Haripura was the site of the annual session of the Indian National Congress in 1938, known as the 'Haripura Session,' during the Indian independence movement. Bose was unanimously elected president of the Congress meeting in Haripura, Gujarat, in February 1938. As he stated in his presidential address, he was adamant that the Congress ministries in the provinces possessed enormous revolutionary potential. Bose also advocated for the country's economic development through planning, and he was instrumental in establishing a National Planning Committee later on. This article focuses on the congress meeting that took place in Haripura from the perspective of UPSC Exams.

Haripura Congress Session - Features

• The Indian National Congress met at Haripura from February 19 to 22, 1938, under the presidency of Subhas Chandra Bose.
• It was the 51st session of the Indian National Congress.
• Subhas Chandra Bose was chosen as President of the Haripura Congress Session in 1938.
• Haripura had been chosen for the convention by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• The session passed a resolution declaring that Congress would provide moral support to those protesting the governance of the princely states.
• The then Maharajasaheb Shri Indrasinhji Pratapsinhji Solanki of Vansda state adorned and sent 51 Bullocks' chariots for this same occasion.
• Huge crowds, believed to number in the millions, watched the parade and paid their respects to President-Elect Subhas Chandra Bose, who was transported in a chariot drawn by 51 bulls along the four-mile path from Haripura to Vithalnagar for the commencement of the Congress Session.
• Nandalal Bose, a well-known painter, created a set of seven posters for the Haripura Session at Mahatma Gandhi's request.
• The intervention of the Governor-General with the powers of the Ministers of Bihar and the United Provinces had resulted in a constitutional crisis, which cast a pall over the Haripura Congress Session.
• The Viceroy's challenge was accepted, and the Ministers of these two Provinces resigned as a result.
• The heated atmosphere created by the crisis, on the other hand, did not have the predicted impact on the Haripura Session.

Complications

• By 1938, Jawahar Lal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose had established themselves as forthright Congress spokespersons.
• At the same time, Congress had split into two factions based on philosophy. One group was conservative, while the other was radical.
• During this time, Gandhi was nearly completely retired from active politics and dedicated himself to the upliftment of the Harijans.
• Bose had the concept of strengthening the Indian people's opposition so that the British government would abandon its plan to force the federal scheme down Indians' throats.
• But it was at this 1938 Haripura session when Gandhi and Bose's differences over their sentiments toward the United Kingdom arose.
• Subhash Chandra Bose was opposed to the British attempt to pull India into World War II.
• He was aware of Britain's political volatility and intended to take advantage of it instead of waiting for the British to grant independence. As his comment indicates: "Britain's Peril is India's Opportunity."
• According to the Haripura resolution, the British were given a six-month deadline to comply or face a mutiny. Gandhi, on the other hand, could not accept this.
• Subhash did not support Gandhi's nonviolent and Satyagraha measures for overthrowing the British. As a result, there was a significant schism between Gandhi and Bose.
• Similarly, Nehru's relationship with Bose deteriorated.

Internal Strife within Congress

• Subhas Chandra Bose decided to run for president again in Congress in January 1939. Gandhi was dissatisfied with Bose's candidacy.
• According to Bose, he represents the "new ideas, ideologies, problems, and programs'' that have resulted from the "progressive sharpening of the anti-imperialist struggle in India."
• However, Sardar Patel, Rajendra Prasad, J.B. Kripalani, and other members of the Congress Working Committee pointed out that ideologies and programs were developed in various Congress bodies, such as the working committee.
• Additionally, the position of Congress president was more of a constitutional one, representing and symbolizing national unity.
• They supported Gandhi's preferred candidate, Pattabhi Sitaramayya.
• Bose won the election by a margin of 1580 votes to 1377, with the full support of the Congress Socialist Party and the communists.
• Gandhi congratulated Bose on his victory, but added, "Pattabhi's defeat is my defeat." It had now devolved into a Gandhi versus Bose debate.

Conclusion

Despite their differences, both Gandhi and Bose were unwavering in their commitment to freeing India from foreign occupation. Both had a tremendous deal of regard for one another. Subhash Chandra Bose was dubbed the "Prince of Patriots'' by Gandhi in1942, and his "patriotism was second to none”. Bose revered Gandhiji as well, referring to him as "The Father of Our Nation" in a radio transmission from Rangoon in 1944. The Haripura session of congress came out to be of great importance since the Britishers were given an ultimatum. Although rocky, this session was a successful one.

