Who among the following scholars gave the statement that. "In course of time, however (while Nehru was still alive), the Congress party ceased to be a movement and became a party and government"?
Rajni Kothari
Analyzing the Transformation of the Congress Party
The question asks to identify the scholar who made the significant statement about the Indian National Congress evolving from a broad national movement into a distinct political party and government, specifically during the lifetime of Jawaharlal Nehru.
This particular statement is a well-known observation within the field of Indian political science, describing a crucial phase in India's post-independence political history where the dominant party, the Congress, solidified its structure and function, moving beyond its origins as an inclusive anti-colonial front.
Identifying the Scholar
The scholar credited with this statement is Rajni Kothari.
Rajni Kothari was a prominent Indian political scientist, writer, and democracy activist. His work, particularly his conceptualization of the "Congress System," is foundational to understanding Indian politics in the post-independence era, especially under Nehru's leadership.
Rajni Kothari's Perspective on the Congress System
Kothari argued that the Congress party under Nehru functioned as a unique system. It wasn't just a ruling party but acted as a broad umbrella, accommodating diverse ideologies and interests. Within this 'system', opposition parties played a role by influencing policy and providing checks, but the Congress remained the dominant force, representing the mainstream of Indian political life.
His statement reflects the transition where the energy and inclusive nature of the independence movement, which the Congress initially embodied, gradually gave way to the more structured, organizational requirements of running a government and functioning as a political party in a competitive (albeit one-party dominant) system.
Why Other Options Are Less Likely
- James Manor: Known for his work on Indian politics, including state-level politics and power dynamics after the Nehruvian era, particularly concerning later periods of Congress rule and decline.
- Morris Jones: An important scholar of Indian politics, known for analyses of governmental processes and political language, but this specific formulation about the movement-to-party transition is most strongly associated with Kothari.
- Yogendra Yadav: A contemporary political scientist and psephologist, his work focuses more on electoral politics, social composition of parties, and contemporary political trends in India, rather than the foundational analysis of the Nehruvian Congress system in these terms.
Therefore, based on the classic analysis of the Indian National Congress during the Nehru era, the statement belongs to Rajni Kothari.
Revision Table: Key Concepts
| Concept | Description | Associated Scholar (in this context) |
|---|---|---|
| Congress System | A framework explaining India's one-party dominant system under Congress, where the party was an umbrella for diverse groups and the political process occurred largely within it. | Rajni Kothari |
| Movement to Party Transition | The process by which a broad-based independence movement transforms into a formal political party primarily focused on governance and electoral competition. | Rajni Kothari |
Additional Information: Rajni Kothari's Contribution
Rajni Kothari's work significantly shaped how scholars understood Indian democracy. His concept of the 'Congress System' highlighted how India managed diversity and maintained stability through a period of intense nation-building and development. He later critiqued the system as it evolved, observing its decline and the challenges facing Indian democracy.
His analysis provides a crucial lens through which to view the functioning of political parties and the state in India, particularly the historical role of the Indian National Congress during its period of dominance under leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru.
Important Questions from Miscellaneous
A stone is thrown horizontally from the top of a 20 m high building with a speed of 12 m/s. It hits the ground at a distance R from the building. Taking g = 10 m/s2 and neglecting air resistance will give :
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A railway wagon (open at the top) of mass M1 is moving with speed v1 along a straight track. As a result of rain, after some time it gets partially filled with water so that the mass of the wagon becomes M2 and speed becomes v2. Taking the rain to be falling vertically and the water stationery inside the wagon, the relation between the two speeds v1 and v2 is :
Consider the following statements:
1. Distance between the longitudes becomes zero on North Pole and South Pole.
2. Distance between the longitudes is maximum on the Equator.
3. Number of longitudes is more than number of latitudes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
One block of 2⋅0 kg mass is placed on top of another block of 3⋅0 kg mass. The coefficient of static friction between the two blocks is 0⋅2. The bottom block is pulled with a horizontal force F such that both the blocks move together without slipping. Taking acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s2, the maximum value of the frictional force is :
