Non Cooperation in India & Role of Swarajists in Indian Independence Essay Example

Additionally, there were disagreements among the leaders about how to keep the movement active. C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru led a group that proposed a new approach to political activity in response to the changing circumstances.

They suggested that nationalists should stop boycotting the Legislative Councils, join them, disrupt their functioning as per official plans, expose their flaws, and turn them into arenas for political battle in order to ignite public enthusiasm. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr Ansari, Babu Rajendra Prasad, and others, who were known as 'no-changers', opposed joining the Councils. They cautioned that participating in legislative politics would result in neglecting work among the masses, weakening nationalist fervor, and creating rivalries among leaders. Consequently, they maintained their focus on the constructive program of spinning, temperance, fostering Hindu-Muslim unity, abolishing untouchability, and grassroots activism in villages and among the impoverished. According to them, this approach would gradually prepare the nation for the upcoming mass struggle. In December 1922, Das and Motilal Nehru established the Congress-Khilafat Swarajya Party with C.

R. Das was appointed as the president and Motilal Nehru was one of the secretaries of the new party. This party was to operate as a faction within the Congress, adhering to the Congress program with one exception: participating in Council elections.

The Swarajists and the 'no-changers' were involved in a fierce political controversy, despite efforts by Gandhiji to unite them after his release on 5 February 1924. Both groups were determined to avoid a repeat of the 1907 split at Surat. As per Gandhiji's advice, they agreed to continue working within the Congress while pursuing their own separate paths.

Despite limited preparation time, the Swarajists performed

impressively in the November 1923 election. They secured 42 out of the 101 elected seats in the Central Legislative Assembly. By collaborating with other Indian factions, they consistently outvoted the government in both the Central Assembly and several Provincial Councils. Their passionate speeches on self-governance, civil liberties, and industrial progress fueled their agitation. In March 1925, they achieved a significant triumph by electing Vithalbhai Patel, a prominent nationalist leader, as the president (Speaker) of the Central Legislative Assembly.

At a time when the national movement was regaining strength, they filled the political void and revealed the shortcomings of the Reform Act of 1919. However, their efforts to change the policies of the authoritarian Government of India were unsuccessful, leading them to leave the Central Assembly in March 1926 and January 1930. Meanwhile, the 'no-changers' focused on constructive work and established numerous ashrams throughout the country. In these ashrams, young individuals promoted charkha and khadi, while also aiding lower castes and tribal communities.

Many National schools and colleges were established to train young individuals in an ideology that was not influenced by colonialism. Additionally, constructive workers played a crucial role as active organizers in civil disobedience movements. Although the Swarajists and 'no-changers' operated independently, they did not have fundamental differences and maintained a good relationship, recognizing their shared anti-imperialist nature. Consequently, they were able to join forces in the future for a new national struggle when the time was right. Meanwhile, the nationalist movement and the Swarajists endured another significant setback with the demise of C.

In June 1925, R. Das witnessed the rise of communalism as the Non-Cooperation Movement lost momentum and frustrated people. The communal elements capitalized

on this situation to spread their views.