S Sen: 4th Feb 2022
There's a rather popular and facile explanation offered by (sections of) the Left that the anti-colonial "militancy" displayed by Chauri Chaura did so much alert Gandhi to the looming prospect of the independence movement being taken over by the Left - he immediately withdrew the rising Non-cooperation Movement that he himself had initiated.
The problem with this thesis is essentially twofold.
I. In 1919, there was hardly any trace of Left in India - let alone any potential leadership or even organised outfit to take over a pan-national mass movement still in the budding stage.
There were, however, dispersed sparks of militant nationalism in Bengal, Maharashtra and Punjab, in particular.
II. In 1942, a way more widespread militant mass protest against the imperial rule with a section of the Left - by then very much in place, viz. the CSP, in command failed to cause any whatever headache for Gandhi.
Not to forget, Subhas Bose, in 1939, as the symbol and leader of the (Congress) Left in the country had defeated a candidate enjoying Gandhi's backing in the Congress presidential poll and got elected for the second time; perhaps, in '39, for the first time time, there was a contest.
Yet, from behind the prison bars - where he would be lodged immediately after issuing the Quit India call, uttered not a word of disapproval of the violence that came to be displayed.
A far more plausible explanation was that, back in 1919, Gandhi was, quite rightly, terrified of the prospect of the budding mass movement soon degenerating into uncontrolled spontaneous orgy of violence offering the colonial ruler a very convenient alibi for scotching the possibility of any mass movement in the near future with a very heavy hand.
In '42, in stark contrast, he was way more self-confident of himself and the mass movement that he was leading then.
A pet fantasy of the Indian Left.
That's what it is.
The incumbent evil regime is hell bent upon discrediting the epic Indian freedom struggle with whatever resources from whatever corners.
From a Friend's FB Wall:
<<Today marks the centenary of the Chauri Chaura incident that rocked the nation a hundred years ago.
The Modi Government celebrated the 99th anniversary last year. For the uninitiated, Chauri Chaura is a small town in the Gorakhpur district of the then United Province (now UP) in British India where a section of protestors participating in the Non-cooperation Movement set fire to a police station, killing all policemen inside. Mahatma Gandhi, called off the movement within a few days.
Many criticized the decision to withdraw the movement but only a few justified the act. The debate continues.
What puzzles me is why the Modi Government celebrated the day. Are they aware that it opens a Pandora's box?>>