Swarajists and No-Changers
Modern History › Swarajists, New Forces and Revolutionaries in the 1920s · Topic 18.1
After Gandhi's arrest in March 1922, the Congress split on how to use the passive phase. The Swarajists under C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru and Ajmal Khan wanted to enter the legislative councils to end or mend them, while the No-Changers under Rajagopalachari, Patel, Rajendra Prasad and M.A. Ansari wanted constructive work. The Swarajist Party was formed after the Gaya session of December 1922.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Swarajists, New Forces and Revolutionaries in the 1920s
At a Glance
- Cause Passive phase after Gandhi’s arrest in March 1922
- Swarajists C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru, Ajmal Khan: enter councils
- No-Changers C. Rajagopalachari, Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad, M.A. Ansari: constructive work
- Party formed Congress-Khilafat Swarajya Party after the Gaya session, December 1922
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Swarajists, New Forces and Revolutionaries in the 1920s
Where Does It Fit?
This is the first topic of the category on the Swarajists, new forces and revolutionaries in the 1920s. The previous topic evaluated the Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement. This topic covers the split over council entry and how it was resolved. The next topic covers the work of both groups. Previous topic: Evaluation of the Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement.
How Did the Debate Begin?
After Gandhi’s arrest in March 1922 there was disintegration, disorganisation and demoralisation in nationalist ranks. A debate started among Congressmen on what to do in the transition, the passive phase of the movement. The withdrawal that led to it is in Government Response and Withdrawal of the Movement.
| School | Leaders | View |
|---|---|---|
| Swarajists | C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru, Ajmal Khan | End the boycott of legislative councils, enter them to expose their weaknesses and use them as an arena of political struggle to arouse popular enthusiasm; end or mend them, and obstruct their working if the government did not respond |
| No-Changers | C. Rajagopalachari, Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad, M.A. Ansari | Oppose council entry, concentrate on constructive work, continue boycott and non-cooperation, and prepare quietly for resuming civil disobedience |
How Was the Swarajist Party Formed?
The differences over council entry led to the defeat of the Swarajists’ proposal of end or mend at the Gaya session of the Congress in December 1922. C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru resigned as president and secretary of the Congress and announced the formation of the Congress-Khilafat Swarajya Party, or Swarajist Party, with C.R. Das as president and Motilal Nehru as one of the secretaries.
What Were the Arguments of Each Side?
The Swarajists argued that entering the councils would not negate non-cooperation but would carry on the movement by other means, opening a new front. In a time of political vacuum, council work would keep up the morale of the masses, and the entry of nationalists would stop the government stuffing the councils with undesirable elements who could give legitimacy to its measures. The councils were to be an arena of struggle and not organs for gradual transformation of colonial rule.
The No-Changers argued that parliamentary work would lead to neglect of constructive work, loss of revolutionary zeal and political corruption, and that constructive work would prepare people for the next phase of civil disobedience.
How Was the Split Avoided?
Both sides wanted to avoid a split like that of 1907, and kept in touch with Gandhi in jail. Both realised the importance of a united front to force the government to introduce reforms, and both accepted that Gandhi should lead a united nationalist front. A compromise was reached at a meeting in Delhi in September 1923.
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Swarajists | Allowed to contest elections as a group within the Congress |
| Programme | They accepted the Congress programme, with the one difference that they would join legislative councils |
| Elections | To the new Central Legislative Assembly and provincial councils in November 1923 |
The earlier split is described in Surat Split, 1907. As an analytical point, the compromise worked because both sides accepted a shared leader and a shared goal and differed only on a method, which is why they could reunite later whenever a new struggle was due.
What Did the Swarajist Manifesto Say?
Released in October 1923, the Swarajist manifesto took a strongly anti-imperialist line.
| Point | Content |
|---|---|
| British motive | The guiding motive of the British in governing India lay in selfish interests of their own country |
| Reforms | The so-called reforms were a blind to further those interests while pretending to grant responsible government, the real objective being to continue exploiting India’s resources and keep Indians subservient |
| Demand | The Swarajists would present the nationalist demand for self-government in the councils |
| Obstruction | If rejected, a policy of uniform, continuous and consistent obstruction within the councils to make governance through them impossible |
| Method | Wreck the councils from within by creating deadlocks on every measure |
How Did Gandhi’s Attitude Change?
