Immediate acceptance of Basic principle of dominion status
RTC shud be as Const ASSEMBLY for formulating const to give Dominion Status and not to determine whether/when it shud be given,
INC shud have MAJORITY in RTC and amnesty for political prisoners and policy of conciliation
Dec1929 MG+MNehru met Irwin(escaped Azad's bomb attack) who REJECTED DM
1929Dec Lahore JNehru session
JNehru prez due to MG backing(15/18 provinces opposed) and acceptance of purna swaraj, acknowledging youth of antiSimon campaign
RTC boycotted, POORNA SWARAJ AIM, MPs asked to RESIGN
CWC auth for CDM+tax nonpayment
Swarajya Day - 26/1/1930. On Ravi River, tricolour hoisted by JNehru with Inquilab slogans
1930Jan Independence Pledge
Drafted by MG read out in local languages+flag hoist+meetings all over country
Freedom inalienable right, Brit ruined, exploited us and shud SEVER Brit connection and carry out INC instructions for Poorna Swaraj
Economic ruining via village destruction, manipulations of currency and exchange rate
No political powers given, administration talent killed, edu system torn us culturally, Disarmament made us unmanly spiritually
Crime to submit to Brit, will withdraw association with Brit and do CDM via tax nonpayment
2Salt Satyagraha+Upsurges
MG 11 Demands
To carry frwd Lahore mandate, MG gave 31Jan 1930 ultimatum for 11 demands
General
Reduce expenditure on army by 50%, CID reforms, intro total prohibition, change Arms act for licenses, release political prisoners, accept postal reservation bill
1902 Andrew Fraser Police Commission recomm CID in provinces and Central IB at Centre
Reduce land revenue by 50%, ABOLISH SALT TAX and govt monopoly
No +ve response hence MG full powers for CDM
Dandi March March-Apr 1930
MG roadmap
CDM wherever possible, picket foreign liquor&cloth, can refuse tax if have requisite strength, LAWYERS give up practice, boycott courts, Govt Servants can RESIGN(300 did in GJ), obey leaders after MG arrest, make salt in homes
12/3/1930 After informing Viceroy, 78 started from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmd 240miles to Dandi. Launched CDM. INC engaged in grassroot tasks
On bended knees I asked for bread and receive a stone instead. India is one vast prison house. I repudiate this law and regard it as my sacred duty to break the mournful monotony of compulsory peace.' MG letter to Irwin before DM
Spread
1930Apr JNehru arrest
1930May MG annouced raid on DHARASANA salt works, ARRESTED followed by protests in Sholapur
SNaidu+ImamSahib+Manilal(MG son) led raid, lathicharge kills 2. This satyagraha form adopted at Wadala, Sanikatta(Karn), Andhra, WB, O
CWC sanctioned no revenue in ryotwari areas, chowkidara tax in zamindari and forest law (1927?) violation in Central provinces
MH, Karn, CP saw forest law defiance+illegal produce sale
No Chowkidara tax campaign in BH ; Anti chowkidara and ANTI UNION BOARD(UB acting as Panchayats) TAX in WB
Chowkidars, paid out of the tax levied especially on the villages, were guards who supplemented the small police force in the rural areas in this region. They were particularly hated because they acted
as spies for the Government and often also as retainers for the local landlords
Gandhiji’s body is in jail but his soul is with you. India’s prestige is now in your hands. You must not use any violence under any circumstances. You will be beaten but you must not resist, you must not even raise a hand to ward off blows. —Sarojini Naidu, on the eve of Dharasana Salt Sahyagraha
Satyagrahas, Spread
Tamil Nadu - Apr1930 Rajagopalchari Thiruchirapally-Vedaranniyam march on TANJORE coast, picket of cloth, liquor, VIOLENT eruptions too, police force on CHOOLAI Mills Strike, Madras
Malabar - K Kelappan(VAIKOM SATYAGRAHA1924 along with Madhavan, Kesava), PKPillai(Kerala Communist movement) defended natl flag
Andhra - Sibirams(military style camps) serve as HQs for satyagraha, mechants contri to INC funds and dominant Kamma, Raju castes defied repressions. BUT NCM wala support missing
Odisha - Gopalbandhu Chaudhari
Assam - 1930May strike against Cunningham Circular(banned students participation), Chandraprabha Saikiani incited aboriginal Kachari to break forest laws(denied by AssamINC)
Failed 1921 height due to divisive issues - Assamese vs Bengalis, HM, inflow of Muslims from East Bengal
Bengal - Bhadralok leaders alienation from rural masses due to SCBose vs JMSengupta in Calcutta Munic Corp
Little MUSLIM participation as communal riots. Also HIGHEST ARRESTS AND VIOLENCE around satyagraha+CHOWKIDARI tax
Surya Sen Chittagong raid on armouries+provisional govt
Bihar - CHAMPARAN, Saran started 1st, Nakhas Pond, Patna to make salt under Ambika Kant Sinha.
