The history of any political party is not merely a compilation of some dates and some events, but it is a systematic scientific record of the era-forming events. The dissolution of the Congress in 1969 is an important chapter in the purification of the Congress under the leadership of Mrs. Indira Gandhi. This was a period when the ancient and regressive powers were in conflict with the modern and progressive forces in the country.
On December 28, 1885, on the initiative of Shri A.O. Huyum, people of political and social ideologies from different regions of the country gathered on one platform at the Gokuldas Sanskrit College ground in Bombay (now Mumbai). In that political gathering, it was decided to form the organization. It was named ‘Congress’. Shri W.C.Banerjee became the first President of Congress. In his presidential address, he stressed on creating a new environment of social harmony in the country. Since then Congress is not a party but the name of an idea and movement, that is why even after 136 years, the journey of that idea continues uninterruptedly. If we look at the period from 1915 to 1947, it was the ‘Gandhi era’ of the Congress. Mahatma Gandhi gave the freedom movement the form of mass through Satyagraha and mass movement. Mahatma Gandhi started the social revolution through non-violence, sarva dharma equanimity and constructive programs. Not only did the freedom movement reach its decisive stage under his leadership, but the Congress gained a wide support base.
The concept of social justice was conceptualized by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, whom Gandhi called the ‘Jawahar of India’. Pandit Nehru incorporated his intense feelings towards social justice in the freedom struggle. Nehru linked India’s freedom struggle with the worldwide struggle against imperialism. By implementing social harmony, Pandit Nehru did the work of connecting the person at the last end of the society with the stream of progress. After him, Lal Bahadur Shastri took over the reins of power and in his short tenure, he created a new spirit of “Shramvem Jayate” in the whole country with the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’.
After him, Indiraji, like a visionary skilled craftsman, embodied the ideals of socialism by expressing the resolve to adapt it to the nature of Indian citizens and remove the socio-economic inequalities prevailing in the society. Indiraji made the Congress organization capable and powerful.
After Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi took over the leadership of the Congress. Rajiv Gandhi was a politician committed to the overall development of India. He took all the steps to take India forward on the path of rapid progress. The development of India was his agenda and a developed modern India was his dream. Rajivji left the world early. Mrs. Sonia Gandhi took the lead in fulfilling her unfulfilled dreams and she dedicated herself in saving and grooming the legacy of service to the nation. Due to the influence of his extraordinary personality and the hard work of innumerable Congress workers, the Congress returned to the central power in 2004. Reaching the pinnacle of power, leaving the post of Prime Minister on the voice of her conscience, Soniaji set a unique example in Indian politics.
The history of any political party is not merely a compilation of some dates and some events, but it is a systematic scientific record of the era-forming events. The dissolution of the Congress in 1969 is an important chapter in the purification of the Congress under the leadership of Mrs. Indira Gandhi. This was a period when the ancient and regressive powers were in conflict with the modern and progressive forces in the country. In this campaign, Pragati Paksha was led by Smt. Indira Gandhi and in the end, Pragati Paksha won. Indiraji felt that the working of the Congress should be changed to fight against poverty, unemployment and inequality. He urged the Congressmen to change their way of working and to realize in the fields, barns, factories and workers that the Congress’s struggle for socialism is their own struggle for them.
The Congress has seen many ups and downs during its long history. In this, the difficult path of politics has been decided for the experience of both victory and defeat. During 1977-78, many big stalwarts of Congress left Indiraji and joined the ruling Janata Party, but the general workers of Congress had faith in Indiraji. On January 2, 1978, history repeated itself and the Congress was again partitioned. Taking a visionary step, Smt. Indira Gandhi formed a new party (Congress-E) and the people of the country expressed their faith in Indiraji’s leadership by considering Congress-E as the real Congress. Indiraji gave new strength to the party by connecting the Congress with the hopes and aspirations of the common man.
The essential elements for a political party in a democratic system are – 1. Ideology, 2. Objective, 3. Active worker, 4. Struggle for the achievement of the goal, 5. Programs for the renewal of society. The co-ordination of these elements determines the activity, condition and direction of the political party. Disciplined and trained workers are needed in any political party. The values of discipline and dedication come from the training program itself. The All India Congress Committee had decided to organize a training camp in 1974 by amending the Constitution of the Congress. Late Rajiv Gandhi had also established Vikas Kendra in February 1983 under the aegis of Indian Youth Congress, through which training program was started for the youth. How to adapt the party to the need of the hour? And how to increase the support base of Congress? Reflecting on this, the Congress Working Committee emphasized the need for training programs for the propagation of the ideology of the Congress Party among the workers, which should include the policies, principles, contemporary issues and future programs of the Congress Party.
These days the questions being raised about the future of the Congress seem less factual, more bias-motivated. The Congress has never been ignorant of failures and defeats, but it is a fact that whenever non-Congress governments have come to power at the Centre, the country’s economy has collapsed, casteist, opportunistic and extremist alliances have strengthened. The moral values of secularism have been hurt and no work has been done for the welfare of the poor, weaker sections and the untouchables.
On the occasion of its foundation day, Congress needs an overview of its glorious past, introspection in the present and contemplation of a bright future. Today such forces dominate the country, whose goal is something other than democratic, secular India and who want to destroy the pluralistic character of India. While India is such a beautiful bouquet of different religions, cultures, languages and societies, in which many flowers bloom together, many colors shine.
We are proud of the leadership of the Congress in the form of Mrs. Sonia Gandhiji and Mrs. Rahul Gandhi and Mrs. Priyanka Gandhi, whose resolve is to work with the spirit of service in the interest of the country. With unshakable resolve, clear direction and strong intentions, in the present circumstances, Congress has to stand up to the challenge of the power-mongering, so that in the coming times, because of our policies, principles and programs, the Congress will gain the trust and support of all sections of the society. Ho. (The author has been the Minister of State for Defense Production, Personnel and Parliamentary Affairs in the Government of India.)
Author: Suresh Pachauri
