Samipya 1991 Vol 08 Ank 01 02

Author(s): Pravinchandra C Parikh, Bhartiben Shelat
Publisher: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Adhyayan Sanshodhan Vidyabhavan

Page 88

A.I.C.C. The A.Í.C.C. which met at Bombay on 25 May, 1929 did not desire to commit the detailed programme but accepted the preamble. This was the first time in the history of the Indian National Congress that a Socialist transformation of society was accepted.
The Congress met for its annual session at Karachi at the end of March, 1931. There, Nehru convinced Gandhiji to pass a resolution on economic matters. It was only a short step towards Socialism. Its preamble stated, “In order to end the exploitation of the masses, political freedom must include real economic freedom of the starving millions."9 The resolution thereafter listed a number of fundamental rights and other items which any future constitution of India should provide.
From 1930 to 1935 the Socialist ideas of Jawaharlal Nehru were in full bloom. In an essay "Whither India ? he accepted Marxist analysis of the historical process, but did not give up the liberal value of freedom. The essay attracted wide interest and considerable criticism also. To the rising Socialist group in the Congress it marked Nehru out as the leader of Socialist thought. He was strongly attracted to communism and was greatly impressed by the Russian experiment. This was stated by him in a letter he wrote which appeared in the 'Manchester Guardian' on 15 December, 1933.10
Nehru presided over the Lucknow Congress in 1936. Expressing his views from the presidential chair in the Lucknow Session in April, 1936, Nehru said "I am convinced that the only key to the solution of the world's problem and of India's problem lies in Socialism...... Socialism is thus for me not merely an economic doctrine which I favour; it is a vital creed which I hold with all my head and heart. I should like the Congress to become a Socialist organization."11
The commitment of Nehru to the growth of Socialism may again be observed in his work as the chairman of the National Planning Committee; appointed by the President of the Indian National Congress in 1938. Nehru Succeeded in recommending the national plannings on the Socialistic lines though he failed to recommend for the abolition of private sector and confiscation of the private ownership. His recommendations revealed that he was thinking on a Socialistic line with democratic processes and had a very soft corner in his heart for the poor.12
The conservative group in the Congress did not like his preaching Socialism, as the Congress had not accepted Socialism as a policy. Eventhough he continued to preach Socialism according to his beliefs. Congress leaders like Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad and Rajgopalachari were as critical of Jawaharlal's Socialism as the businessmen themselves. 13
The Election Manifesto by the AICC at Bombay in August 1936 recalled the Fundamental Rights resolution of the Karachi Congress, the emphasis placed at the Lucknow Congress on the appalling poverty, unemployment and indebtedness of the
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[Sāmipya : April, '91-March, 1992