No Chowkidari tax took over. Cloth, liquor sale declined and administration collapsed
JH - Lower class militancy in ChotaNagpur which lowered enthusiasm of small landlords and tenants, BIG ZAMINDARS DIDNT participate
Bogha Majhi, Somra Majhi influenced by Gandhism led Hazaribagh movement(khadi, meat, liquor+ sanskritising social reforms). SANTHALS illegal distillation of liquor
August - Nehrus+MG demands SECESSION, Natl govt with DEFENCE+FINANCE, INDEP TRIBUNAL for Brit Financial Claims
Irwin Decl Oct1929 - Dominion status but w/o timeframe
Secession is withdrawl of group from larger group while cession is giving away territory to another
Delhi/MG Irwin Pact 1931
Feb - After Jan release of MG+CWC unconditionally, placed INC equal to Brit with this pact
Irwin agreed - Release nonV prisoners, remission of fines, return of lands, leniency for resigned govt servants, unsaleable personal consumption salt making on coasts, right to picket, emg ordinances withdrawal
Irwin DISAGREED - Public inquiry into police excess, commutation to life sentence of BhagatS+comrades
MG agreed - suspend CDM, participate in 2nd RTC on 3 lynchpins - federation+Indian responsibility+reservations and covered defence, external aff, minorities, financial credit
CDM roadmap was Govt Servants can RESIGN(300 did in GJ), obey leaders after MG arrest, make salt in homes inter alia
Evaluation
MG Irwin pact NOT retreat
mass movements are short lived, sacrifices capacity of masses lmtd, shopkeepers+merchants exhausted, also hartals disturbed the industrialists
youths peasants(bcoz seized lands not restored immediately but during Congress rule in provinces) disappointed
Ppl jubiliant for equal footing and prisoners got hero's welcome
Compared with NCM
Obj now was complete independence unlike two wrongs and vague swaraj
Methods involved law violation directly and not non coop as prerequisite(CDM with resign and no tax was NCM 2nd phase)
DECLINE in intelligentsia protests like resigning, natl school joining, etc
Less Muslims, no major LABOUR upsurge
MASSIVE peasants and business groups compensated though
3x imprisoned in CDM, also INC stronger
Karachi Session 1931
MG shown black flags by PNBS as hanging takes place 6 days before session, session disapproved violence but admired bravery of martyrs
ENDORSED MG Irwin Pact, Purna Swaraj reiterated and 1st TIME spelt out what SWARAJ would mean for MASSES
Resolutions on NATL ECON PRG and FRs(Nehru report also). Hence session remained the basic POLITICAL AND ECON prg for INC for later yrs
speech press association assemble UAF legalrights neutralstate in religious matter freecompulsoryPRIMARY cultureprotectionminorities
Rent revenue reduction, rent exemption for uneconomic holding, relief from agri debts, control of usury(high rate lending), better work conditions(LIVING WAGE, women protection, lmtd hours), right to UNIONS, state ownership of key industries
Nehru Report 1928 - FRs incl form unions, UAS not UAF, complete dissociatn state and religion
”in order to end exploitation of masses, political freedom must include economic freedom of starving millions.”
