1929 INC Session and Poorna Swaraj — UPSC Prelims PYQ 2014
The 1929 Session of Indian, National Congress is of significance in the history of the Freedom Movement because the
- attainment of Self-Government was declared as the objective of the Congress
- attainment of Poorna Swaraj Was adopted as the goal of the Congress
- Non-Cooperation Movement was launched
- decision to participate in the Round Table Conference in London was taken
Explanation
Option (b) is correct
- The 44th Session of the INC convened in Lahore from December 29th, 1929, to January 1st, 1930. It was presided over by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
- It took the following important decisions:
- It passed a resolution declaring Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence) to be the Congress’s objective.
- It declared that the entire Nehru Committee’s Report scheme had become invalid. This was declared because the government had not acted towards establishing a Dominion Self-Government.
- It decided to boycott the Round Table Conference.
- It authorised the Working Committee to launch a Civil Disobedience program, including nonpayment of taxes, whenever deemed appropriate.
- It asked all members of the legislature to resign their seats.
- January 26, 1930, was designated as the first Independence Day to be celebrated annually thereafter.
- At midnight on December 31st, 1929, Jawaharlal Nehru unfurled the newly adopted tri-colour flag on the banks of the river Ravi.
Option (a) is incorrect
- The objective of Self-Government was declared earlier in the 1906 Calcutta session under Dadabhai Naoroji.
- Due to the pressure of extremist leaders, self-government (swaraj) within the British Empire (based on the model of colonies like the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada) was declared the goal of Congress.
Option (c) is incorrect
- During 1920-21, the Indian National Movement entered a new phase, i.e. a phase of mass politics and mass mobilisation. British rule was opposed by two mass movements, Khilafat and Non-Cooperation.
- The Khilafat Committee launched a non-cooperation movement on 31 August 1920. Gandhi was the first to join it. In December 1920, the Nagpur Session of Congress, presided over by C. Vijayaraghavachariar, approved the non-cooperation resolution.
Option (d) is incorrect
- After signing the Gandhi-Irwin Pact on March 5, 1931, Congress suspended the Civil Disobedience Movement and agreed to participate in the Second Round Table Conference.
Answer: (b) attainment of Poorna Swaraj Was adopted as the goal of the Congress; Difficulty Level: Easy
