Question

In the 1920s, Jawaharlal Nehru was increasingly influenced by socialism, and he returned from Europe in 1928 deeply impressed with the Soviet Union. As he began working closely with the socialists (Jayaprakash Narayan, Narendra Dev, N.G. Ranga and others), a rift developed between the socialists and the conservatives within the Congress. After becoming the Congress President in 1936, Nehru spoke passionately against fascism, and upheld the demands of workers and peasants. Worried by Nehru’s socialist rhetoric, the conservatives, led by Rajendra Prasad and Sardar Patel, threatened to resign from the Working Committee, and some prominent industrialists in Bombay issued a statement attacking Nehru. Both Prasad and Nehru turned to Mahatma Gandhi and met him at his ashram at Wardha. The latter acted as the mediator, as he often did, restraining Nehru’s radicalism and persuading Prasad and others to see the significance of Nehru’s leadership. In A Bunch of Old Letters (1958), Nehru reprinted many of the letters that were exchanged at the time. Read the extracts in the following. My dear Jawaharlalji, Wardha, July 1, 1936 Since we parted yesterday, we have had a long conversation with Mahatmaji and a prolonged consultation among ourselves. We understand that you have felt much hurt by the course of action taken by us and particularly the tone of our letter has caused you much pain. It was never our intention either to embarrass you or to hurt you, and if you had suggested or indicated that it hurt you, we would have, without the least hesitation, amended or altered the letter. But we have decided to withdraw it and our resignation on a reconsideration of the whole situation. We have felt that in all your utterances as published in the Press you have been speaking not so much on the general Congress programme as on a topic which has not been accepted by the Congress and in doing so you have been acting more as the mouthpiece of the minority of our colleagues on the Working Committee as also on the Congress than the mouthpiece of the majority which we expected you as Congress President to do. There is regular continuous campaign against us treating us as persons whose time is over, who represent and stand for ideas that are worn out and that have no present value, who are only obstructing the progress of the country and who deserve to be cast out of the positions which they undeservedly hold … we have felt that a great injustice has been and is being done to us by others, and we are not receiving the protection we are entitled from you as our colleague and as our President … Yours sincerely Rajendra Prasad My Dear Bapu, Allahabad, July 5, 1936 I arrived here last night. Ever since I left Wardha, I have been feeling weak in body and troubled in mind. … Since my return from Europe, I found that meetings of the Working Committee exhaust me greatly; they have a devitalising effect on me, and I have almost the feeling of being older in years after every fresh experience … I am grateful to you for all the trouble you took in smoothing over matters and in helping to avoid a crisis. I read again Rajendra Babu’s letter to me (the second one) and his formidable indictment of me ... For however tenderly the fact may be stated, it amounts to this that I am an intolerable nuisance and the very qualities I possess – a measure of ability, energy, earnestness, some personality which has a vague appeal – become dangerous for they are harnessed to the wrong chariot (socialism). The conclusion from all this is obvious. I have written at length, both in my book and subsequently, about my present ideas. There is no lack of material for me to be judged. Those views are not casual. They are part of me, and though I might change them or vary them in future, so long as I hold them I must give expression to them. Because I attached importance to a larger unity, I tried to express them in the mildest way possible and more as an invitation to thought than as fixed conclusions. I saw no conflict in this approach and in anything that the Congress was doing. So far as the elections were concerned, I felt that my approach was a definite asset to us as it enthused the masses. But my approach, mild and vague as it was, is considered dangerous and harmful by my colleagues. I was even told that my laying stress always on the poverty and unemployment in India was unwise, or at any rate the way I did it was wrong … You told me that you intended issuing some kind of a statement. I shall welcome this for I believe in every viewpoint being placed before the country. Yours affectionately Jawaharlal Segaon, July 15, 1936 Dear Jawaharlal, Your letter is touching. You feel the most injured party. The fact is that your colleagues have lacked your courage and frankness. The result has been disastrous. I have always pleaded with them to speak to you freely and fearlessly. But having lacked the courage, whenever they have spoken they have done it clumsily, and you have felt irritated. I tell you they have dreaded you, because of your irritability and impatience with them. They have chafed under your rebukes and magisterial manner and above all your arrogation of what has appeared to them your infallibility and superior knowledge. They feel you have treated them with scant courtesy and never defended them from socialist ridicule and even misrepresentation. I have looked at the whole affair as a tragi-comedy. I would therefore like you to look at the whole thing in a lighter vein. I suggested your name for the crown of thorns (Presidentship of the Congress). Keep it on, though the head be bruised. Resume your humour at the committee meetings. That is your most usual role, not that of a care-worn, irritable man ready to burst on the slightest occasion. How I wish you could telegraph me that on finishing my letter you felt as merry as you were on that New Year’s Day in Lahore when you were reported to have danced around the tricolour flag. You must give your throat a chance. Love Bapu

1. What do the letters tell us about the way Congress ideals developed over time?
2. What do they reveal about the role of Mahatma Gandhi within the national movement?
3. Do such letters give us any special insight into the working of the Congress, and into the nature of the national movement?

Answer 1

1. The development of Congress’ ideals is as follows:
   1. The letters show that the Congress included leaders with different political and economic ideas.
   2. Jawaharlal Nehru was strongly influenced by socialism and spoke about the problems of workers and peasants.
   3. Leaders such as Rajendra Prasad and Sardar Patel were more conservative in their approach.
   4. These differences led to debates and disagreements within the Congress.
      Thus, Congress ideas developed through discussion, disagreement and compromise among its leaders.
2. The role of Mahatma Gandhi is as follows:
   1. Mahatma Gandhi acted as an important mediator between different groups within the Congress.
   2. When disagreements became serious, leaders often approached Gandhi for help.
   3. He tried to prevent divisions and encouraged leaders to work together despite their differences.
   4. Gandhi advised Nehru to be more patient and understanding towards his colleagues.
   5. This shows that Gandhi played an important role in maintaining unity within the national movement.
3. The importance of the letters is as follows:
   1. These letters give us a close view of the internal discussions and disagreements within the Congress.
   2. They show that Congress leaders did not always agree with one another.
   3. They reveal the personal feelings, worries and opinions of leaders such as Nehru, Rajendra Prasad and Gandhi.
   4. They also show how important decisions were often reached through discussion and compromise.
   5. The letters help us understand that the national movement contained many different ideas and viewpoints.
      Therefore, personal letters are valuable historical sources because they reveal details that may not appear in official records or public speeches.