RTC
1st RTC
Nov1930-Jan1931 - Chair McDonald opened by King George. 1st conf with Indians as equals
AR Iyenger, Malviya also present. Also INDUSTRY ATTENDED(Birla Thakurdas Dadabhoy). VV GIRI from labour(Indian PREZ later). Women had SNAIDU, BJ SHAHNAWAZ, R SUBBARAYAN. Also Assam, Central Province, NWFP attended. Rest were same as 1st.
Issues
Weak SoS SHoare, Willingdon(1931-36) replaced Irwin and Labour replaced by Labour-Conserv coalition+Anger over revolutionary killings of Brits in India. CHURCHILL led Conserv obj to RTC and demanded strong Brit govt in India
Brits used loyalists to neutralise MG claim of INC as represen of all Indians
MG - Equal partnership of Brit-India. IMMEDIATE RESPONSIBLE govt. Discarded Untouch, Muslims, minorities idea of separate electorates which hence deadlocked the session
Muslims Depressed Christians AngloIndians came together in MINORITIES PACT
Princes not keen on fed as CDM suspension receded possibility of INC govt at centre
Outcome
No substantial result on const future
McDonald announced NWFP and SINDH
Set up INDIAN CONSULTATIVE COMMITTTEE and 3 expert committees on FINANCE FRANCHISE and STATE
UNILATERAL Communal Award if Indians failed to agree
CWC Dec1931 - resume CDM
ML Delhi Proposals 1927 asked for it + Baluch
3rd RTC
Nov1932-Dec1932 - NO INC, most Indian leaders but AMBEDKAR, NMJoshi, Sapru, Thakurdas was present
March1933 White paper of recomm - Jt Select Committee(under Linlithgow) drafted bill - enforced as 1935 Act
Post RTC
Truce period Mar-Dec1931 btwn 1st and 2nd
Spirit of defiance alive - INC rent reduction, summary evictions in UP, Repression of Khudai K agitating against tax collection, Ordinances, detentions in Hijli(firing incident) in name of terrorism in WB
Post 2nd RTC Dec1931
Brit determined to reverse the raised political prestige from MGIrwin pact
MG wouldnt be permitted to build up tempo for mass movement again
INC goodwill not req, but Brit loyalists confidence essential
Natl movement wouldnt be allowed in rural areas
CDM resumes Dec1931-Apr1934
Willingdon REFUSED MG meet and MG arrested Jan1932
CIVIL MARTIAL law, ordinances. INC at all levels BANNED, properties confiscated, activists, arrested, MG ASHRAMS occupied, repression on women, press gagged, literature banned
Popular response - 80k satyagrahis mostly urban and rural poors jailed. Protests in form of picketing, nonV demonstations, natl days, flags, chowkidara tax nonpayment, salt satyagraha, forest law violations, SECRET RADIO @Bombay
Coincidence with upsurges @ Kashmir, Alwar(RJ) princelies. CDM didnt sustained as leaders had no time to build tempo and masses were unprepared. MG withdrew CDM Apr1934
Though ppl cowed down by superior force, they had not lost political faith in INC. Ppl won freedom in their hearts
CDM overlapped with 1st and 3rd
Communal Award Aug32
Background
Ambedkar and Bengal DC Ass stressed to SIMON but it REJECTED SEP ELEC instead gave RESERVATION(with guv checking competancy of candidates)
BA-MG compromise in 2nd RTC on RESERVED seats failed as MG decl himself as sole represent of DC and attempted deal for ML vote against SEP ELEC, Hence RMac mediated leading to CommAward
Lothian/Indian Franchise Committee recomm and Committee on Minorities under RMacdonald announced sep electorates - Muslims, Sikhs, EU, Indian Christ, AI, DEPRESSED CLASSES, MARATHAS(7-Bombay), WOMEN for 20YRS
Provisions
COMMUNAL based DISTRIBUTION in provinces seats, and existing seats to be 2x
Weightage for Muslims in Muslim minority areas
3%(except NWFP) for women in provinces
DC accorded Minority status and will get DOUBLE VOTE(separate+general elecorates)
Seats allocation for labourers, LANDLORDS, traders, INDUSTRIALISTS
Reactions
INC - Need minorities consent before changing award. DISAGREED with it BUT NEITHER accepted nor rejected
Nationalists OPPOSED separating DC from Hindus
MG - attack on unity, harmful to Hinduism+SC(doesnt change their social position), undermines question of untouch abolition as it requires root&branch eradication and not protecting them for perpetuity
Sept1932 MG fast for Jt Electorate+UAF and no obj to larger number of reserved seats. Ambedkar Rajah Malviya tried compro
Poona Pact
