Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru were soul-mates of each other. If we closely looked at the history then we will see that they were immensely dependent on each other. Whenever a kind of crisis arose on each of them, they cooperated each other so that the other partner would be quickly brought out of the situation. Gandhian ideology and the ideology of Nehru were similar for most part but still they had the recognizable differences.
Pandit Nehru was influenced by the Russian revolution of 1917. So from the early days of his political career he supported the socialist movements. The setting up of left parties particularly during the decade of 1930 made him believe that it is only socialism which could bring India out of dominion status. His political tour for Farmers organisations in central province made him aware about the problems of farmers. He never wanted to part away from the Congress instead he had a dream to move it more towards communist views.
The first major confrontation came during the start of Civil Disobedience Movement. At that time Lord Berkinhead challenged if Indians could make their own constitution. So Motilal Nehru, father of Javaharlal Nehru took the responsibility and gave India its first mini constitution in the form of Nehru report. However, it was opposed by nationalists including Javaharlal Nehru as it contained dominion status instead of full independence. Gandhi supported Motilal as he thought that it would be easy to negotiate with British with lower demand. Nehru and his friends were not accepting Gandhi's views. They wanted full independence with sovereignty. As a result Congress party was divided into two parts, one supported by Gandhi and Motilal while other by Javahar and Subhash Bose. As it has always happened in history, Gandhi negotiated with Nehru and promised him the launch of Civil Disobedience for negotiation with the dominion status.
When the movement was over, British gave opportunity to Indians to take part in elections. This elections was a part of the historical act of 1935. So again there was a question in-front of congress whether to take part in it or not? Right wing of the Congress supported elections. Initially Gandhi did not like the idea but looking at the mounting pressure he also decided to support elections. Left parties wanted revolutionary protest instead of only election participation. At this time Nehru acted as a negotiator and it was decided to participate in election.
Congress came in power after the elections. Their period was dominated by pro-British activities. Lot of right wing candidates took decisions in the favor of Moneylenders and powerful people. Common people were deprived of their fundamental rights. The whole Congress party became the caretaker of moneylenders. Nehru did not like this situation. He started opposing the overall nature of Gandhian philosophy. He started believing that Congress is a party of people who supports only powerful people.
Nehru thought that Gandhi's methods are nothing more than a compromises. He told his supporters that the full independence can not be brought out piece by piece. Instead we need a movement which will going to revolutionize India. He put forward the socialist views on the lines of Russia. He developed a new concept of 'struggle-victory' instead of Gandhi's 'struggle-truce-struggle'.
Nehru opposed the idea when the question partition of India came forward. He advised Gandhi to show determination against communal forces. However, respecting the fabric of socialist views he never incited violence.
The fight between them was not only of finding the best way to achieve freedom but about the basic ideas which need to be established in free India. Gandhi always believed in development through constructive works while Nehru believed in total socialism with a scope for nationalized industries. They both never compromised their own ideas for each other. At the same time they never broke their friendship for their ideas and for the sake of national interest.
Pandit Nehru was influenced by the Russian revolution of 1917. So from the early days of his political career he supported the socialist movements. The setting up of left parties particularly during the decade of 1930 made him believe that it is only socialism which could bring India out of dominion status. His political tour for Farmers organisations in central province made him aware about the problems of farmers. He never wanted to part away from the Congress instead he had a dream to move it more towards communist views.
The first major confrontation came during the start of Civil Disobedience Movement. At that time Lord Berkinhead challenged if Indians could make their own constitution. So Motilal Nehru, father of Javaharlal Nehru took the responsibility and gave India its first mini constitution in the form of Nehru report. However, it was opposed by nationalists including Javaharlal Nehru as it contained dominion status instead of full independence. Gandhi supported Motilal as he thought that it would be easy to negotiate with British with lower demand. Nehru and his friends were not accepting Gandhi's views. They wanted full independence with sovereignty. As a result Congress party was divided into two parts, one supported by Gandhi and Motilal while other by Javahar and Subhash Bose. As it has always happened in history, Gandhi negotiated with Nehru and promised him the launch of Civil Disobedience for negotiation with the dominion status.
When the movement was over, British gave opportunity to Indians to take part in elections. This elections was a part of the historical act of 1935. So again there was a question in-front of congress whether to take part in it or not? Right wing of the Congress supported elections. Initially Gandhi did not like the idea but looking at the mounting pressure he also decided to support elections. Left parties wanted revolutionary protest instead of only election participation. At this time Nehru acted as a negotiator and it was decided to participate in election.
Congress came in power after the elections. Their period was dominated by pro-British activities. Lot of right wing candidates took decisions in the favor of Moneylenders and powerful people. Common people were deprived of their fundamental rights. The whole Congress party became the caretaker of moneylenders. Nehru did not like this situation. He started opposing the overall nature of Gandhian philosophy. He started believing that Congress is a party of people who supports only powerful people.
Nehru thought that Gandhi's methods are nothing more than a compromises. He told his supporters that the full independence can not be brought out piece by piece. Instead we need a movement which will going to revolutionize India. He put forward the socialist views on the lines of Russia. He developed a new concept of 'struggle-victory' instead of Gandhi's 'struggle-truce-struggle'.
Nehru opposed the idea when the question partition of India came forward. He advised Gandhi to show determination against communal forces. However, respecting the fabric of socialist views he never incited violence.
The fight between them was not only of finding the best way to achieve freedom but about the basic ideas which need to be established in free India. Gandhi always believed in development through constructive works while Nehru believed in total socialism with a scope for nationalized industries. They both never compromised their own ideas for each other. At the same time they never broke their friendship for their ideas and for the sake of national interest.
