The Indian National Congress was divided into two ideologies, the Swarajist and the No Changers, based on council participation or boycott. The Swarajists' main goal was to end the council boycott, whereas the No-Changers argued that the boycott should continue. CR Das, Vithalbhai Patel, Motilal Nehru, and Hakim Ahmed Khan were Swarajists. C Rajagopalachari, Vallabhbhai Patel, MA Ansari, and Rajendra Prasad. In this article, we will discuss the Emergence of Swarajists, Socialist Ideas, which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Swarajists and No Changers

Swarajists

• One group, led by C R Das, Motilal Nehru, and Ajmal Khan, wanted to end the boycott of legislative councils so that nationalists could enter them to expose the fundamental flaws of these assemblies and use them as a platform for political struggle.
• They wanted to 'end or mend' these councils, which meant that if the government did not respond to the nationalists' demands, they would obstruct the councils' work.
• Their only intention was to use the councils as a forum for political struggle; they had no intention of using the councils to gradually transform colonial rule.
• The Swarajists were those who advocated for inclusion in legislative councils.

No Changers

• The 'No-changers' were those who opposed council entry.
• They advocated for a focus on constructive work while maintaining the boycott and noncooperation.
• They also advocated for the quiet resumption of the suspended civil disobedience programme.
• The 'No-changers' were a school of thought led by Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad, C. Rajagopalachari, and M.A. Ansari.

The Emergence of Congress-Khilafat Swarajists

• Following Gandhi's arrest in March 1922, nationalist ranks disintegrated, disorganized, and demoralized. A debate began among Congressmen about what to do during the transition period, also known as the movement's passive phase.
• One group, led by C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru, and Ajmal Khan, wanted to end the boycott of legislative councils so that nationalists could enter them to expose the fundamental flaws of these assemblies and use them as a forum for political struggle to rouse popular support.
• They wanted to 'end or mend' these councils, which meant that if the government did not respond to the nationalists' demands, they would obstruct the councils' work.
• Those advocating entry into legislative councils became known as the 'Swarajists,' while those opposing entry became known as the 'Nochangers,' led by C. Rajagopalachari, Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad, and M.A. Ansari.
• The 'No-changers' advocated for a focus on constructive work, the continuation of the boycott and non-cooperation, and quiet preparation for the resumption of the suspended civil disobedience programme.
• The Swarajists' proposal of 'ending or mending' the councils was defeated at the Gaya session of the Congress due to disagreements between the two schools of thought on the issue of council entry (December 1922).
• C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru resigned from their positions as president and secretary of the Congress, respectively, and announced the formation of the Congress-Khilafat Swarajya Party, or simply Swarajist Party, with C.R. Das as president and Motilal Nehru as one of the secretaries.

Swarajist Arguments

• Entering the councils would not negate the noncooperation program; rather, it would be like continuing the movement in a different way by opening a new front.
• During a political vacuum, council work would serve to enthuse the masses and keep morale high.
• The presence of nationalists would deter the government from populating the councils with undesirable elements who could be used to legitimise government actions.
• There was no intention of using the councils as organs for gradual transformation of colonial rule; they could be used as a venue for political struggle.

Swarajist Manifesto for Elections

• The British governing India were guided by the selfish interests of their own country.
• The so-called reforms were merely a ruse to further the aforementioned interests under the guise of granting a responsible government, the true goal being to continue exploitation of the country's unlimited resources by keeping Indians permanently subservient to Britain.
• The Swarajists would present the nationalist demand for self-government in councils; if this demand was rejected, they would implement a policy of uniform, continuous, and consistent obstruction within the councils to make governance through councils impossible.
• Councils would thus be destroyed from within by creating deadlocks on every measure.

