Centenary of Swaraj Party Legislature Walkout
Why focus: 100th anniversary event (1926)—Classic GS1 Modern History, maps directly to NCERT Class 12 on Swarajists and 1919 Act dyarchy.
In News
What Happened
Why It Matters
Background
History & Context
What Changed
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Political Strategy BEFORE: The Swarajists relied on 'uniform, continuous and consistent obstruction' inside the legislative councils to demand self-government. NOW: The Swarajists abandoned the councils, acknowledging the limits of institutional politics and returning to mass civil disobedience.
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Congress Dynamics BEFORE: Deep ideological divisions existed between the 'Pro-changers' (who favored council entry) and the 'No-changers' (who favored grassroots constructive work). NOW: The walkout signaled the end of the council-entry experiment, facilitating a closing of ranks within the Congress under Mahatma Gandhi's overarching leadership.
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Constitutional Focus BEFORE: The primary focus was on exposing the flaws and deadlocking the dyarchy system established by the Government of India Act 1919. NOW: The nationalist focus shifted toward drafting a completely new, independent constitution, directly paving the way for the Nehru Report in 1928 and the Poorna Swaraj resolution in 1929.
Prelims Angle
NCERT Connection
Practice Questions
Q1
Correct Statement(s)With reference to the Swaraj Party and its political strategy during the 1920s, consider the following statements: 1. The Swarajists, known as 'Pro-changers', advocated entering legislative councils to wreck the Government of India Act 1919 from within. 2. The March 1926 walkout from the Legislative Assembly occurred because the British Government successfully passed the Government of India Act 1935, granting full provincial autonomy. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?