Sept1932 - Ambedkar-Malviya signed ABANDONING SEP ELEC and increasing reserved seats 71-147 and 18%@Centre - Amd to Communal Award
COULDNT achieve emancipation, made DC political tools for majoritarian caste Hindu org, submit to status quo in political ideological and cultural fields
True represent unable to win against stooges by caste Hindu org hence remained leaderless
Obstructed society based on eq, liber, fraternity, justice as subordination under Hindu social order continued. Preempted rights and safeguards in the constitution
Dr Ambedkar continued to denounce PP till 1947
SC Fed(1942 Ambedkar) said this hence demanded restoration of SEP ELEC
MG on Caste
IN JAIL - Sept1932 - AI Anti Untouch League, Jan1933 - weekly Harijan. Released Aug1933 - shifted to Satyagraha Ashram, WARDHA and conducted HARIJAN tour(1933-34) for funds for Harijan Sevak Sangh&urging workers for upliftment of them. 1934May, Aug - fasts for inspiring redoubling followers work on untouch
Attacked by orthodox(in WB against PP minority status) accusing of attacking Hinduism and orthodox supported Brit against CDM, Brits obliged too - defeated TEMPLE ENTRY bill(1934)
MG accused Hindu society for oppressing Harijans ; plead to open temples, caste hindus to do penance hence wasnt hostile to his critics(Ambedkar). Campaign based on humanism and reason
Internal reform prg - Edu, cleanliness, beef liquor give up
On InterCaste marriage, dining
Such restrictions existed among caste Hindus and untouch themselves+All India Campaign was against Harijans disabilities
Caste System
Nothing sinful about the limitations of the varnashram and hoped believers and critics together fight untouch
Untouch is bcoz of high, low distinctions and not due to varna hence if we purge this distinction, varnas would become complementary
Caste and Communality
Removal of untouch hence removal of high/low, would +vely impact communal questions
The purifying Hinduism campaign carried the msg of nationalism to Harijans(mostly agri labourers) hence increased participation in natl/peasant movements
1930 vowed not to return to Sabarmati till swaraj ; Arrested 1932 Jan as CWC resumed CDM in Dec1931
MG - Hinduism dies if untouch lives and untouch has to die if Hinduism is to live
Opposed compulsion on Sanatanis(orthodox Hindus) instead to be won over by persuasion
MG vs BA
Similarity
Symbolism - Foreign cloth burning and Manusmriti burning both represent bondage ; also salt from sea and water from Mahad tank
Proper EDU makes indiv desire for change reform integration
Freedom of religion and religion as an agent of social change was well accepted by both. Denounced in theory/thinking anything that diminished the role of religion in indiv/society
Limited sovereign power of state as BA held ppl should be the ultimate sovereign and MG - absolute state would annihilate spirit, personality of indiv
Idea of social transformation thru democratic, peaceful means. Never sought violent overthrow. BA desisted from pleading a blunt destruction of social order however evil it was
Solve social disharmony&disintegration thru peaceful rehab of the oppressed
MG Marxism common on Stateless society while BA prefers state constitutionalism
MG - freedom to be wrested by ppl who desire it ; BA - imperial rulers bestow it
BA - parl mass democracy as pressure on govt and oppressed advancement ; MG - democracy tends to get converted into domination by leaders
BA - rigid principles with inclination for liberalism and institutional structure ; MG - unrigid except NonV and simple alternatives to liberalism(trusteeship), communism(Ramrajya) and fascism
MG - disobey a law to make it more just hence manifestations - NCM, hartal, CDM, satyagraha ; BA - Observance of law and constitutionality in the political process
BA - highlighted Indian disunity bcoz unity is byproduct of imperial led legal system ; MG - Hind Swaraj - India has been a nation whose cultural unity broke bcoz of Brit
MG - Gramraj was Ramraj, real independence ; BA - villages are status quoist scourge of casteism untouch denied eq, fra, lib and continues social hierarchy hence there's nothing to be proud of
