Congress Offer, Wardha Meeting and Resignation of Congress Ministries
Modern History › The Second World War and the Nationalist Response · Topic 22.3
On 3 September 1939 the British declared India at war without consulting Indians. The Congress offered conditional support, asking for a post-war Constituent Assembly and responsible government at the Centre now; Viceroy Linlithgow rejected it. After the Working Committee meeting at Wardha and Linlithgow's statement of 17 October 1939, the Congress decided on 23 October not to support the war and called on its ministries to resign.
8 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · The Second World War and the Nationalist Response
At a Glance
- Outbreak Germany attacked Poland on 1 September 1939; Britain declared war on 3 September
- Offer A post-war constituent assembly; responsible government at the Centre now
- Viceroy’s statement 17 October 1939; negative
- Resignation Working Committee decision of 23 October 1939
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: The Second World War and the Nationalist Response
Where Does It Fit?
This is the third topic of the category on the Second World War and the nationalist response. The previous topic compared Gandhi and Bose. This topic covers the Congress response to the outbreak of war and the resignation of the ministries. The next topic covers the August Offer of 1940. Previous topic: Gandhi and Bose: Ideological Differences.
What Was the Congress Offer to the Viceroy?
On 1 September 1939 Germany attacked Poland, which led to the Second World War. On 3 September Britain declared war on Germany, and the British government of India declared India’s support for the war without consulting Indian opinion. The Congress disliked this unilateral action but decided to support the war effort conditionally. Its hostility to Fascism, Nazism, militarism and imperialism had been much more consistent than the British record. The offer had two basic conditions.
| Condition | Content |
|---|---|
| 1 | After the war, a constituent assembly should be convened to determine the political structure of a free India |
| 2 | Immediately, some form of genuinely responsible government should be established at the Centre |
The Congress argued that these conditions were necessary to win public opinion for the war. Viceroy Linlithgow rejected the offer.
What Was Debated at the Wardha Meeting?
The official Congress position was adopted at the Working Committee meeting at Wardha, after different views were heard.
| Leader | View |
|---|---|
| Gandhi | Had all sympathy for Britain because of his dislike of Fascism and advocated unconditional support for the Allied powers; distinguished between the democracies of western Europe and the totalitarian Nazis and Fascists; unwilling to embarrass the British government during the war |
| Bose, Narendra Dev, Jayaprakash Narayan | Invited to Wardha; sympathised with neither side, since the war was between imperialists on both sides, each protecting colonies and seeking more; thought it the ideal time for civil disobedience to snatch freedom |
| Nehru | Accepted neither view; saw the difference between democratic values and fascism and thought justice was on the side of Britain, France and Poland, but also that Britain and France were imperialist powers and the war resulted from the inner contradictions of capitalism; advocated no Indian participation until India was free, but no immediate civil disobedience to exploit Britain’s difficulty |
Gandhi was more or less isolated and in the end went with Nehru’s position, which the Working Committee adopted. Its resolution condemned Fascist aggression and said that India could not be party to a war fought for democratic freedom while that freedom was denied to India. If Britain was fighting for democracy it should end imperialism in its colonies and establish full democracy in India, and the government should declare its war aims and how democracy would be applied to India after the war. The Congress leadership wanted to give every chance to the Viceroy and the British government. The Gandhi-Bose differences are in Gandhi and Bose: Ideological Differences.
How Did the Government Respond?
The government’s response was entirely negative. In a statement on 17 October 1939, Linlithgow tried to use the Muslim League and the princes against the Congress. The government refused to define British war aims beyond saying that Britain was resisting aggression, said that as part of future arrangements it would consult representatives of several communities, parties and interests and the Indian princes on how the Act of 1935 might be modified, and said it would at once set up a consultative committee whose advice could be sought when required. The Act is in Nationalist Response to the Government of India Act, 1935.
The statement is described as part of a general British policy to take advantage of the war to regain ground lost to the Congress, by provoking a confrontation and then using the extraordinary situation to acquire draconian powers. Even before the war was declared, emergency powers over provincial subjects had been given to the Centre by amending the 1935 Act. A Defence of India ordinance was enforced the day the war was declared, restricting civil liberties. In May 1940 a secret Draft Revolutionary Movement Ordinance was prepared for pre-emptive strikes against the Congress, and the government could then call on Allied troops stationed in India and win liberal and leftist sympathy abroad by painting an aggressive Congress as pro-Japan and pro-Germany. This is a historians’ reading of British policy. Prime Minister Churchill and the Secretary of State, Zetland, supported the policy and branded the Congress a purely Hindu organisation.
Gandhi reacted sharply, saying that there was to be no democracy for India if Britain could prevent it, and that the Congress would safeguard minority rights provided they did not advance claims inconsistent with India’s independence.
When Did the Congress Ministries Resign?
On 23 October 1939 the Working Committee rejected the viceregal statement as a restatement of the old imperialist policy, decided not to support the war, and called upon the Congress ministries in the provinces to resign. The ministries are described in Congress Ministries: Civil Liberties and Agrarian Reforms.
