Following the abrupt suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922 after the Chauri Chaura incident, the Indian National Movement faced a temporary lull and internal division. The Indian National Congress split ideologically into two factions regarding their immediate strategy: the Swarajists (Pro-changers) and the No-Changers. While the Swarajists sought to enter the legislative councils to wreck the reforms from within, the No-Changers focused entirely on grassroots organizing. Despite their political differences, both factions engaged in massive Constructive Work throughout the 1920s, which served as the bedrock for public mobilization ahead of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
The Ideological Divide: Pro-Changers vs. No-Changers
The debate over council entry was resolved at the Gaya Session of the Congress (December 1922), leading to the formation of a distinct group within the nationalist fold.
| Feature | Pro-Changers (Swarajists) | No-Changers |
| Prominent Leaders | CR Das, Motilal Nehru, Ajmal Khan, NC Kelkar, Vithalbhai Patel. | C. Rajagopalachari, Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad, MA Ansari. |
| Core Strategy | End or amend the Government of India Act 1919 by entering legislative councils. | Boycott councils; focus exclusively on the Gandhian constructive programme. |
| Political Stance | Political action through obstructionism within the colonial administrative machinery. | Grassroots preparation for the next phase of mass civil disobedience. |
| Compromise | Formed the Congress-Khilafat Swarajya Party inside Congress to avoid a 1907 Surat-style split. | Allowed Swarajists to contest elections under the Congress banner (Belgaum Session, 1924). |
Legislative Achievements of the Swarajists
The Swarajists contested the elections in November 1923, winning 42 out of 101 elected seats in the Central Legislative Assembly, and securing clear majorities or coalition dominance in several provincial councils like the Central Provinces.
Obstructionism and Constitutional Deadlocks
The Swarajists consistently outvoted the colonial government on financial budgets, forcing governors to use their certification powers to pass bills. This exposed the autocracy inherent in the Diarchy system introduced by the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms.
Significant Legislative Victories
- The Public Safety Bill (1928): The Swarajists successfully defeated the government’s Public Safety Bill, which aimed to empower the state to deport undesirable foreign communists, arguing it was an attack on Indian civil liberties.
- Election of Vithalbhai Patel (1925): Vithalbhai Patel was elected as the first Indian President (Speaker) of the Central Legislative Assembly, establishing a precedent for Indian parliamentary autonomy.
- Appointment of the Muddiman Committee: Due to constant Swarajist pressure for constitutional revision, the government appointed the Alexander Muddiman Committee (1924) to investigate the defects of the Diarchy system.
The Constructive Work Programme
Simultaneously, the No-Changers worked extensively in rural and semi-urban India. This constructive work was designed to build institutional self-reliance, bridge communal divides, and maintain the nationalist momentum during the political lull.
Promotion of Khadi and Village Industries
- All India Spinners’ Association: Established to popularize hand-spinning and hand-weaving, making Khadi a uniform for nationalists and a symbol of economic self-reliance.
- Economic Self-Reliance: Hundreds of Ashrams (such as the Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat and Bardoli Ashram) sprouted across India, training cadres in spinning, carding, and weaving to boycott foreign cloth permanently.
National Education and Institutional Development
- Alternative Educational Infrastructure: To accommodate students who boycotted government schools during Non-Cooperation, national universities were strengthened and expanded.
- Key Institutions Founded/Supported:
- Kashi Vidyapith (Varanasi)
- Gujarat Vidyapith (Ahmedabad)
- Jamia Millia Islamia (Aligarh, later shifted to Delhi)
- Bihar Vidyapith (Patna)
Social Upliftment and Anti-Untouchability Campaigns
- Removal of Untouchability: Activists worked to open public wells, temples, and schools to the depressed classes.
- Vaikom Satyagraha (1924–25): Led by K. Kelappan, T.K. Madhavan, and K.P. Kesava Menon in Travancore, this movement focused on securing temple-entry rights for lower castes, drawing active support from the national leadership.
Communal Harmony and Social Reform
- Anti-Drink Campaigns: Picketing of liquor shops remained a core activity to curb state excise revenue and address domestic poverty.
- Nationalist Ashrams as Conflict Resolution Hubs: Nationalists attempted to defuse communal tensions, which had escalated post-1922 due to the rise of Shuddhi/Sangathan and Tanzeem/Tabligh movements.
Critical Evaluation and Historical Significance
Weaknesses and Decline of the Swarajists
- Internal Factionalism and Communalism: Following the death of CR Das in 1925, the party split. A faction known as the Responsivists (NC Kelkar, MR Jayakar, BS Moonje) advocated cooperating with the government to secure Hindu interests, weakening the party’s secular stance.
- Co-option by the Raj: The lure of office diluted the original obstructionist policy. Several Swarajists accepted positions on government committees (e.g., Motilal Nehru joining the Skeen Committee on Indianisation of the Army).
Significance of Constructive Work
- Cadre Building: The network of ashrams trained a disciplined core of volunteer workers (Satyagrahis) who understood the mechanics of peaceful protest.
- Rural Penetration: Constructive work successfully carried the message of nationalism deeper into rural India, integrating peasants, women, and marginalized castes into the mainstream political movement.
- Foundation for Future Struggle: The organizational roots laid during this period enabled the Congress to launch the comprehensive Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 with immediate, nationwide efficacy.