Chapter 22 : Nationalist Response in the Wake of World War II

Nationalist Response in the Wake of World War II

Crisis in the Congress on Method of Struggle

In the aftermath of the Civil Disobedience Movement, the Congress faced internal disarray. Gandhi perceived rising corruption, indiscipline, bogus membership, and unethical means used to control Congress committees. He believed the Congress needed to put its house in order and that the masses were not ready for a struggle, while others advocated for continuing the movement.

Haripura and Tripuri Sessions: Subhas Bose's Views

Subhas Chandra Bose was the president of the Bengal Provincial Congress Committee, focusing on youth organization and the trade union movement. He was a man of action and radical ideas who frequently disagreed with Gandhi.

• Opposed the Motilal Nehru Report (which demanded dominion status) along with Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Advocated for full independence and announced the formation of the Independence League.
• Fully endorsed the 'Poorna Swaraj' resolution at the Lahore Congress session (presided by Jawaharlal Nehru).
• Actively participated in the Salt Satyagraha Movement (1930) and was arrested.
• Vehemently opposed the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement and the signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931), specifically because the government refused to negotiate the death sentence of Bhagat Singh and his associates.

Haripura

• February 1938: Bose was unanimously elected president at the Congress session in Haripura, Gujarat.
• Presidential Address: Stated that Congress ministries in the provinces possessed immense revolutionary potential.
• Economic Vision: In his speech at the Haripura session, he advocated economic development through planning → instrumental in setting up a National Planning Committee.
• Resolution: The session resolved that the Congress would provide moral support to those agitating against governance in the princely states.

1939: Subhas Bose Wins but Congress Faces Internal Strife

• January 1939: Bose decided to stand for the presidency again, claiming to represent "new ideas, ideologies, problems, and programmes" arising from the anti-imperialist struggle.
• Opposition : Gandhi opposed his candidature. Leaders like Sardar Patel , Rajendra Prasad , and J.B. Kripalani argued that ideologies were developed in committees (like the CWC) and the president's role…