Swarajists Activities in Councils

• The Swarajist position gradually weakened as a result of widespread communal riots and a split among Swarajists along communal and Responsivist-Non-Responsivist lines.
• The government's strategy of dividing Swarajists—the more militant from the moderate, Hindus from Muslims—was successful.
• Many Muslims abandoned the Swarajists after the party refused to support the tenants' cause against the zamindars in Bengal (most of the tenants were Muslims).
• Communal interests also joined the party. The death of C.R. Das in 1925 weakened it even more.
• Swarajists who advocated cooperation with the government and holding office wherever possible included Lala Lajpat Rai, Madan Mohan Malaviya, and N.C. Kelkar. They also wished to safeguard so-called Hindu interests.
• The communal elements accused leaders such as Motilal Nehru, who opposed joining the council, of being anti-Hindu, while Muslim communalists accused the Swarajists of being anti-Muslim.
• Thus, the main leadership of the Swarajist Party reaffirmed their belief in mass civil disobedience and withdrew from legislatures in March 1926, while another section of the Swarajists entered the 1926 elections as a party in disarray and did not fare well overall.
• They won 40 seats in the Centre and some seats in Madras, but were defeated in the United Provinces, Central Provinces, and Punjab.
• The Swarajists finally walked out in 1930 as a result of the Lahore Congress resolution on purna swaraj and the start of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Achievements and Drawbacks

Achievements

• They outvoted the government several times, including on budgetary grants, and passed adjournment motions with coalition partners.
• They agitated through powerful speeches on self-government, civil liberties, and industrialization.
• Vithalbhai Patel was elected speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly in 1925.
• A notable accomplishment was the defeat of the Public Safety Bill in 1928, which sought to empower the government to deport undesirable and subversive foreigners.
• They filled a political void at a time when the national movement was regaining strength.
• They exposed the Montford scheme's hollowness.
• They demonstrated how councils could be used creatively.

Drawbacks

• The Swarajists lacked a strategy for coordinating their militancy within legislatures with the mass struggle outside. They communicated with the public entirely through newspaper reporting.
• An obstructionist strategy had drawbacks.
• They were unable to progress with their coalition partners due to competing ideas, which further limited their effectiveness.
• They were unable to resist the benefits and privileges of power and position.
• They failed to support the peasants' cause in Bengal and lost support among their Muslim constituents.

No changers Arguments

• The No-Changers argued that parliamentary work would lead to a loss of revolutionary zeal and political corruption.
• Constructive work would help everyone prepare for the next phase of civil disobedience.

Constructive works by No Changers

• Ashrams sprang up, where young men and women worked among tribals and lower castes (particularly in Gujarat's Kheda and Bardoli areas), popularising the use of charkha and khadi.
• National schools and colleges were established to train students in a non-colonial ideological framework.
• Significant progress was made toward Hindu-Muslim unity, the abolition of untouchability, the boycott of foreign cloth and liquor, and flood relief.
• As active organisers, the constructive workers were the backbone of civil disobedience.

Gandhi’s Attitude

• Gandhi initially opposed Swarajist council entry. However, after being released from prison for health reasons in February 1924, he gradually moved toward reconciliation with the Swarajists.
• He believed that public opposition to the council entry programme would be ineffective.
• The Swarajists won 42 out of 141 elected seats and a clear majority in the Central Provinces provincial assembly in November 1923. They won a majority in legislatures by working with the Liberals and independents such as Jinnah and Malaviya.
• The Swarajists' courageous and uncompromising approach convinced him that they would not become just another limb of colonial administration.
• Toward the end of 1924, the government cracked down on revolutionary terrorists and Swarajists, which enraged Gandhi, and he expressed his solidarity with the Swarajists by surrendering to their wishes.
• Both sides agreed in 1924 (ratified at the Congress session in Belgaum in December 1924, which Gandhi presided over for the first time) that the Swarajists would work in the councils as an integral part of the Congress.

Muddiman Committee (1924)

• In response to the demand of Indian leaders and in light of the resolution adopted by the Swaraj Party in the early 1920s, the British Government established a committee headed by Sir Alexander Muddinman.
• It also advocated for the establishment of a Royal Commission.
• To meet the demand of Indian leaders and in light of the resolution adopted by the Swaraj Party in the early 1920s, the British government established the Muddinman Committee, led by Sir Alexander Muddinman.
• Apart from British members, the Committee had four Indian members.

