History · Spectrum Books A Brief History of Modern India
Chapter 20 : Debates on the Future Strategy after Civil Disobedience Movement
Table of contents19 sections
- 1.Debates on the Future Strategy after Civil Disobedience Movement
- 2.The First Stage Debate
- 3.Nehru's Vision
- 4.Nehru's Opposition to Struggle-Truce-Struggle Strategy
- 5.Finally, Yes to Council Entry
- 6.Key Terms
- 7.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 8.Government of India Act, 1935
- 9.Main Features
- 10.Evaluation of the Act
- 11.Nationalists' Response
- 12.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 13.The Second Stage Debate
- 14.Divided Opinion
- 15.Gandhi's Position and Congress Sessions
- 16.Congress Manifesto for Elections
- 17.Performance of the Congress
- 18.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 19.Quick-Recall Box
Chapter preview
Debates on the Future Strategy after Civil Disobedience Movement
Following the withdrawal of the Civil Disobedience Movement, a two-stage debate emerged among nationalists regarding future strategy:
- First Stage (1934–35): Focused on the course of the national movement during the non-mass struggle phase.
- Second Stage (1937): Focused on the question of office acceptance in the context of provincial elections held under the autonomy provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935.
The First Stage Debate
Three distinct perspectives emerged regarding the immediate focus of the nationalists after the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
| Perspective | Proponents/Representatives | Core Arguments & Proposed Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Constructive Work | Traditional Gandhians | • Focus on constructive work on Gandhian lines. |
| Constitutional Struggle | M.A. Ansari, Asaf Ali, Bhulabhai Desai, S. Satyamurthy, B.C. Roy | • Participate in elections to the Central Legislature (due in 1934). · • Utilise elections and council work to maintain political interest and morale during political apathy. · • Participation did not equate to faith in constitutional politics. · • Would build up the Congress, prepare masses for the next phase, and provide prestige/confidence. · • Strong council presence would serve as an equivalent to the movement. |
| Leftist Trend | Jawaharlal Nehru | • Critical of both constructive work and council entry. · • Argued these would sidetrack political mass action and divert attention from the anti-colonial struggle. · • Favoured resumption and continuation of non-constitutionalist mass struggle. · • Justification: The situation remained revolutionary due to continued economic crisis and the masses' readiness to fight. |
Nehru's Vision
- Ideological Goal: Nehru stated, "The basic goal before Indian people as before people of the world is abolition of capitalism and establishment of socialism."
- View on Withdrawal: He considered the withdrawal of the Civil Disobedience Movement and council entry as "a spiritual defeat", "a surrender of ideals", and "a retreat from revolutionary to reformist mentality".
- Proposed Action:
- Revise vested interests in favour of the masses by taking up economic and class demands of peasants and workers against landlords and capitalists.
- Organise masses into class organisations: kisan sabhas and trade unions.
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View plans Chapter 21 : Congress Rule in the Provinces