support within the Congress.
• Vision of Empowerment
  • Congress Ministries as Revolutionary: In his presidential address, Bose expressed his belief in the revolutionary potential of the Congress ministries in provinces.
  • Economic Planning: He emphasized economic development through planning, which led to the formation of the National Planning Committee.
• Solidarity with the Princely States
  • Moral Support for Agitators: The session resolved to extend moral support to those fighting against autocratic governance in princely states.
• Precursor to War
  • Disturbed International Situation: Bose recognized the signs that Europe was on the brink of another great war, which he believed could be turned in favour of India’s independence struggle.

The Tripuri Congress Session (1939) and Internal Strife

• Subhash Bose’s Re-election and Reaction:
  • Presidential Candidacy: Despite Gandhi’s reservations, Bose decided to contest the presidency again, representing progressive and radical ideologies.
  • Election Victory: Bose won the election with substantial support from the Congress Socialist Party and communists, though Gandhi perceived Pattabhi Sitaramayya’s defeat as his own.
• Gandhi vs. Bose:
  • Polarization in Congress: Bose’s re-election highlighted a clear ideological and methodological polarization within the Congress.
  • Inner Crisis: Bose’s criticism of the working committee’s willingness to compromise with the British government on federation terms led to the resignation of committee members.
• Bose at Tripuri:
  • Illness and Determination: Despite poor health, Bose attended the Tripuri session and in his presidential speech, he called for an ultimatum to the British for India’s independence.
  • Ultimatum for Independence: Bose suggested a six-month ultimatum to the British, post which a mass civil disobedience movement should be launched.
• Gandhi’s Caution:
  • Disagreement on Ultimatum: Gandhi opposed the idea of an ultimatum, citing internal divisions, communal discord, and the unpreparedness of the Congress and masses for struggle.
• Resolution and Resignation:
  • Faith in Gandhian Policies: A resolution by Govind Ballabh Pant, which asked Bose to align with Gandhi’s wishes, was passed without opposition, signaling a preference for Gandhi’s leadership.
  • Bose’s Inability to Gain Support: Despite efforts, Bose could not garner Gandhi’s support nor fully align the Congress on his radical lines.
  • Resignation: Confronted with ideological isolation, Bose resigned in April 1939, making way for Rajendra Prasad’s presidency.

Aftermath and Forward Bloc Formation

• Forward Bloc:
  • In May 1939, Bose formed the Forward Bloc as a faction within Congress, aiming to continue his radical approach to independence.
• Disciplinary Actions:
  • Congress’s Response to Protest Call: When Bose called for a nationwide protest against an AICC resolution, the Congress Working Committee took disciplinary action, barring him from holding elective office for three years and removing him as president of the Bengal Provincial Congress Committee.
• Solidarity with China:
  • Support for China’s Struggle: The Congress at Tripuri passed a resolution expressing solidarity with China in its struggle against imperialism, highlighting the Congress’s broader anti-imperialist stance and its commitment to international solidarity.

Conclusion

The Haripura and Tripuri sessions reflect Bose’s commitment to action and radical change, set against the backdrop of rising tensions on the eve of World War II. His presidency represented a divergence from the more cautious approach favoured by Gandhi and other Congress leaders. The ideological differences and the eventual split would have lasting effects on the dynamics within Congress and the freedom movement at large.

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