Formation of the Swaraj Party in India

The Swaraj Party, officially known as the Congress-Khilafat Swarajaya Party, was formed in 1923. This party emerged from a significant difference of opinion within the Indian National Congress regarding the approach to the legislative councils established by the Government of India Act 1919.

Following the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement after the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922, many Congress leaders felt the need for a new strategy to continue the fight against British rule. A faction within the Congress, known as the 'Pro-changers' or 'Council Entry' group, advocated for participation in the legislative council elections to obstruct the government from within.

The leaders who championed this approach were prominently Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru. They believed that entering the councils would expose the flaws of the British government and use the platform to advance nationalist goals.

Another faction, the 'No-changers', led by leaders like C. Rajagopalachari and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, opposed council entry and favoured continuing the boycott of legislative bodies, focusing instead on constructive programs like Khadi, Hindu-Muslim unity, and removal of untouchability.

Unable to reconcile these differences, Chittaranjan Das (who became the first President) and Motilal Nehru (who became the first Secretary) resigned from the Congress and announced the formation of the Swaraj Party in December 1922/January 1923. The party aimed to "end or mend" the councils by contesting elections and entering them to create deadlocks and oppose government policies.

Role of Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru

Chittaranjan Das, also known as 'Deshbandhu', and Motilal Nehru were the principal architects and leaders of the Swaraj Party. Their vision was to shift the nationalist struggle into the legislative arenas, adding a new dimension to the independence movement. They actively campaigned for the first elections to the Central Legislative Assembly and provincial councils held in 1923 under the 1919 Act, achieving notable success, particularly in areas like Bengal.

Analysing the Options for Swaraj Party Formation

• Chittaranjan Das: As discussed, C.R. Das was one of the two main founders of the Swaraj Party along with Motilal Nehru. This aligns with historical facts.
• Bipin Chandra Pal: Bipin Chandra Pal was a prominent nationalist leader, part of the 'Lal-Bal-Pal' trio, known for his extremist views in the early 20th century. He was not a co-founder of the Swaraj Party in 1923.
• Subhash Chandra Bose: Subhash Chandra Bose emerged as a significant leader later in the independence movement. While he respected C.R. Das as his mentor, he was not involved in the formation of the Swaraj Party in 1923.
• Surendranath Banerjee: Surendranath Banerjee was a moderate leader of the early Congress and a pioneer of the Indian national movement. He was not associated with the formation of the Swaraj Party.

Based on the historical evidence, Chittaranjan Das, along with Motilal Nehru, was instrumental in establishing the Swaraj Party.

Revision Table: Swaraj Party

Additional Information: Impact of Swaraj Party

The Swaraj Party's entry into the legislative councils had several impacts:

• They successfully exposed the limitations of the 1919 reforms.
• They raised important national issues within the legislative forums.
• They managed to create deadlocks on several occasions, challenging the British administration.
• Their activities kept the nationalist spirit alive during a period when mass movements were suspended.
• They played a role in the appointment of the Muddiman Committee (1924) to investigate the working of the Dyarchy system introduced by the 1919 Act.

Despite internal differences and the death of C.R. Das in 1925, which weakened the party, the Swaraj Party's brief existence marked an important phase in India's struggle for independence, demonstrating the strategic use of constitutional means alongside extra-constitutional agitation.