Subhash Chandra Bose was a very enthusiastic person. The particular conflict between Vallabhbhai on one side and Subhash Bose on the other, was a pertinent confrontation between differing men with differing modes of operation. The dispute was neither a simple one between the left and right, nor solely a fight between rivals for power and dominance. It was all this and much more.
The recurring victory of the moderates in Congress had been causing anxiety to men like Bose for sometime. His hostility to those who were keeping the flag flying in the name of Gandhi was based on several factors. To him leaders like Vallabhbhai were provincial men with strong provincial bases. They had taken charge of the Congress executive and ran the affairs of the entire Congress, even in provinces with which they were not familiar. They links with these provinces were often through men who did not speak for the entire province, or even a large part of it, but represented only sectional or limited interests which were promoted by the central Congress and which in turn supported Congress economically and otherwise.
Bose made the issue of federation the main target for his presidential team. He said, “My team of office as the Congress president will be devoted to resist this unwanted federal scheme with all its undemocratic and antinational features, with all the peaceful and legitimate powers, including non violent, non cooperation if necessary, and to strengthen the country’s determination to resist this scheme.
In Tripuri Congress session, the presidential speech of Subhash Bose was made read because Subhash was not well and was not present in the session on grounds of ill-health. In the session, Vallabhbhai gave a proposal which was passed unanimously. His proposal was—
“In the coming time, the country should have to pass through different situations. In such situations, the party who can lead our country is only Congress. The party knows very well that Gandhiji’s trust in party’s working should be maintained. The party also wants that this year the working should be according to the wishes of Gandhiji.”
Due to this proposal, Subhash Bose resigned from Congress Presidentship. Vallabhbhai treated Subhash to be a good human being but he does not want that Subhash should use Congress on his own way. Gandhiji also supported Vallabhbhai’s view. But the Nehrus were not consented from Vallabhbhai and Gandhiji’s views.
The southern lobby had already started the war to throw out Subhash from Congress. Their leader was Vallabhbhai. Hence finally Subhash left the Congress. Meanwhile in 1939, the world war had started. In July, 1940 the position of England had became precarious. The viceroy declared India’s war against Germany. Vallabhbhai became very angry on Viceroy’s speedy decision to declare war. He said in Anger—“India is not the property of viceroy. Only after consultation with the selected representatives of our country, we will decide whether to join the war or not. And moreover, we will join the war on the condition that after the war, the government will give freedom to India.
Viceroy became very upset on hearing Vallabhbhai’s saying. He organised a meeting with Gandhiji immediately. But Gandhiji refused to say anything clear cut. He left everything on Vallabhbhai. Then viceroy met Vallabhbhai. After the Vardha meeting, Congress urged to government the motives of the war. Also the Congress party under the presidentship of Jawaharlal Nehru established a war committee, whose members were Vallabhbhai and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
After that Viceroy declared that after the war, the British Government will give India, the status of the Dominion state. Congress doesn’t liked it at all. All the members of the Congress declared to resign from the ministry. This time many newspaper had told Congress selfish under the pressure of government. For this Vallabhbhai strongly criticised the government. He said let the government play as many tricks but it will never became successful in its motives.
Vallabhbhai’s intention towards Muslims and domestic kings became very clear. Both were creating obstructions for India’s freedom. Hence Vallabhbhai became strong and alert from them. He does not have even a little sympathy for them. Vallabhbhai was very worried regarding the unity and integrity of the country. A quite long time had been passed, since he joined the freedom movement. He gets disturbed on remembering the past time of ups and downs. He wanted that everybody should came forward by uniting themselves for the freedom of our country. His main aim was to throw out the British from India and to light the lamp of happiness.
Vallabhbhai was very optimistic person. While struggling for India’s independence he waked up the whole country. On seeing the awareness among the people, Vallabhbhai was sure that the day is not far when the Britishers will leave India. He said in clear-cut words—“Fellow Indians, be ready to bear anything. Now no one is going to stop our country from freedom.”
The whole credit to create awareness among people was given by Vallabhbhai to Gandhiji. But now the conditions were quite different. The Britishers had no mind to give freedom to India at any cost. They wanted to divide the country by raising the problems of minorities.
Muslim League was making another planning. It wanted a separate state for Muslims. It was least interested in India’s independence. It was polluting the minds of Muslim brothers in the name of religion. Its intention was division of India and formation of separate country Pakistan for Muslims. Hence it started showing dreams to Muslims for an separate Muslim country. Seeing this, the Britishers guessed that Muslim League wanted to destroy the non-violence policies of Gandhiji. Subhash Bose had already left his affection from non-violence quite sometime back. Jawaharlal Nehru was also slowly getting fed-up with the policy of non-violence. But Gandhiji was still thinking to the policies of non-violence. Only due to his rigid persistence, Subhash Bose separated from him; but Jawaharlal cannot kept himself away from the policies of non-violence.
At that time Vallabhbhai had strong grip over Congress. He was very happy on taking the charge of Congress. He was ready to bear any type of difficulties. In front of the Gujarat Congress PCC he described his mental status by saying—
“At present on seeing the emerging situation, it is impossible for Congress to practice non- violence in total, because atrocities are increasing in the country day by day. It is now necessary to treat the oppressors with violence. Then only we can set free our country and society from their atrocities. By spreading violence, Muslim League think that non-violence had made the Hindus coward.”
Hence at last Congress agreed to all the conditions of the government and gave their full cooperation during war. The condition was the independence after the war. But after sometime the government changed its mind to give freedom to India. They told the Congress to settle with the League. The Congress approached the League again and again and got a rebuff from Jinnah.
The Congress then decided to launch Civil Disobedience. Gandhiji thought of a unique type of satyagraha—individual satyagraha. This individual satyagraha succeeded for sometime in sustaining the morale of the people. Vinoba Bhave was the first to offer satyagraha. He was followed by Nehru and Vallabhbhai, who were soon arrested. Over thirty thousand people in various places thus offered satyagraha and were arrested. Vallabhbhai was arrested on 18th of November 1940 under the Defence of India rules and sent to Yervada jail. He was released unconditionally on medical grounds on 20th August 1941.
In March 1942 Japan was knocking at the gates of India. The British government sent Cripps Mission at that time. Cripps proposals envisaged granting of Dominion status after the end of war. A provision allowed any province or area that wished to do so to succeed from the Indian Union and form a separate Dominion. In fact Gandhiji asked Cripps, “How could you, a friend of Russia and India, be a party to this? I wonder why you undertook this mission.” The proposals were considered to be poison for India and were not acceptable to any party. They were denounced as “a post-dated cheque on a Crashing Bank”. No wonder Cripps mission failed.
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