MG renamed DC league as Harijan Sevak Sangh which BA denounced as a clever scheme and left claiming removal of untouch was only a platform for MG, not a sincere prg
BA - centre of religion must be betwn Man&Man(MG - Man&God alone). BA left Hinduism claiming it as unreformable after initially trying to reform it
MG - untouchables integral of Hindu whole ; BA - doubtful saying untouch religious minority/political minority/minority by force
MG - untouch one of the many problems seen by Indian society and he viewed it in contemporary times and treated it as moral stigma to be erased by atonement acts ie conscience rather than law ; BA - untouch captured his sole focus and he studied it from historical angle and wanted to solve thru laws, const methods
MG - caste(perversive ie corrupt degeneration) and varna is diff and religious precepts and spirituality are not due to caste system ; BA - denounced Vedas, scriptures as they reflect contradictions within&across sects and also caste system+untouch manifestations of scriptures
BA - separation of religion and state, freedom of religion, citizenship ; MG - freedom of religion fine but didnt approve SEPARATION of rel and pol
BA - absolute NonV as end with RELATIVE violence as means ; MG - avowed opponent of violence of any kind
MG - machine have dehumanising impact and creates+sustains exploitative socio-eco orders ; BA - Machines and modern civilisation are benefit to all but held the evil effects as due to wrong social org that give sanctity to pvt property+personal gains
Target groups differed though they also converged, also methods of mobilisation MG - local vernacular , BA - English
A democratic society must be machinery and more machinery, civilisation and more civilisation - BA
“Any great movement for liberation today must necessarily be a mass movement, and mass movements must essentially be
peaceful, except in times of organised revolt...” JNehru
“I must frankly confess that I am a socialist and a republican, and am no believer in kings and princes, or in the order which produces the modern kings of industry, who have greater power of the lives and fortunes of men than even the kings of old, and whose methods are as predatory as those of the old feudal aristocracy.” JNehru
The idea of force for social integration/reforms was negated by BA
BA - justified means as just when ends are just
MG believed in least governance as the best governance
Although everyone knew that within a few minutes he would be beaten down, and perhaps killed, I could detect no signs of wavering or fear. They marched steadily with heads up…. —Web Miller, an American journalist, reporting on Dharasana Salt Satyagraha
Gandhi was the best policeman the British had in India.
Ellen Wilkinson, MP
Dandi March is the ‘kindergarten stage of revolution’....... based on the notion that King Emperor can be unseated by boiling
sea-water in a kettle. Brailsford, an English journalist
It would thus appear that Ambedkar and Gandhi had common allergy for social evil and imperial injustice. But a fundamental
difference, more apparent than real, demarcated the two minds.
—Justice Krishna Iyer
We have now an open conspiracy to free this country from foreign rule and you, comrades, and all our countrymen and country women are invited to join it. JNehru@Lahore
Irwin PM McDonald for RTC as Simon Recomm were inadequate
Mass mobilisations via prabhat pheries, vanar sena, manjari senas, secret patrikas, magic lantern shows
Impact saw fall in imports, loss of revenue, boycott of legisl assembly elections
contradictory phase in the last few months of 1930. The effect of the Great Economic Depression of 1929 increased the pressures for no rent, which the UP Congress reluctantly sanctioned.
Salt linked Swaraj with a most concrete and universal grievance of rural poor and with no socially divisive implications as in no rent campaign. Small but psychologically imp income like khadi for poor via self help and also gave symbolic identification for urban with mass suffering
“There is no other article like salt,
outside water, by taxing which the government can reach the starving millions, the sick, the maimed and the utterly helpless... it is the most inhuman poll tax the ingenuity of man can devise.” MG