In the previous post, we read about Non-Cooperation Movement. After Non-Cooperation Movement, Gandhi was imprisoned for 6years due to the Chauri-Chaura incident. Gandhi was in jail for 6years, so his followers got divided into two groups. Indian National Congress got divided into Swarajist and Gandhiates.
Swarajist or Pro-Changers
Preface
In 1922, Chitranjan Das and Motilal Nehru formed the “All India Khilafat Swaraj Party” within Congress. So, their objective was to contest the coming election to enter the legislature and carry on Freedom Struggle. In 1924, Kamal Pasha abolished Caliphate in Turkey. At this time Swaraj Party came into existence and its associates were Swarajist.
Reasons Behind the Philosophy of Swarajist or Pro-Changers
According to Swarajists, if they boycott elections oppositions like Muslim League, Justice Party, etc would enter into it and possibly use political power to suppress Congress. According to them, the election was the best medium to awake the people. So, Swarajist wanted to work under dyarchy and expose the intentions of the British Government.
Working Methods of Swarajists or Pro-changers
Swarajists entered the legislature. So, whenever the Government tried to work against the interest of the people, they stood up against the British Government. They forced Government to fulfil the interest of the people. But Government did not consider their demands and rejected all the proposals using Veto power.
In this way, they succeeded in representing the British Government as a Veto government or Autocratic Government. For example, the Opposition to Public Safety Bill and Trade Dispute Bill was the most brutal Bills of that time.
Though Swarajists and Muslim League contested legislature elections on different agendas, after entering into legislature both worked as a unit for the welfare of the Indian masses. They formed National Front. So, this National Front succeeded in electing the first Indian speaker- Vithal Bhai Patel. This shows the growth of maturity among Indian leaders ie National interest is more significant than a personal one.
Achievements of Swarajists
Swarajists entered the legislature. They turned the legislature into a weapon against the government. This inspired Gandhiates and they also participated in the Municipal Election of 1924,
- Dr Rajendra Prasad became Mayor of Patna.
- Jawaharlal Nehru became Mayor of Allahabad.
This was all we need to know about Swarajists. Though their method was different from the Gandhiates. But the goal to reach freedom was the same.
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