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

THE BAROMETER RISES 175
While the Nehru Committee was engaged in threshing out
the principles of the new Constitution, interesting events
were taking place elsewhere. In May 1928, I was called upon
to preside over the Maharashtra Provincial Conference at
Poona. The enthusiasm I met with there was striking. In my
speech I advocated some new lines of activity for Congress-
men which I had decided on during my prolonged incar-
ceration in Burma. For instance, I urged that the Congress
should directly take up the task of organising labour and that
youths and students should start organisations of their own
for looking after their own interests and also for serving
their country. I also urged separate political organisations
for women, in addition to their participation in the Congress
organisations. From Poona I went to Bombay and found
that the youths there had already founded the Bombay
Presidency Youth League and were preparing to take the
initiative in national service at a time when the Congress
Committee was not giving the lead expected of it. The
month of June found a no-tax campaign in full swing in the
Bardoli sub-division in Gujerat where in 1922 the Mahatma
had sounded the order of retreat. A 20 per cent. increase in
land revenue assessment had been ordered by the Govern-
ment and the peasants under the leadership of Mr. Vallabhbhai
Patel (the younger of the Patel brothers) refused to pay and
resorted to Satyagraha. The usual police repression followed,
including the confiscation of property and land. A heroic
non-violent battle was waged by the peasantry of Bardoli for
several months and ultimately the Government had to yield.
The whole of Bombay Presidency—and particularly Bombay
city—rallied to the support of the Bardoli peasants and women
took an active part in the movement. The Bardoli campaign
was the precursor of the larger fight that Bombay was to wage
in 1930. Out of this campaign Mr. Vallabhbhai Patel emerged
with a great reputation. Prior to this he was of course known
as one of the sincerest and staunchest lieutenants of the
Mahatma but the Bardoli victory brought him into the front
rank of India's leaders. In appreciation of his heroic service,
the Mahatma gave him the title of 'Sardar' (meaning Leader)
by which he is now generally called.