Gandhi was at first opposed to council entry. After his release from prison on health grounds in February 1924, he moved gradually towards reconciliation. He felt that public opposition to council entry would be counter-productive. In the November 1923 elections the Swarajists had won 42 of 141 elected seats and a clear majority in the provincial assembly of the Central Provinces; in the legislatures, in cooperation with the Liberals and independents like Jinnah and Malaviya, they won a majority. Their courageous and uncompromising conduct convinced him that they would not become another limb of colonial administration.
A government crackdown on revolutionary terrorists and the Swarajists towards the end of 1924 angered Gandhi, and he expressed solidarity by surrendering to their wishes. The two sides reached an agreement in 1924, endorsed at the Belgaum session in December 1924, which Gandhi presided over, the only time he did so, that the Swarajists would work in the councils as an integral part of the Congress. What the Swarajists did in the councils is in Swarajist Activity in the Councils and the No-Changers’ Constructive Work.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Method debate Council entry versus constructive work is a favourite Mains theme
- Party details Names, dates and leaders are stock Prelims facts
- Constitutional route Links to the use of councils by nationalists
What Came Next?
The next topic describes what the Swarajists achieved in the councils and what the No-Changers did outside them. Next topic: Swarajist Activity in the Councils and the No-Changers’ Constructive Work.
Key People and Terms
- Swarajists Those who advocated council entry
- No-Changers Those who opposed council entry and favoured constructive work
- End or mend The Swarajist plan to reform or wreck the councils
- Gaya session Congress session of December 1922 where the Swarajist proposal was defeated
- Swarajist Party Congress-Khilafat Swarajya Party, with C.R. Das as president
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Gaya session: December 1922; Swarajist Party formed; Das president, Motilal Nehru secretary.
- Delhi compromise: September 1923; manifesto: October 1923.
- Elections of November 1923: 42 of 141 elected seats.
- Gandhi released February 1924; Belgaum December 1924.
- No-Changers: Rajagopalachari, Patel, Prasad, Ansari.
Do Not Confuse With
- Swarajists and No-Changers Council entry versus constructive work
- End or mend and obstruction Mend if the government responded; obstruct if not
- Gaya and Belgaum Gaya: proposal defeated, party formed; Belgaum: agreement endorsed
Memory Hook
Das and Nehru wanted in, Rajaji and Patel wanted out, Gandhi finally blessed both.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the arguments of the two groups and the compromise. These points add depth.
- Swarajist case Another front of the movement
- No-Changer case Danger of corruption and neglect of mass work
- Unity Delhi compromise and Belgaum
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Compare the views of the Swarajists and the No-Changers and explain how the differences between them were resolved.”
How to Answer
- Context Passive phase after 1922.
- Compare Arguments of each school.
- Resolution Delhi compromise, manifesto and Belgaum.
- Conclude Unity on goal despite differences of method.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the Swarajists and the No-Changers?
After the withdrawal of non-cooperation, the Swarajists, led by C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru and Ajmal Khan, wanted to enter the legislative councils. The No-Changers, led by C. Rajagopalachari, Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad and M.A. Ansari, opposed council entry and favoured constructive work.
How was the Swarajist Party formed?
At the Gaya session in December 1922 the Swarajist proposal to end or mend the councils was defeated. C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru resigned as Congress president and secretary and formed the Congress-Khilafat Swarajya Party, with Das as president and Motilal Nehru as a secretary.
What was the Delhi compromise of 1923?
In September 1923 a meeting in Delhi allowed the Swarajists to contest elections as a group within the Congress. They accepted the Congress programme with one difference, that they would join the legislative councils, in the elections of November 1923.
What did the Swarajist manifesto of 1923 promise?
Released in October 1923, it said the British governed India for selfish reasons and the reforms were a blind. It promised to present the demand for self-government in the councils and, if rejected, to obstruct them continuously and consistently to make governance impossible.
How did Gandhi's attitude to the Swarajists change?
Gandhi first opposed council entry. After release in February 1924, he saw that opposition would be counter-productive and that the Swarajists were not becoming part of colonial administration. A crackdown at the end of 1924 angered him, and the Belgaum session in December 1924 agreed they would work in councils as part of the Congress.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Swarajist Party was formed after the Gaya session of December 1922.
C.R. Das was president and Motilal Nehru a secretary.
2 The No-Changers favoured entry into the legislative councils.
They opposed council entry and favoured constructive work.
3 The Swarajists won 42 of 141 elected seats in the November 1923 elections.
They also won a majority in the Central Provinces assembly.
4 Gandhi presided over the Belgaum session of the Congress in December 1924.
It was the only time he presided.
5 The Swarajist plan was to end or mend the councils.
They would obstruct the councils if the government did not respond.
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