Committee members who were Indian

• Sir Sivaswami Aiyar
• Dr. R P Paranjape
• Sir Tejbahadur Sapru
• Mohammad Ali Jinnah

Conclusion

Despite the obstacles and changing socio-political climate, the Swarajists managed to achieve and strengthen their hold for a period of time, giving momentum to the emerging nationalist movement. They played a significant role in public discourse and legislation, which served as a guiding principle for future national movement leaders such as J.Nehru. It also served as a springboard for numerous other forms of struggle, such as peasant movements, trade movements, and so on, in the near future.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Who were the key leaders of the Swaraj Party?

A) Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai
B) C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru
C) Mahatma Gandhi and Rajendra Prasad
D) Subhas Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru

2. What was the primary aim of the Swarajists?

A) To boycott British goods
B) To enter legislative councils and obstruct British policies
C) To promote socialist ideas
D) To support the Quit India Movement

3. Which event led to the rise of Socialist ideas in the Indian freedom struggle?

A) Partition of Bengal
B) Non-Cooperation Movement
C) Russian Revolution of 1917
D) Civil Disobedience Movement

4. Which Indian leader was most influenced by socialist ideas?

A) Mahatma Gandhi
B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

5. In which year was the Swaraj Party founded?

A) 1920
B) 1922
C) 1923
D) 1925

GS Mains Questions and Answers

Q1: Discuss the role of the Swarajists in India’s struggle for independence and their impact on legislative politics.

Answer: The Swarajists, led by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru, played a significant role in India’s struggle for independence by entering legislative councils in 1923. Their objective was to obstruct British policies from within, using the councils to demand self-governance. This strategy contrasted with the Non-Cooperation Movement, which advocated for a boycott of councils. By working within the system, the Swarajists exposed the limitations of British reforms and maintained public support for independence. Their efforts laid the groundwork for subsequent legislative activism in India, influencing future strategies for achieving Swaraj.

Q2: Analyze the significance of socialist ideas in shaping the economic policies of post-independence India.

Answer: Socialist ideas, influenced by the Russian Revolution of 1917, played a crucial role in shaping the economic policies of post-independence India. Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru advocated for economic equality, land redistribution, and state control over industries to address poverty and inequality. These socialist principles were integrated into India’s Five-Year Plans, which focused on industrialization and economic self-reliance. The emphasis on public sector growth and land reforms reflected the socialist vision of an equitable society, though challenges like inefficiency and slow economic growth later led to reforms in the 1990s.

Q3: Evaluate the impact of the Swarajists' strategy of legislative obstruction on the Indian freedom movement.

Answer: The Swarajists' strategy of legislative obstruction had a profound impact on the Indian freedom movement. By entering the councils and opposing British policies from within, they kept the fight for independence alive during a period of political inactivity following the Non-Cooperation Movement. Their participation in legislative politics ensured that the demand for self-governance remained a prominent issue in Indian politics. Moreover, they exposed the limitations of the British reforms, demonstrating the need for complete independence rather than mere constitutional reforms. This approach also allowed Indian leaders to gain experience in legislative processes, which was valuable in the post-independence era.

Previous Year Questions on Swarajists and Socialist Ideas

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2019:

Question: In which year was the Swaraj Party founded?

A) 1922
B) 1923
C) 1924
D) 1925

Answer: B

Explanation: The Swaraj Party was founded in 1923 by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru after the Non-Cooperation Movement.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2020 (GS Paper 1):

Question: Discuss the role of socialist ideas in influencing Indian leaders during the freedom struggle and how these ideas shaped the future economic policies of independent India.

Answer: Socialist ideas, particularly after the Russian Revolution of 1917, greatly influenced Indian leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose. These leaders emphasized the need for economic equality, workers' rights, and the redistribution of land to uplift the rural poor. Nehru’s vision of socialism shaped India’s economic policies post-independence, with an emphasis on industrialization, land reforms, and public sector enterprises. These policies were aimed at addressing poverty and economic disparity, laying the foundation for India’s mixed economy model.