Effectiveness And Tactics Of The Two Indian Nationalist Movements

Question: Discuss about the Effectiveness And Tactics Of The Two Indian Nationalist Movements. Answer: Introduction: The essay aims at providing a perspective from an instance in history when a wave of Indian National Corporation challenged the British Rule in India. There was the Indian National Congress under the leader of Mohandas K. Gandhi and an alternative nationalist movement under Subhas Chandra Boses leadership who raised voices against the British rule. Mohandas K. Gandhi represented an Indian activist who employed the policy of non-violent measures against the British rule and helped India in attaining independence[1]. On the other hand, Subhas Chandra Bose represented an Indian nationalist who had defiant patriotism that made him a hero[2]. However, his attempts of getting rid of the British rule through Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany resulted in troubled legacy. The essay tries to provide an insight into these movements through comparison and contrast of the effectiveness and tactics of the two Indian nationalist movements. Comparison of the Tactics and Effectiveness of Two Indian Nationalist Movements The demand for political independence was consistent for Subhas Chandra Bose, as he wanted complete separation from British rule. Thus, in India he pushed the congress in launching mass movements that demanded total independence while outside India he inspired the Indian National Army for liberation of India through the war. Subhas Chandra Bose wanted free India as an industrialized and modern nation focused on the advances of livelihood, science and education of the masses[3]. He was explicit about the seeking the political emancipation through an effective manner that either involved an armed conflict or a complete war. On the other, Mahatma Gandhi is identified with Spiritual Swaraj that cured the Indian civilization from the evils such as lawyers, mill made cloth, doctors, railways, heavy machineries, contraceptives and medicines[4]. Mohandas K. Gandhi demanded the dominion status along with a membership in British Commonwealth without extracting the verbalization of the Spiritua l Swaraj. In the year, 1942, his expectation about the British losing the Second World War made him seek complete withdrawal from the British Rule. In 1942, he also initiated the Quit India movement that also demanded the Dominion status mostly centered on the specific grievances, social agenda, financial reforms and the caliphate of the territorial Muslims. However, the choices of Mohandas K. Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose had variation in the context of capitalism and communism. They both were socialist and disassociated them from communism. During, 1942, Mohandas K. Gandhi condoned violence although initially he did not opt for it[5]. However, the conflict between Gandhi and Bose was focused more on the personal control on the Indian dissent and business and the British interest that had a conflict with the agenda implemented by Bose. However, a comparison and contrast is drawn between them based on the following perspectives. Complete Independence versus Spiritual Swaraj Subhas Chandra Bose wanted total disconnection from British Empire while Mohandas K. Gandhi fluctuated between Spiritual Swaraj, complete severance and the dominion status. Bose however, believed in an unrelenting, uncompromising and militant struggle against the colonialism of British as opposed to the deals, compromises and entreaties championed by the British government[6]. Bose however believed that Freedom is never given but it is something to achieve whereas Gandhi believed in seeking Swaraj by expressing his loyalty towards the empire. Moreover, Bose was a leftist by heart while Gandhi was a rightist. Support of Modernism Gandhi and Bose stated a vision that substantially differed in context of the desired Indian evolution and the politics. Mohandas K. Gandhi, however believed in advocating a vision that comprised of the spinning khadi clothes and led to the endurance of self sufficiency at the village level[7]. On the other hand, Bose had a vision that was futuristic and depended more on industrialization of a larger scale and a politics without religiosity and irrationality. Bose said that for those who believed in supernaturalism and mysticism it is the sane rationalism and modernization in the material aspect that leads to the political salvation[8]. Gandhi in his letter addressed to Henry Polak mentioned that increasing the material comforts does not help in enhancing moral growth. He also referred to the medical science as the essence of the black magic while the hospitals represented the instruments for the devil. He also mentioned that the salvation of India lies in unlearning the aspects the country has learnt in the period of the past fifty years. In his letter, he also mentioned the countrys repulsion towards the machine made clothes. Until the time, Mohandas K. Gandhi although realized that sacrificing the clothes made by the machine or the courts will not be tool for liberating the country but it can act as a fundamental aspect for eschewing the evil that existed in the society. Thus, for Gandhi primarily the spinning that served as centerpiece for the political program undertaken by him. Undertaking Industrialization Mohandas K. Gandhi believed in attaining Gram Swaraj that ensured self-sufficiency at the village level. Under him, spinning gained popularity by being a part of the Gram Swaraj but also the political program[9]. Gandhi developed a dislike for machinery and thereby industrialization. While Bose believed that for solving economic problem, it is not enough to have agricultural improvement. However, existence of industrial development ownership and state control would be crucial. He also mentioned that a newer industrial system in replacement of old that is under a state of collapse due to alien rule and mass production. He also put forward that the planning commission should carefully decide as well as consider the home industries that needed revival in spite of the competition amongst the modern factories and the sphere in which large scale production could be encouraged. Research and Education The normal meaning of education represents knowledge of the letters. For Mohandas K. Gandhi, primary education meant teaching the boys with writing, reading and arithmetic. According, to Gandhi, a peasant knows to earn his bread honestly and possesses the basic worldly knowledge. He knows how to behave with his parents, children, wife and fellow villagers and understands the mortality rules. However, such a man does not know how to write his name. Hence, Gandhi suggested providing basic level education to the people. On the other hand, Bose believed in tackling the problem of technical research and technical education[10]. He was the President of Congress who presided over third general meeting. Indian Science News Association also invited him where he articulated the views on the scientific and technical research and education in presence of the renowned scientist Professor Meghnad Saha. He added that, as far as the technical education goes in the context of the Japanese students, I ndian student should also have the scope of going abroad for the purpose of training as per a definite and clear plans that would help them in straight away building newer industries as soon as they return. Conclusion: To conclude, it can be said that the Indian independence movement has been part of complex array related to the developments that ensure the departure of the British rule. There were certain geopolitical factors brought in by Subhas Chandra Bose that helped in weakening the position of Britain after a battle with the Japan and Germany and led to the ultimate end of the imperial rule. However, Gandhis social movement will also have profound impact in shaping the history of India. The Second World War helped in hastening the suspension of British Empire but it was neither the Axis power nor the Allies, India got liberation in its own terms. Gandhi put forward a model that represented an ecosystem with complex social movement while Bose believed in complete independence from British Rule. References: Allen, Douglas. "A Phenomenological Approach to Spirituality and its Relation to Nonkilling and Nonviolence."Spiritual Traditions(2015): 55. 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