Q. Describe the contribution of Bihar in the individual satyagraha of 1940-41. [53-55 BPSC/2012]
Ans:
Post failure of August offer, the patience of both the Congress leadership and the masses was getting exhausted. The Government refused to budge and took up the position that no constitutional advance could be made till the Congress came to an agreement with the Muslim communalists. It kept issuing ordinance after ordinance taking away the freedom of speech and the Press and the right to organize associations. Nationalist workers, especially those belonging to the left-wing, were harassed, arrested and imprisoned all over the country. The Government was getting ready to crush the Congress if it took any steps towards a mass struggle.
In this situation, the Indians felt that the time had come to show the British that their patience was not the result of weakness. Now, Gandhiji decided to initiate a limited Satyagraha on an individual basis by a few selected individuals in every locality. This came to be known as individual satyagraha.
- The Satyagrahi would publicly declare: ‘It is wrong to help the British war-effort with men or money. The only worthy effort is to resist all war with non-violent resistance.’
- The Satyagrahi would beforehand inform the district magistrate of the time and place where he or she was going to make the anti-war speech.
- Vinoba Bhave was chosen as first Satyagrahi on 17 October 1940, Jawaharlal Nehru the second and Brahma Datt was third.
- The Satyagrahis were often arrested by authorities after they had made their speeches for violating the Defence of India Act
- And if the Government did not arrest a Satyagrahi, he or she would not only repeat the performance but move into the villages and start a trek towards Delhi, thus participating in a movement that came to be known as the ‘Delhi Chalo’ (onwards to Delhi) movement.
Aim and objective:
- The aims of the Individual Satyagraha conducted at a low temperature and in very small doses were to make clear that the vast majority of the people of India are not interested participation in the war and they make no distinction between Nazism and the double autocracy that rules India.
- Thus, the Individual Satyagraha had a dual purpose:
- While giving expression to the Indian people’s strong political feeling, it gave the British Government further opportunity to peacefully accept the Indian demands.
- Gandhiji and the Congress were, because of their anti-Nazi feelings, still reluctant to take advantage of’ the British predicament and embarrass her war effort by a mass upheaval in India.
- More importantly, Gandhiji was beginning to prepare the people for the coming struggle.
- The Congress organization was being put back in shape; opportunist elements were being discovered and pushed out of the organization; and above all the people were being politically aroused, educated and mobilized.
- While giving expression to the Indian people’s strong political feeling, it gave the British Government further opportunity to peacefully accept the Indian demands.
The contribution of Bihar in the individual satyagraha:
- In Bihar, the individual satyagraha started on 28th November 1940.
- Shri Krishna Singh was the first satyagrahi in Bihar. He was jailed for nine months (22 November 1940 – 26 August 1941).
- Anugraha Narayan Singh was the second satyagrahi. He was arrested at Patna while delivering the speech.
- In Gaya, Gauri Shankar Singh performed satyagraha on 4th December, 1940.
- Shyam Narayan Singh of Silaw also performed the individual satyagraha on 9th December 1940.
- Some women were also chosen as satyagrahi:
- In Gaya, Priyamvada Devi, Jagat Rani Devi and Janki Devi were arrested.
- Mahadevi Kesriwal was arrested in Dumka.
Overall, Bihar proactively participated in this movement. By 15 May 1941, more than 25,000 Satyagrahis from all over the country had been convicted for offering individual civil disobedience.
