The police actions at Lucknow confirmed Jawaharlal’s national standing. He was no longer merely a politician of the United Provinces; throughout India his popularity leapt, and he was firmly established as one of the front runners of his generation.
Gandhi realized and welcomed this—‘‘My love to you. It was all done bravely. You have braver things to do. May God spare you for many a long year to come and make you his chosen instrument for freeing Indian from yoke.” Hence in 1929 he suggested the name of Jawaharlal for Congress presidentship and it was passed unanimously. Jawaharlal was the youngest person ever for such a high post. Although some persons had doubt and were astonished at Gandhi’s decision but later Gandhi cleared their doubt and convinced them that he is not wrong. Exact one year before Motilal was on this post and in Calcutta session a long procession was taken out. “What the father is unable to accomplish, the son achieves,” said Motilal as he left the presidential seat for Jawaharlal. At the stroke of midnight on December 31, 1929, the resolution on independence was carried. In his presidential address, Jawaharlal declared himself a republican and a socialist and a new note was heard in the Congress. Gandhiji was to guide the Congress still and he was the father figure, but from then on Jawaharlal was essentially on his own.
Anand Bhawan became Swaraj Bhawan
After the Lahore session Motilal decided to gift his beautiful house ‘Anand Bhawan’ to the nation. As Congress president, Jawaharlal accepted the gift. Although this house was for long related to freedom struggle, so its name changed to Swaraj Bhawan and made the office of the All India Congress Committee.
Nehru family started living in a nearby house, which was built by Motilal a few days back. Now this new house has been named Anand Bhawan.
Breaking salt Act
Although Congress had declared Total Swaraj but the government had not taken it seriously. Hence for Congress it was necessary to take strict action to that the govt can realise their activity. Hence Gandhiji made up his mind to break salt act.
On 6th April, the first day of the national week celebrated annually in memory of the Jallianwala Bagh incident, Gandhi manufactured salt and Jawaharlal called on the country to go ahead with mass civil disobedience. He himself took charge of the campaign in Allahabad district. On the 9th he sold packets of contraband salt in the city. On April 14, Jawaharlal was arrested tried in prison and sentenced to six months under the Salt Act. He was taken to Naini and Motilal succeeded him as acting president. There were processions, lathi charges, firings as volunteers broke the salt law and manufactured salt on the beeches and at river beds. Women for the first time took an active part in agitation with their pots and pans, and Kamla Nehru threw herself into the struggle with enthusiasm and showed organizing ability. Later Gandhi was arrested on May 5 and imprisoned in Yervada Jail without trial. This led to spectacular raids on salt depots. Then Motilal, who had been directing the satyagraha effectively, was arrested and then hundreds and thousands of congressmen. There were more acts of disobedience and more arrests, more lathi charges and more firings. The government realized the astuteness of Gandhi’s strategy, saw the danger of disobedience, and let loose repression.
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