What Debate Followed on Mass Satyagraha?
After Linlithgow’s statement the debate on immediate mass struggle began again. Gandhi and his supporters opposed an immediate struggle because they felt that the Allied cause was just, that communal sensitiveness and lack of Hindu-Muslim unity might lead to riots, that the Congress organisation was in shambles, and that the masses were not ready. They advocated toning up the organisation, political work among the masses and negotiation till all possibilities of a settlement were exhausted.
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| January 1940 | Linlithgow said that dominion status of the Westminster variety after the war was the goal of British policy |
| November 1939 | At Allahabad, the Working Committee observed that the war, like that of 1914-18, was being fought for imperialist ends, and that the Congress could not associate with it or allow India’s resources to be exploited for it; it repeated the demand for a constituent assembly to settle communal and other problems |
| March 1940 | Ramgarh session under Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: all agreed that a battle must be waged but differed on its form, which was left to Gandhi; Gandhi still favoured cooperation at the provincial level and offered moral support to the British on a non-violent basis; Nehru insisted on complete independence as a precondition for support; Bose urged direct action |
The Ramgarh session declared that the people of India would accept nothing short of complete independence, not dominion or any status within the imperial structure, that sovereignty must rest with the people, in the princely states and the provinces, and that the Congress would resort to civil disobedience when the organisation was fit enough or if circumstances brought a crisis. As an analytical point, the Congress rejection of dominion status at Ramgarh made the next British offer, in Linlithgow’s August Offer, 1940, hard to accept before it was even made.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Congress position at the outbreak A common Prelims and Mains point on the war
- Resignation date The 23 October 1939 decision is a stock fact
- Ramgarh Shows the Congress rejection of dominion status
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the August Offer of 1940 and the responses to it. Next topic: August Offer, 1940.
Key People and Terms
- Constituent assembly A body elected to frame a constitution
- Responsible government at the Centre Executive answerable to an elected legislature
- Linlithgow’s statement The 17 October 1939 reply to the Congress
- Defence of India ordinance Enforced on the day war was declared
- Ramgarh session Congress session of March 1940 under Azad
- Westminster variety Dominion status of the type of the self-governing dominions
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- War declared 3 September 1939; India included without consulting Indians.
- Two conditions: constituent assembly after the war; responsible government now.
- Linlithgow’s statement: 17 October 1939; CWC decision 23 October 1939.
- Ramgarh: March 1940, president Azad.
- Gandhi went with Nehru’s position at Wardha.
Do Not Confuse With
- Gandhi’s, Bose’s and Nehru’s views at Wardha Unconditional support, no support and civil disobedience, and a conditional position
- Allahabad 1939 and Ramgarh 1940 Allahabad: resolution on imperialist war; Ramgarh: no status short of independence
- Linlithgow 1939 and 1940 October 1939: negative statement; January 1940: dominion status goal
Memory Hook
Offered on conditions, refused outright, ministries out in October, Ramgarh in March.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the Congress response to the war. These points add depth.
- Offer Conditional support
- Divided views Gandhi, Nehru and Bose
- Resignation Withdrawal from office
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the Congress response to the outbreak of the Second World War and the reasons for the resignation of its ministries.”
How to Answer
- Outbreak India dragged in unilaterally.
- Offer Two conditions and the Wardha debate.
- Government reply Linlithgow’s negative statement.
- Conclude Resignation and Ramgarh.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
How did India enter the Second World War?
On 3 September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany, and the British government of India declared India's support for the war without consulting Indian opinion. The Congress disliked this unilateral action but decided to support the war effort conditionally.
What did the Congress offer to the Viceroy in 1939?
The Congress offered conditional cooperation: a constituent assembly should be convened after the war to decide the political structure of a free India, and some form of genuinely responsible government should be established at the Centre immediately. Linlithgow rejected the offer.
What views were expressed at the Wardha meeting?
Gandhi favoured unconditional support for the Allies, Bose and the socialists favoured no support and a civil disobedience movement, and Nehru wanted no participation until India was free but no immediate struggle. Gandhi accepted Nehru's position, which the Working Committee adopted.
Why did the Congress ministries resign in 1939?
Viceroy Linlithgow's statement of 17 October 1939 refused to define war aims or concede the Congress's demands. On 23 October the Working Committee rejected it, decided not to support the war and called on the Congress ministries to resign.
What did the Ramgarh session of 1940 decide?
The Ramgarh session of March 1940, under Maulana Azad, declared that India would accept nothing short of complete independence, not dominion status, and that civil disobedience would be launched when the organisation was fit or a crisis arose. The form and timing were left to Gandhi.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Congress ministries were asked to resign after the Working Committee decision of 23 October 1939.
The Committee rejected the viceregal statement.
2 Gandhi's view at Wardha was adopted by the Working Committee.
He went with Nehru's position.
3 The Congress offer of 1939 asked for a constituent assembly after the war.
It also asked for responsible government at the Centre.
4 The Ramgarh session was held in March 1940.
Maulana Azad presided.
5 India was consulted before being declared at war in September 1939.
Indian opinion was not consulted.
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