Understanding the Formation of the Swaraj Party in 1923

The Swaraj Party, officially known as the Congress-Khilafat Swarajaya Party, was a significant political party formed during the Indian independence movement. Its formation in 1923 arose from differences within the Indian National Congress regarding the strategy to be adopted following the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Why the Swaraj Party Was Founded

Following the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922, Mahatma Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement. This decision led to considerable debate and division within the Congress. One faction, known as the 'No-Changers', favoured continuing the boycott of legislative councils and focusing on constructive work outside the councils. Another faction, the 'Pro-Changers', argued that nationalists should end the boycott of councils and enter them to obstruct government business from within, thereby using the councils as a political arena.

The Pro-Changers, led by prominent figures, decided to form a new party to pursue this strategy of 'council entry'.

Founders of the Swaraj Party

The Swaraj Party was founded on 1st January 1923 by:

• Chittaranjan Das (C.R. Das): He served as the President of the party.
• Motilal Nehru: He served as the Secretary of the party.

These leaders believed that entering the legislative councils was essential to expose the shortcomings of the British government and to resist official policies from within the system.

Key Objectives and Activities of the Swaraj Party

The main objective of the Swaraj Party was to contest elections to the legislative councils and assemblies. Once elected, their strategy was to:

• Obstruct the government's legislative work.
• Demand reforms and self-governance (Swaraj).
• Use the councils as a platform for nationalist propaganda.

The Swaraj Party achieved considerable success in the 1923 elections, winning a significant number of seats in the central and provincial legislatures.

Analysing the Options for Swaraj Party Founders

Let's look at the provided options:

• Sukhdev and Rajguru: These were revolutionary freedom fighters associated with Bhagat Singh and the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). They were not involved in the formation of the Swaraj Party.
• Aruna Asaf Ali and Subhash Chandra Bose: Aruna Asaf Ali was a prominent figure in the Quit India Movement (1942), much later than the formation of the Swaraj Party. Subhash Chandra Bose was also a significant leader, but he joined the Swaraj Party briefly before differences emerged, and he was not one of its primary founders in 1923.
• Bhimrao Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Bhimrao Ambedkar was a leader advocating for the rights of Dalits and played a crucial role in drafting the Constitution. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a key leader of the Indian National Congress and later an important figure in independent India. Neither was a founder of the Swaraj Party.
• Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das: As discussed, Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru were the principal founders of the Swaraj Party in 1923.

Therefore, the correct founders of the Swaraj Party in 1923 were Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das.

Revision Table: Key Information about Swaraj Party

Additional Information: Swaraj Party's Impact

The Swaraj Party's strategy of council entry had mixed results. While they managed to create significant debates and challenges for the government within the legislatures and exposed the limitations of the reformed councils, they could not achieve their primary goal of compelling the government to concede to their demands for self-rule. The party's effectiveness also declined after the death of C.R. Das in 1925. Eventually, the Swarajists reunited with the main faction of the Indian National Congress.