In the last post, we read about the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930. Gandhi again proved himself as the leader of the masses. So, Gandhi became an unrivalled leader. But during 1929, the world faced Economic Crisis, and afterwards First World War.
So, Britain was in trouble in Europe, whereas in India, Civil Disobedience Movement was going on. Whereas Gandhi had a strong belief in the Struggle-Truce-Struggle philosophy. So, both the masters and Gandhi wanted to break the Civil Disobedience Movement. Finally, in 1931, both were in a mood for compromise and this led to the signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 1931.
Gandhi-Irwin Pact, 1931
Gandhi-Irwin evolved a formula of Kahin Khushi Kahin Gum. The features of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact were as such that this pact impacted people the same as a carrot and stick.
Features of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact
Positive Outcomes
From the time of its birth till 1930, Indian National Congress was targeted by the government. For examples,
- Dufferin called Congress a microscopic minority.
- Curzon said, “Congress is tottering to its fall and my ultimate goal is to give it peaceful demise”.
But after the Civil Disobedience Movement, Gandhi-Irwin Pact, for the first time accepted Indian National Congress as the representatives of Indians. So, this was the point of happiness for Congress. But then the points of sorrow were bigger than the happiness as always.
Causes A Deep Sorrow for Indians
Pain
The civil Disobedience Movement started on the issue of Dominion Status. The government was still not ready to talk on this issue. But Gandhi agreed to peace with the government, so this became the cause of pain for the masses.
Frustration
Gandhi called out people on the issue of salt and the government refused to amend the salt law. Although the government gave some relaxation to the tribal people of the coastal area.
Tension
During Civil Disobedience Movement, the government confiscated the property of nationalists and agreed to partial compensation. This was the reason for the tension between the people.
Sorrow
Hanging of Heroes on 23rd March 1931. The 23rd March 1931 became the day of Balidaan Divas for the young heroes, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru. This was the biggest sorrow for the people.
In this way, points to sorrow were bigger than happiness. Jawaharlal Nehru called Gandhi-Irwin Pact the “unconditional surrender of Gandhi”. So, in the first instance, it seems to be unconditional surrender. But then the overall analysis of this agreement also gives another face to this pact.
Another face of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact
Purushottam Das Thakur, a prominent businessman of this time wrote a letter to Motilal Nehru to ask Gandhi to stop the Civil Disobedience Movement. Because, according to him, the patience of business class was fading away. So, if Gandhi would not stop the movement, the movement will gonna die by itself.
So, in this background, it seems Gandhi worked on the principle of something is better than nothing. Along with this, the first initiative was taken by the government. So, it became the moral duty of Gandhi to give a positive response to the government.
In this way, Gandhi was ready to attend Second Round Table Conference. But, then it seems Congress demanded assurance for the future course of action if Gandhi failed to gain anything this time also. So, this led to the Karachi Session of the Indian National Congress.
We shall read Karachi Session in the next coming post. Till then enjoy learning.
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