HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 279: Model Answer

Question: Who were Swarajist? Discuss their activities and role in Indian National Movement? (4 marks/60 words)

Answer.

The Indian National Congress was divided into two ideologies, the Swarajist and the No Changers, based on council participation or boycott. The Swarajists’ main goal was to end the council boycott, whereas the No-Changers argued that the boycott should continue.

Swarajist were led by C R Das, Motilal Nehru, and Ajmal Khan.

The activities and role played by Swarajist in Indian National Movement are as follows:

• They outvoted the government several times, including on budgetary grants, and passed adjournment motions with coalition partners.
• They agitated through powerful speeches on self-government, civil liberties, and industrialization.
• Vithalbhai Patel was elected speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly in 1925.
• A notable accomplishment was the defeat of the Public Safety Bill in 1928, which sought to empower the government to deport undesirable and subversive foreigners.
• They filled a political void at a time when the national movement was regaining strength.
• They exposed the Montford scheme’s hollowness.
• They demonstrated how councils could be used creatively.