The 1929 Congress session was held in Lahore. This session was significant because the prominent party Indian National Congress adopted the Poorna Swaraj or complete independence resolution in Lahore. This session was presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru with backing from Gandhi. He hoisted the Indian tricolor flag on the bank of the Ravi river. In this article, we will discuss the Lahore Congress Session (December 1929) which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Jawaharlal Nehru

Lahore Session - Background

• The Calcutta Congress session saw a near-split between leaders who desired dominion and leaders who desired complete independence.
• Finally, it was decided that if the British parliament accepted the Nehru report by December 31, 1929, Congress would accept it as is.
• If the report is not accepted by the British parliament, Congress will demand total independence and will organize a non-violent non-cooperation movement.
• The one-year deadline passed with no response from the government. This was followed by the Congress Session in Lahore, presided over by Jawahar Lal Nehru.
• The most significant resolution was that the Nehru Committee Report had now expired and that Dominion status would no longer be acceptable. A Poorna Swaraj Resolution was passed, with Swarajya referring to complete independence.
• According to this resolution, the Central and Provincial Legislatures had to be completely boycotted, as well as all future elections. A Civil Disobedience Program was to be launched.
• The deadline for the Nehru Committee report expired at midnight on December 31, 1929, and on January 1, 1930, Jawahar Lal Nehru unfurled the Flag of India's Independence on the banks of the River Ravi in Lahore.
• The Congress working committee met on January 2, 1930, and it was decided that January 26, 1930, should be observed as Poorna Swaraj Day, as Mahatma Gandhi drafted a Poorna Swaraj pledge on that day.

Jawaharlal Nehru as President of INC

• Jawaharlal Nehru (14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964) was a central figure in India during the mid-twentieth century. He was an anti-colonial nationalist, secular humanist, social democrat, diplomat, and author.
• In the 1930s and 1940s, Nehru was a key figure in the Indian nationalist movement. He was India's prime minister for 17 years after the country's independence in 1947.
• During the 1950s, Nehru vigorously promoted parliamentary democracy, secularism, and science and technology, profoundly influencing India's development as a modern nation. In international affairs, he kept India out of the Cold War's two blocs.
• He joined the Indian National Congress and rose through the ranks to become the leader of a progressive faction and, eventually, the Congress, receiving the support of Mahatma Gandhi, who designated Nehru as his political heir.
• In his capacity as President of the Congress in 1929, Nehru advocated for complete independence from the British Raj.
• He was chosen as the President due to following reasons:
  • Because of the timing (Congress' acceptance of complete independence as its goal), and
  • To recognize the surge of youth that had made the anti-Simon campaign a huge success.
• During the 1930s, Nehru and Congress dominated Indian politics.

Lahore Session - Significance

• The Lahore session played a significant role in the Indian national movement for independence.
• Purna Swaraj was declared India's goal during this session.
• The leaders' only goal was complete independence. This session was also a significant catalyst for the civil disobedience movement.
• There will be a boycott of the Round Table Conference.
• The aim of the Congress was changed from the earlier demand of dominion status to complete independence/Poorna Swaraj of India.
• The Working Committee of Congress was authorized to start preparations for the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement by initiating the non-payment of taxes and resignation of its members from legislatures.
• The session also proposed to launch a Civil Disobedience Movement at an appropriate time.
• It was declared that January 26, 1930, would be celebrated as Independence Day, with people taking a pledge to fight for complete independence.

Independence Pledge

• The Congress convention convened in Lahore in December 1929, and Pandit Nehru presided over it.
• During this session, he stated that "there is only one goal ahead of us, and that is full freedom."
• Purna Swaraj's declaration was circulated at the INC on December 19, 1929.
• Members agreed in this session that the Congress and Indian nationalists should fight for Purna Swaraj or rule themselves entirely independently.
• Congress passed a motion for complete independence, and the President of Congress hoisted the flag of complete freedom on Ravi's bank at midnight on December 31, 1929, in front of a large crowd.
• This was the day when nationalists unfurled the tricolor for the first time.
• Jawaharlal Lal Nehru drafted the Poorna Swaraj Resolution, and Mahatma Gandhi drafted the "Declaration of Independence" pledge in 1930.

Conclusion

On January 26, 1930, public meetings were organized all over the country at which the national flag was hoisted and the Independence Pledge was read out and collectively affirmed by the police. Since then it has become a tradition to celebrate Independence Day on January 26 every year.

FAQs

Q1: What was the significance of the Lahore Congress Session of December 1929?

Q2: Who presided over the Lahore Congress Session of 1929?

Q3: What was the main resolution passed at the Lahore Congress Session?

Q4: How did the Lahore Congress Session of 1929 lead to the Civil Disobedience Movement?

Q5: Why is 26th January celebrated as Republic Day in India?

MCQs

1. Who was the president of the Lahore Congress Session of December 1929?

a) Mahatma Gandhi

b) Subhas Chandra Bose

c) Jawaharlal Nehru

d) Vallabhbhai Patel

2. What major resolution was passed at the Lahore Congress Session in 1929?

a) Dominion status for India

b) Purna Swaraj or complete independence

c) Formation of a parallel government

d) Non-Cooperation Movement

3. On which date did the Lahore Congress Session declare as India’s Independence Day?

a) 15th August 1947

b) 26th January 1930

c) 2nd October 1930

d) 22nd March 1931

4. Which movement was launched following the Lahore Congress Session of 1929?

a) Non-Cooperation Movement

b) Quit India Movement

c) Civil Disobedience Movement

d) Swadeshi Movement

5. What was the primary demand of the Indian National Congress after the Lahore Session of 1929?

a) Dominion status within the British Empire

b) Full independence or "Purna Swaraj"

c) Constitutional reforms

d) Provincial autonomy

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Analyze the importance of the Lahore Congress Session of 1929 in the context of India's struggle for independence.

