Part of: Miscellaneous Indian Gk set 290

Name the leaders who founded Swaraj Party?

Category: Miscellaneous Indian Gk

Hint: Consider the prominent leaders involved in the Indian National Congress during the early 20th

Correct Answer: A) CR Das and Motilal Nehru.

Exam Relevance: UPSC, SSC, Civil Services

Difficulty: Easy

Explanations:

The Swaraj Party, also known as the Indian National Congress (Swarajists), was a political party in India that was founded in 1923. The party was established by two prominent leaders of the Indian National Congress: Chittaranjan Das (CR Das) and Motilal Nehru. The primary aim of the Swaraj Party was to contest elections and work within the legislative councils to achieve self-rule (Swaraj) for India.

Chittaranjan Das, often referred to as CR Das, was a prominent lawyer and political leader from Bengal. He was a key figure in the Indian National Congress and played a significant role in the non-cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. Motilal Nehru, on the other hand, was a lawyer and a prominent leader from the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh). He was the father of Jawaharlal Nehru, who later became the first Prime Minister of independent India.

The Swaraj Party was formed in response to the Non-Cooperation Movement, which was called off by Mahatma Gandhi in 1922 after the Chauri Chaura incident. CR Das and Motilal Nehru believed that the best way to achieve self-rule was to participate in the elections and work within the legislative councils to bring about change. They felt that boycotting the elections would only leave the councils in the hands of loyalists to the British government.

The Swaraj Party contested the elections of 1923 and won a significant number of seats in the provincial and central legislative councils. This allowed them to voice their concerns and push for reforms within the existing political structure. The party played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement by advocating for self-rule and working within the legislative framework to achieve their goals.

It is important to note that while other leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose were significant figures in the Indian independence movement, they were not the founders of the Swaraj Party. Jawaharlal Nehru was the son of Motilal Nehru and later became a prominent leader in his own right, but he was not involved in the founding of the Swaraj Party. Subhash Chandra Bose, known for his role in the Indian National Army and his efforts to liberate India from British rule, was also not a founder of the Swaraj Party.

Understanding the role of CR Das and Motilal Nehru in founding the Swaraj Party is crucial for comprehending the strategies and approaches used by different factions within the Indian National Congress during the early 20th century. The Swaraj Party represented a significant shift in the tactics used to achieve self-rule, emphasizing the importance of working within the existing political structures to bring about change.

Option Analysis:
  • Option A: This option is correct. The Swaraj Party was indeed founded by Chittaranjan Das (CR Das) and Motilal Nehru in 1923. They aimed to contest elections and work within the legislative councils to achieve self-rule for India.
  • Option B: This option is incorrect. Jawaharlal Nehru, while a significant leader in the Indian independence movement, was not one of the founders of the Swaraj Party. The correct co-founder with CR Das was Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal's father.
  • Option C: This option is incorrect. Subhash Chandra Bose was a prominent leader in the Indian independence movement, but he was not one of the founders of the Swaraj Party. The correct co-founder with CR Das was Motilal Nehru.
  • Option D: This option is incorrect. While Motilal Nehru was indeed a founder of the Swaraj Party, Mahatma Gandhi was not. The correct co-founder with Motilal Nehru was Chittaranjan Das (CR Das).

Mnemonic: Swaraj: "C" for CR Das, "M" for Motilal Nehru

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