Swaraj Party (Dal) - General Knowledge Of Modern India

Swaraj Party (Dal) - General Knowledge Of Modern India

After the withdrawal of the non-cooperation movement, the Congress party was divided into two parts. When the non-cooperation movement started, the decision to boycott the legislatures was taken at that time. A faction led by Chittaranjan Das, Motilal Nehru and Vithalbhai Patel believed that the Congress should participate in the elections and their work should be obstructed by reaching inside the legislatures. The faction led by Vallabhbhai Patel, C. Rajagopalachari and Rajendra Prasad opposed it. He wanted to engage the Congress in constructive work.

Read More History: Hyderabad History - General Knowledge Of Modern India

In the Congress session held in Gaya in 1922, which was presided over by Chittaranjan Das, the proposal regarding admission to the legislatures was rejected. Supporters of this resolution founded the Congress Khilafat Swaraj Party, which came to be known as the Swaraj Party, in 1923.  In 1923, in the special session of the Congress held in Delhi under the chairmanship of Abul Kalam Azad, the Congress allowed the Swarajists to participate in the elections. The Swarajists won a large number of seats in the central and provincial legislatures. In this period of absence of large-scale political activities, the Swarajists had contributed significantly in keeping the anti-British protest and sentiment alive. They made it almost impossible for the policies and resolutions of the British rulers to be passed by the legislatures. For example, in 1928 a bill was brought in which there was a provision to empower the British government to expel any non-Indian from India who supported the Indian freedom struggle. This bill could not be passed due to the opposition of the Swarajists. When the government re-introduced this bill, Vithalbhai Patel, who was the Speaker of the House, did not allow it to do so. The debates in the legislatures, in which Indian members often defeated the government by their arguments, were read with enthusiasm and interest throughout India.

When the people's political struggle was resumed in 1930, again the legislatures were boycotted. Gandhi was released from prison in February 1924 and constructive programs, which were approved by both the factions of the Congress, became the main activities of the Congress. The most important components of constructive programs were the spread of Khadi, promotion of Hindu-Muslim unity and the abolition of untouchability. It was made mandatory for any member of Congress Committee to wear hand woven khaddar and weave 2000 yards of yarn per month while participating in any political or congress activities. All India Weavers Association was established and Khaddar stores were opened all over the country. Gandhiji considered Khadi as the main means of liberation of the poor from their poverty and the economic prosperity of the country. It provided livelihood opportunities to lakhs of people and carried the message of freedom struggle to every nook and corner of the country, especially in the rural parts. It connected the common man with the Congress and made the upliftment of the common people an integral part of the work of the Congress. The spinning wheel became a symbol of the freedom struggle.

After the withdrawal of the non-cooperation movement, communal riots broke out in some parts of the country.  To continue the freedom struggle and to maintain and strengthen the unity of the people, it was necessary to fight the poison of communalism. Gandhiji's anti-untouchability program was very important to end the worst evil of Indian society and to connect the downtrodden section of the society with the freedom struggle.