FAQs

Question: What was the significance of the Haripura Congress Session of 1938?

Question: Who was elected as the President of the Congress during the Haripura Session?

Question: What were the key resolutions passed at the Haripura Congress Session?

Question: How did the Haripura Session reflect Subhas Chandra Bose's ideology?

Question: What was the role of Mahatma Gandhi during the Haripura Congress Session?

MCQs

1. Who was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress at the Haripura Session in 1938?

a) Jawaharlal Nehru

b) Subhas Chandra Bose

c) Mahatma Gandhi

d) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

2. What was one of the key themes of Subhas Chandra Bose's presidential address at the Haripura Congress Session?

a) Rural development

b) Non-violence and passive resistance

c) Industrialization and economic planning

d) Complete reliance on British aid

3. The Haripura Congress Session took place in which year?

a) 1929

b) 1931

c) 1938

d) 1942

4. Which key resolution was passed at the Haripura Session regarding India's economy?

a) To continue relying on British financial aid

b) To focus on rural self-sufficiency

c) To implement centralized economic planning

d) To halt all industrial activities

5. Which Indian leader's approach differed from Subhas Chandra Bose's vision during the Haripura Congress Session?

a) Jawaharlal Nehru

b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

c) Mahatma Gandhi

d) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Examine the importance of the Haripura Congress Session of 1938 in shaping India’s economic vision for the post-independence era.

Answer: The Haripura Congress Session of 1938 played a crucial role in shaping India’s future economic vision. Under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose, the Congress adopted a more modern outlook, focusing on industrialization, centralized planning, and infrastructure development. Bose’s emphasis on building a strong economic base for India, rather than solely relying on rural development, laid the groundwork for future economic policies in post-independence India, including the focus on large-scale industries and economic planning in the Nehruvian era.

Q2: “The Haripura Congress Session of 1938 marked a shift in the ideological balance within the Congress leadership.” Discuss.

Answer: The Haripura Congress Session of 1938 marked a significant ideological shift within the Congress leadership. Subhas Chandra Bose’s election as President highlighted the growing influence of the younger, more radical section of the Congress that advocated for immediate industrialization and centralized economic planning. This contrasted sharply with Mahatma Gandhi’s emphasis on rural development and non-industrialization. The session thus represented the broader debate within the Congress over the best path to achieve India’s independence and future development.

Q3: Analyze the impact of Subhas Chandra Bose’s leadership on the Indian National Congress during the Haripura Congress Session of 1938.

Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose’s leadership during the Haripura Congress Session of 1938 had a profound impact on the Indian National Congress. Bose brought a more radical and forward-thinking approach, focusing on industrialization, military preparedness, and centralized economic planning. His leadership appealed to younger and more progressive elements within the Congress, though it also led to increasing ideological friction with Gandhi’s faction. Bose’s presidency demonstrated the ideological diversity within the Congress and foreshadowed the eventual split in the party’s approach to India’s freedom struggle.

Previous Year Questions on Haripura Congress Session (1938)

1. UPSC CSE 2018

Q1: Discuss the ideological differences between Subhas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi as reflected in the Haripura Congress Session of 1938. 

Answer: The ideological differences between Subhas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi were clearly reflected in the Haripura Congress Session of 1938. Bose advocated for industrialization and a centralized economic planning model, believing that a strong industrial base was essential for India’s independence and future development. On the other hand, Mahatma Gandhi emphasized rural self-reliance, village-based industries, and non-industrialization, advocating a more decentralized approach to development. These differences in their visions eventually led to a rift between Bose and Gandhi within the Congress.

2. UPSC CSE 2019

Q2: Analyze the significance of the Haripura Congress Session of 1938 in the context of India’s struggle for independence. 

Answer: The Haripura Congress Session of 1938 is significant in India’s struggle for independence as it marked the rise of Subhas Chandra Bose as a national leader with a clear vision for India's future. Bose’s focus on economic planning, industrialization, and his call for preparing the country for a mass struggle against British rule invigorated the Congress movement. The session also showcased the ideological divide between Bose and Gandhi, highlighting the diverse approaches within the freedom struggle, which influenced the direction of India’s independence movement.