World War II and India Fight for Independence: Congress’s Strategic Response

When World War II broke out in 1939, the British government unilaterally declared India a belligerent on the side of the Allies without consulting Indian leaders.  This unilateral decision was met with discontent within the Indian National Congress, which was the principal voice for India’s independence.  Despite its aversion to British colonialism, the Congress sought to align with the Allied forces under specific conditions aimed at securing India’s future independence. This document explores the Congress’s strategic offer, the ensuing debates within its ranks, and the broader implications of its stance on the nationalist movement and British imperial policies.

Congress’ Offer to Viceroy

The Congress, despite its disapproval of the British action, was prepared to support the Allied war effort but with conditions that reflected its anti-fascist stance. The Congress’s conditional offer, predicated on two main points, was a strategic move:

• Post-war, a constituent assembly should be formed to chart the future of a free India.
• Immediately, a truly responsible government should be instituted at the Centre.
• This offer, made by the Congress, aimed to align Indian participation in the war with the promise of subsequent freedom and self-governance. 
• • However, Viceroy Linlithgow rejected these conditions, prompting the Congress to assert that such steps were crucial to securing Indian public support for the war.

CWC Meeting at Wardha

At the Wardha meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), various perspectives were discussed concerning India’s stance towards the war:

• Gandhi’s Position: Gandhi, abhorring the fascist regime, recommended unconditional support for Britain and the Allies. 
  • His approach was informed by a moral dichotomy between democratic nations and totalitarian regimes, and he was unwilling to compromise British efforts during the conflict.
• Subhas Bose and the Socialists: Bose, along with socialists like Acharya Narendra Dev and Jayaprakash Narayan, perceived the war as an imperialist conflict on both sides. 
  • They advocated for a civil disobedience movement to capitalise on Britain’s wartime vulnerability to secure Indian independence.
• Jawaharlal Nehru’s Stance: Nehru recognized the moral distinction between democratic ideals and fascism. However, he was wary of supporting imperialist Britain and France, suggesting that India should refrain from participating until it was free. 
  • Simultaneously, he opposed launching an immediate civil disobedience movement, advocating for a nuanced position that neither fully supported the Allies nor sought to exploit Britain’s predicament.

Adoption of Nehru’s Position

Gandhi’s Concession and CWC Resolution: Gandhi, somewhat isolated in his stance, ultimately conceded to Nehru’s position, which was adopted by the CWC. 

• The resolution by the CWC articulated a condemnation of fascist aggression but insisted that India could not support a war for ‘democracy and freedom’ when those very principles were denied to India itself. 
• The Congress called upon the British government to declare its war aims and intentions regarding India’s freedom post-war.

• Congress’s Stand on War Participation: The resolution reflected the Congress’s intent to ensure that any participation in the war was contingent upon Britain’s commitment to Indian self-determination, establishing a firm stand for India’s sovereignty linked to its contribution to the global fight against fascism.

Government Attitude and Congress Ministries’ Resignation

British Government’s Stance

• The British government’s response to the Indian political situation during the onset of World War II was marked by a clear intent to maintain colonial control. 
• Viceroy Linlithgow’s statement on October 17, 1939, was emblematic of this stance. The government refused to clearly articulate its war aims, particularly concerning India’s independence, and instead proposed to consult various communities and princely states, which the Congress interpreted as an attempt to undermine its authority and create divisions.

Congress’s Countermove

• The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met on October 23, 1939, and rejected the viceroy’s statement as a continuation of imperialist policy. 
  • Consequently, the Congress ministries in the provinces resigned, marking a protest against the British government’s refusal to negotiate India’s freedom. 
• This move demonstrated Congress’s commitment to the principle of self-determination and was a significant escalation in the nationalist struggle.

Debate on Immediate Mass Struggle

• The Congress leadership, including Gandhi, was cautious about launching an immediate mass struggle. 
• Gandhi, while supportive of the Allied cause, prioritized national unity and the readiness of the masses for such a struggle. 
  • He advocated strengthening the Congress organization and continuing political work among the masses while keeping the door open for negotiation. 
• Conversely, Bose and other socialist leaders saw the war as an opportune moment for a direct action campaign to gain independence, viewing the British vulnerability as a strategic advantage.

Nehru’s Conditional Support

• Nehru’s position was that India’s complete independence must be recognized before any support for the British war effort could be offered. 
  • His stance was one of conditional support, insisting on India’s sovereign rights as a precursor to cooperation.

Congress’s Final Declaration at Ramgarh Session

• At the Ramgarh session in March 1940, the Congress under President Maulana Abul Kalam Azad echoed the sentiment of independence as a non-negotiable goal. 
  • The Congress resolved that complete independence was the only acceptable outcome and rejected any form of dominion status. 
• The resolution highlighted the intent to resort to civil disobedience if Congress deemed it necessary or if circumstances precipitated a crisis.

Muslim League’s Pakistan Resolution

• Amidst these developments, the Muslim League passed its historic Pakistan Resolution in Lahore in March 1940, calling for the creation of autonomous and sovereign states in regions with Muslim majorities. 
  • This resolution added another layer of complexity to the nationalist struggle and foreshadowed the communal conflicts that would intensify in the coming years.

Conclusion

The Congress’s response to World War II highlights a pivotal moment in India’s nationalist struggle. Despite the British government’s unilateral declaration of India’s involvement, the Congress’s strategic offer aimed to align with the Allies under conditions that would secure India’s post-war independence. Their resolution reflected a careful balance between supporting the fight against fascism and demanding self-determination. The eventual resignation of Congress ministries and the Ramgarh session’s declaration underscored India’s unwavering quest for complete sovereignty.

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