Answer: The Lahore Congress Session of December 1929 holds a crucial place in India's struggle for independence as it marked a significant shift in the Indian National Congress’s demands. Under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, the session passed the historic resolution of "Purna Swaraj," or complete independence, moving away from the earlier demand for dominion status. This declaration of independence was a response to the growing dissatisfaction with British rule and the failure of constitutional reforms to address India's political aspirations.
The session also authorized Mahatma Gandhi to lead the Civil Disobedience Movement, which was launched in 1930 with the Salt March. The declaration of 26th January 1930 as India's Independence Day served as a symbolic rejection of British authority, and the day was celebrated across the country. This session also marked the rise of younger, more radical leaders within the Congress, reflecting a shift towards a more confrontational approach in the freedom struggle. The Lahore Congress Session thus set the tone for the final phase of the independence movement, culminating in India's freedom in 1947.

Q2: Discuss the impact of the resolution of "Purna Swaraj" passed during the Lahore Congress Session on India's freedom movement.

Answer: The resolution of "Purna Swaraj" (complete independence) passed during the Lahore Congress Session in December 1929 had a transformative impact on India's freedom movement. This resolution represented a decisive break from the earlier demand for dominion status, signaling the Congress's resolve to pursue full independence from British rule. The declaration of complete independence galvanized the Indian masses and inspired them to participate in the freedom struggle with renewed vigor.
The resolution also authorized the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement, which became a cornerstone of the Indian struggle against colonial rule. The movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi, involved acts of non-violent resistance, such as the Salt March, boycotts of British goods, and refusal to pay taxes. The declaration of 26th January 1930 as Independence Day became a rallying point for the masses, fostering a sense of unity and purpose. The "Purna Swaraj" resolution thus marked a turning point in India's freedom movement, intensifying the struggle for independence and setting the stage for the eventual withdrawal of British rule in 1947.

Q3: Evaluate the role of Jawaharlal Nehru as the president of the Lahore Congress Session and his contribution to the freedom struggle.

Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru’s role as the president of the Lahore Congress Session in 1929 was a significant moment in the history of the Indian freedom struggle. His election to the presidency signified the growing influence of younger, more radical leaders within the Congress, who were increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of reforms and the British government's reluctance to grant India meaningful autonomy. Nehru, a firm advocate of complete independence, used the platform of the Lahore session to push for a more assertive stance against colonial rule.
Under Nehru’s leadership, the Congress passed the historic resolution of "Purna Swaraj," rejecting dominion status and demanding full independence. This marked a decisive shift in the Congress’s approach, from seeking incremental reforms to demanding complete freedom. Nehru’s contribution to the freedom struggle extended beyond this session; his vision of a socialist and secular India, his emphasis on industrialization and modern education, and his international outlook shaped the Congress’s policies in the subsequent years. Nehru’s leadership at the Lahore session was thus pivotal in setting the course for the final phase of India’s independence movement.

Previous Year Questions on  Lahore Congress Session

1. UPSC CSE 2017

Question: How did the Lahore Congress Session of 1929 influence the trajectory of the Indian freedom movement? 

Answer: The Lahore Congress Session of 1929 was a watershed moment in India’s freedom movement, as it marked the Congress's shift from demanding dominion status to full independence. Under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress adopted the resolution of "Purna Swaraj," which became the rallying cry for the Indian masses. This session authorized Mahatma Gandhi to launch the Civil Disobedience Movement if the British government failed to meet Indian demands.
The declaration of 26th January 1930 as Independence Day was a symbolic assertion of India’s resolve to attain complete freedom, and it was widely celebrated across the country. The Civil Disobedience Movement, which followed the Lahore session, intensified the struggle against colonial rule through acts of non-violent resistance, such as the Salt March and boycotts of British goods. The Lahore session thus marked a turning point in the freedom movement, leading to a more determined and assertive push for independence, which ultimately culminated in India’s freedom in 1947.

2. UPSC CSE 2018

Question: Explain the significance of the "Purna Swaraj" resolution and its impact on the Indian independence movement. 

Answer: The "Purna Swaraj" (complete independence) resolution, passed during the Lahore Congress Session in December 1929, was a defining moment in India’s independence movement. It signaled a shift from the Congress’s earlier demand for dominion status to the pursuit of full independence from British rule. This resolution reflected the growing impatience with British colonialism and the failure of constitutional reforms to meet Indian aspirations.
The resolution had a profound impact on the freedom movement, as it inspired a nationwide call for independence and galvanized the masses into action. The declaration of 26th January 1930 as Independence Day symbolized India’s rejection of British rule and set the stage for the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement. Led by Mahatma Gandhi, this movement involved non-violent resistance, including the Salt March and boycotts of British goods, which intensified the struggle for freedom. The "Purna Swaraj" resolution thus marked the beginning of the final phase of the independence movement, leading to India’s eventual freedom in 1947.