FACULTY: RAFI AHMED SIR
Unit 5
GROWTH OF SOCIALIST AND COMMUNIST MOVEMENTS/GROWTH OF
LEFT
Causes of their Rise
1. Disillusionment with Congress: Many radical sections were
dissatisfied with the ideals and policies of Gandhi, particularly his
moderate stance. Congress’s agrarian and labour policies also failed
to address the genuine grievances of workers and peasants, leading
them to form independent organizations.
2. Attraction to Socialism: The radicals gradually gravitated towards
socialist ideals. Though not all endorsed violent struggle, many
believed that national independence should lead to a socialistic
society.
3. World Depression: The adverse effects of the World Depression (1929)
further fuelled the growth of radical movements. Workers and peasants
demanded better conditions, but the government and employers
refused, pushing the masses towards leftist ideas.
4. Influence of the USSR: The progress of the USSR during this time also
inspired radicals, as it showcased the potential of a socialist system
in improving conditions for the working class.
Growth of Socialists
i. Socialist Groups within Congress:
Socialist groups emerged within the All India Congress, disenchanted with
the Gandhian strategy. They aimed at establishing a socialist state
through democratic means, rejecting class war and violence.
ii. Support to National Movement:
Socialists supported the national movement and organized labour unions
and peasant associations but relied on peaceful methods to achieve
rights.
iii. Leadership and Influence:
Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose supported
socialist ideals. While Nehru adhered to Gandhian principles, Bose formed
the Forward Bloc.
iv. Formation of Congress Socialist Party (CSP):
Disillusioned socialists left Congress to form the Congress Socialist Party
(CSP) under Jai Prakash Narayan and Acharya Narendra Dev, advocating
for economic equality, opposing the Act of 1935, and seeking a
compromise with the Muslim League to avoid partition.
Growth of Communists
i. First Stage (1920-1928):
The Communist Party of India (CPI) was founded in 1920 by M.N. Roy
and others in Tashkent. Early efforts faced challenges like the Peshawar
Conspiracy Cases (1922-1927) and the Kanpur Conspiracy Case (1924).
By 1925, the Indian Communist Conference laid the foundation for CPI in
India. During this period, four workers' and peasants' parties were
established to promote an anti-imperialist front.
ii. Second Stage (1929-1934):
CPI, following the Sixth Comintern policy, adopted an ultra-leftist
approach, attacking Congress and isolating itself. Despite capturing
leadership in AITUC, the government declared CPI illegal along with many
trade unions.
iii. Third Stage (1934-1940):
CPI infiltrated Congress, CSP, Forward Bloc, and student organizations,
gaining influence. However, they were eventually exposed and expelled from
these organizations.
iv. Fourth Stage (1941-1947):
During World War II, CPI supported the British government at the request
of the USSR, leading to its legalization. However, this damaged the party's
image among Indian nationalists, as it appeared to align with the colonial
rulers.
Conclusion
The rise of socialists and communists in India was driven by disillusionment
with Congress, the impact of the world economic crisis, and inspiration
from the USSR’s socialist model. These movements played a crucial role in
shaping India’s socialist and communist ideologies, even as they faced
challenges and setbacks in their evolution.
2. Comparison between Non-Cooperation Movement and Civil
Disobedience Movement
The non-cooperation (1920-22) and civil disobedience (1930-34)
movements were two significant movements in the struggle for independence
at the beginning of the twentieth century. These two movements, which took
place ten years apart, held a key place in the development of the Gandhian
phase.
Nature of Movement:
• Non-Cooperation Movement: Aimed to halt the operation of the
government by refusing to cooperate with the administration.
• Civil Disobedience Movement: Attempted to paralyze the government
by disobeying a few particular laws and policies.
Spirit of Nationalism:
• Non-Cooperation Movement: First major movement to generate the
spirit of nationalism among the public after Gandhi entered national
politics.
• Civil Disobedience Movement: The spirit of nationalism was not as
strong.
Aim of the Movement:
• Non-Cooperation Movement: Compel the British to secure Swaraj in
response to the Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, and other
violent acts in Punjab.
• Civil Disobedience Movement: Aim was complete Independence
(Poorna Swaraj), announced by the Indian National Congress on
December 29, 1929.
Participation of Women:
• Non-Cooperation Movement: Limited participation by women; mainly
confined to the upper-middle class.
• Civil Disobedience Movement: Women actively participated, picketing
foreign goods and alcohol shops, and this movement brought women
into the public eye.
Business Class Participation:
• Non-Cooperation Movement: Business class did not participate due
to concerns over worker unrest.
• Civil Disobedience Movement: Prominent industrialists like
Purshotamdas Thakurdas and G.D. Birla supported it. Traders
boycotted foreign goods and businesses.
Peasant Participation:
• Non-Cooperation Movement: Peasants massively participated.
• Civil Disobedience Movement: Peasants from UP, Bihar, and Gujarat
actively participated.
Participation of Labour:
• The participation of the labour in the Civil Disobedience Movement
was insignificant when compared to the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Muslim Participation:
• The Civil Disobedience Movement was not marked by the same
Hindu-Muslim unity as was the Non-Cooperation Movement. This
was evident from the low Muslim participation in the Civil
Disobedience movement.
Methods Used:
• Non-Cooperation Movement: Followed non-violence, boycotted
schools and colleges.
• Civil Disobedience Movement: Violated laws, notably through Salt
Tax protest, which impacted all of society.
Territorial Reach:
• Non-Cooperation Movement: Limited to small regions; some parts of
the country, especially in the south, were unaffected.
• Civil Disobedience Movement: Extended to a larger region; leaders
like C. Rajagopalachari and K. Kelappan led the movement in different
areas.
Government Response:
• Non-Cooperation Movement: The government prohibited public
gatherings and detained leaders without negotiation.
• Civil Disobedience Movement: Lathi charges, firing at unarmed
masses, and mass imprisonments occurred, leading to the removal of
the Salt Tax.
Impact of the Movement:
• Non-Cooperation Movement: Politicized various segments like
artisans, peasants, students, urban poor, women, and traders,
spreading nationalist sentiments.
• Civil Disobedience Movement: Decreased imports of foreign goods,
financial losses for the government, and boycott of Legislative
Assembly elections.
End of the Movement:
• Non-Cooperation Movement: Ended after the Chauri-Chaura
incident in 1922.
• Civil Disobedience Movement: Ended after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact in
1931.
