द इण्डियन स्ट्रगल / भारतीय स्वाधीनता संग्राम (नेताजी सुभाष चन्द्र बोस - ऐतिहासिक विश्लेषण)

DESHBANDHU C. R. DAS IN POWER ' 121
resolution was unanimously passed at the Sirajganj Con-
ference and it caused considerable annoyance to the Govern-
ment.
While these stirring events were happening in Bengal,
interesting developments were taking place elsewhere.
Mahatma Gandhi, as we have already seen, was released on
February 5th. He went to a seaside resort near Bombay for
rest and change of climate. After some weeks he was able
to take interest once again in public affairs and gradually to
assume his normal activities. Speculation at once arose as to
what attitude Gandhiji would take up with regard to the
Swaraj Party. On principle he was of course bitterly opposed
to the Swarajist policy of ‘Council-entry,’ nevertheless, he
did not adopt a hostile attitude. It may be that he found the
position of the Swarajists to be too strong in the country to
be able to overthrow them and so he bowed to the inevitable.
Or it may be that he felt that the changed circumstances in
the country warranted a change in tactics. Be that as it may,
he met the Swarajist leaders, Deshbandhu Das and Pandit
Motilal Nehru and arrived at an understanding with them.
This agreement, known as the Gandhi-Das Pact, was to the
effect that the Mahatma was to devote himself to the Khadi
Campaign, while the Swarajists were to be in charge of
the political campaign. In order to carry on his work
without any interference on the part of the Congress or the
Swaraj Party, the Mahatma was empowered to organise
an autonomous body to be called the All-India Spinners’
Association. This body was to have its own funds and its own
Secretariat.
The Swaraj Party, on the other hand, was to carry on its
work as an autonomous body independently of the Congress
and to have its own Secretariat.¹ The alliance thus struck
between the Mahatma and the Swaraj Party soon ripened into
friendship as a result of conciliatory statements made by the
former from time to time. On one occasion, for instance, he
said in his characteristic style, ‘My political conscience is in
the keeping of the Swarajists.’ On another occasion he is
¹ This agreement was ratified at the annual session of the Congress
held at Belgaum in December, over which Mahatma Gandhi presided.