Sambhav-2023

Answer 1

Approach

• Briefly discuss Quit India Movement (QIM).
• Discuss the elements of the QIM which had compromised Gandhian values like Truth and non-violence.
• Conclude Suitably.

Introduction

The Quit India Movement also known as the 'August Revolution' was launched after the failure of the Cripps Mission when it failed to solve the constitutional deadlock. The Congress Working Committee authorised Gandhiji to take charge of the non-violent mass movement at Wardha meeting and it was ratified at the Congress meeting at Gowalia Tank, Bombay, on August 8, 1942.

Body

QIM in its origin was a non-violent movement and supposed to abide by the all-Gandhian values like other Pan-India national movements like Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM) and Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).

In spite of the Gandhiji’s guidance to QIM and backed by Gandhian Values, it can be said that movement had compromised Gandhian Values because of several instances and event of the movement. Like:

Events in QIM that had non-Gandhian spirit:

• ‘Do or Die’ mantra: Gandhi’s famous call to satyagrahis that “We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery” shows Gandhiji’s non-compromising and “end” oriented attitude, which is prima-facie against the Gandhian idea of “End vs Means”.
  • It led to an indication that the movement could be violent and the Britishers arrested all the top leaders of the Congress, consequently movement was leaderless and tuned towards individual heroic action and non-guided violence.
  • This slogan by Gandhiji, shows his more violent and uncompromising attitude.
• A spontaneous outburst of mass anger: The arrest of leaders led to mass upsurge all over the country for six or seven weeks after the unexpected event of August 9, 1942 and more violent conflict among the satyagrahis and police forces reported.
• Use of violent Methods: People devised a variety of ways of expressing their anger. In some places, huge crowds attacked police stations, post offices, courts, railway stations and other symbols of a government authority.
  • National flags were forcibly hoisted on public buildings in defiance of the police. Cities, towns and villages witnessed the people’s wrath.
  • The greatest level of violence occurred in Bihar and Eastern United Province (now Uttar Pradesh).
• Forceful Parallel governments were established at many places: By using force.
  • Ballia (in August 1942 for a week) under Chittu Pandey.
  • Tamluk (Midnapore, from December 1942 to September 1944) Jatiya Sarkar undertook cyclone relief work, sanctioned grants to schools, supplied paddy from the rich to the poor, organised Vidyut Vahinis, etc.
  • Satara (mid-1943 to 1945), “Prati Sarkar”, was organised under leaders like Y.B. Chavan, Nana Patil, etc.
• Mahatma Gandhi refused to condemn the violence of the masses and held the government responsible for this violence.

With justification of the above instances, we can say that Gandhian values were compromised during QIM but the spirit of the values like truth and non-violence was observed even during the movement as well. Like:

• Gandhi’s Condemnation to violence: Gandhiji condemned violence and suppression by the govt on the masses because the violence by police was much brutal and the violence by masses was a reaction to the violence by govt authority.
• Satyagrahi’s non-violence led to compromised success of QIM and it was supported by heavy-handed suppression by Government, weak coordination, lack of leadership and a clear-cut program of action.

Conclusion

• The Quit India movement was the spontaneous participation of the masses compared to the other Gandhian movements like non-cooperation and civil disobedience.
• The great significance of this historic movement was that it placed the demand for independence on the immediate agenda of the national movement.
• After ‘Quit India’ there could be no retreat. Independence was no longer a matter of bargain. And this became amply clear after World War-II.

Answer 2

Approach

• Introduce the Gandhiji’s and Bose’s thought to each other.
• Discuss the ideological differences of Gandhi and Bose.
• Conclude suitably.

Introduction

• In 1942, Gandhi ji called Bose the “Prince among the Patriots”. Gandhi ji said that Netaji’s “patriotism is second to none. His bravery shines through all his actions. He aimed high and failed. But who has not failed.” On another occasion Gandhi said, “Netaji will remain immortal for all time to come for his service to India.”
• While Bose believed Gandhiji as a symbol of Indian nationalism and called him “The Father of Our Nation”.

Body

Similarities in their ideologies:

• Both personalities considered socialism to be the way forward in Independent India.
• They both were religious men and disliked communism.
• They worked against untouchability and spoke for women’s emancipation.

Differences:

• Non-Violence versus Militant Approach:
  
  • Gandhi was a firm believer in ahimsa and satyagraha while, for Bose Gandhi’s strategy based on non-violence would be inadequate for securing India’s independence. For Bose, violent resistance alone could oust the alien imperialist rule from India.
• Means and Ends:
  
  • Bose had his eye on the result of the action. He had no moral issue in taking the help of the Nazis, Fascists or later of imperial Japan.
  • But for Gandhiji one could not just use any means to achieve an end however desirable that end may be
• Form of Government:
  
  • In early writings Bose expressed the opinion that democracy was the acceptable political system for India. But later, he seemed to have veered towards the idea that, at least in the beginning, a democratic system would not be adequate for the process of nation rebuilding and the eradication of poverty and social inequality.
  • Gandhi’s idealised state, Ramrajya did not need a representative government, a constitution, an army or a police force. Gandhi was opposed to centralisation.
• Militarism:
  
  • Subhas Bose was deeply attracted to military discipline while Gandhiji was against the military on the whole. His Ramrajya was built on the concept of truth and non-violence and self-regulation.
• Ideas on Economy:
  
  • Gandhi’s concept of Swaraj had its own brand of economic vision. He wanted a decentralised economy without state control while Bose was in favour of large industrialisation for India.
• Education:
  
  • Gandhi was against the English system of education as also against the use of English as a medium of instruction.
  • Subhash Bose was for higher education, especially in the technical and scientific fields, as he wanted an industrial India.

Conclusion

• Gandhi and Subhash Bose had a deep respect for one another despite their hugely differing ideologies. However, each appreciated the work done by the other in the national struggle for freedom and played a very important role in the freedom struggle of India.