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

THE STORM BREAKS 83
That year was drawing to a close: Barely a fortnight was left
and within this short period something had to be achieved
in order to save the face of the Congress and fulfil the
Mahatma’s promise regarding Swaraj. The offer of the Viceroy
had come to him as a godsend. If a settlement was made
before December 31st and all the political prisoners were
released, it would appear to the popular imagination as a
great triumph for the Congress. The Round Table Con-
ference might, or might not be a success, but if it failed and
the Government refused to concede the popular demands—
the Congress could resume the fight at any time and when
it did so, it would command greater prestige and public
confidence.
The above logic was irrefutable and I felt convinced.
Under the joint signatures of Deshbandhu Das and Moulana
A. K. Azad, a telegram was sent to Mahatma Gandhi recom-
mending for acceptance, the proposed terms of settlement.
A reply came to the effect that he insisted on the release of
the Ali brothers and their associates as a part of the terms of
settlement and also on an announcement regarding the date
and composition of the Round Table Conference. Unfor-
tunately, the Viceroy was not in a mood for any further
parleying and wanted an immediate decision. All that the
Deshbandhu could do in the circumstances was to send for
his friends who were then outside prison and urge upon them
that they should use all possible means to get the Mahatma
to agree. These friends did so and many telegrams passed
between Calcutta and Sabarmati, the usual residence of the
Mahatma near Ahmedabad. Ultimately the Mahatma did
come round, but by then it was too late. The Government of
India, tired of waiting, had changed their mind. The Desh-
bandhu was beside himself with anger and disgust. ‘The
chance of a lifetime, he said, had been lost.
The feeling among the political prisoners, as also among
the Congress rank and file, was that the Mahatma had com-
mitted a serious blunder. Only a minority, who had blind
faith in him, refused to pass any judgment. However, since
the opportunity had been lost, there was no option but to make
the best of a bad situation. The Deshbandhu had been