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

CHAPTER IX
SIGNS OF COMING UPHEAVAL (1929)
THE net result of the Calcutta Congress, as we have seen,
was to put the clock back. But a far-sighted politician like
the Mahatma could read the signs of the times. The Left
Wing opposition at the Calcutta Congress had indeed been
formidable and if his leadership was to be retained, he would
have to deal with the opposition in a diplomatic manner.
The tactics employed by the Mahatma during the next twelve
months were indeed superb. As we shall presently see, he
took the wind out of the sails of the Extremists,¹ by himself
advocating independence at the next Congress and divided
the ranks of the opposition by winning over some of the Left
Wing leaders. The Left Wing opposition had become a
menace to all sections among the older leaders; to the Swara-
jists as much as to the 'No-Changers,' and the Calcutta Con-
gress had found the Swarajist Pandit Motilal Nehru standing
side by side with the 'No-Changer' Mahatma Gandhi, in
order to fight the common danger. This temporary alliance
was further strengthened during the ensuing months and with
the help of a section of the Left-Wing leaders, it became
possible for the Mahatma to regain his hold on the Congress
machinery and his prestige in the country, which had been
badly shaken by the proceedings of the Calcutta Congress.
No one can seriously maintain that a shrewd politician like
the Mahatma really expected the Government to climb down
and to concede Dominion Home Rule without a fight, merely
as a result of a written ultimatum delivered by the Congress.
Therefore, one would be entitled to hold that at the Calcutta
Congress, the Mahatma was merely playing for time, because
¹ He began this propaganda soon after the Calcutta Congress by stating
publicly that if by December 31st, 1929, the Government did not concede
Dominion Status to India, he would become an 'Independencewallah' on
January 1st, 1930. This time-limit of one year was reminiscent of his
promise of Swaraj within one year in 1921.
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