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

DESHBANDHU C. R. DAS IN POWER 129
were acceptable to the bulk of Congressmen so that the
Government would feel that in the event of a settlement being
arrived at, the Deshbandhu was in a position to deliver the
goods. At that time the Government attached great value to
the Bengal Provincial Conference, because Bengal was then
the storm centre and contained some of the most radical
elements in the Indian National Congress. Therefore a
proposal which was carried in Bengal, would in all probability
be acceptable to Congressmen elsewhere. Deshbandhu Das
made a speech which was regarded as rather tame for a
Bengal audience. He discussed the question of Dominion
Status versus Independence as the goal of the Congress, and
declared that he stood for the former. Moreover, he spoke
in condemnation of terrorism. The speech as a whole appeared
to be an appeal to the Government and to the more extreme
elements among Indians to adopt a compromising attitude so
that the ground could be prepared for a settlement. It was,
however, not welcomed by the youthful section of the audience
and there was a possibility that he would be defeated when
the matter was put to the vote. Nevertheless, so great was
his personal influence at the time and so transparent his
sincerity of purpose that he carried the day. The delibera-
tions of the Faridpur Conference were on the whole satis-
factory to the authorities with whom the Deshbandhu was
engaged in negotiating.
Soon after this, Lord Reading left India for London, as
the Conservative Cabinet and the Secretary of State for
India, Lord Birkenhead, wanted to consult him. By that
time it was in the air that negotiations had been going on
between Deshbandhu Das and the Government, though
hardly anyone knew any details. It was announced that after
consulting Lord Reading, Lord Birkenhead would make an
important pronouncement about India. Everyone in India
awaited this speech with the greatest interest and eagerness.
Then came a sudden bolt from the blue. In June 1925,
when Deshbandhu Das was having a rest in the hill-station of
Darjeeling, the summer capital of the Bengal Government,
he fell seriously ill. After a brief attack he suddenly died.
The whole country was at once plunged in grief. He was at
I