MANOJ SINHA
Ramgarh, Jan 23: Mahatma Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose are seen as some of the main architects of India’s freedom struggle. However, their difficult relationship during such tumultuous times is still discussed today. Here’s a story on how the rift was witnessed by Ramgarh during their visit here for two different programmes.
The year was 1940, and the 53rd Annual Session of the Indian National Congress (INC) was held in Ramgarh under the presidency of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. This meeting is said to have been one for history to remember This was because the three-day session held that year, gave a new direction to India’s freedom struggle.
Meanwhile, Bose had organised an Anti-Compromise Conference in Ramgarh during the Congress session. By this time, he was eagerly waiting to leave Congress and the 53rd session was the best opportunity for him. It is said that when Bose decided to hold an Anti-Compromise Conference (Samjhauta Virodhi Samellan) in Ramgarh, the politics across India took a new turn.
Dr Rajendra Prasad was the Chairman of the Reception Committee of the 53rd Congress session while Swami Sahajanand Saraswati was the Chairman of the All India Anti-Compromise Conference organised by Bose. Both sessions were held in Ramgarh from March 14 to March 20, 1940.
This was the time when the rift between the two heroes of the freedom struggle, Subhas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi came to light. Their policies had till now often rooted them against each other while fighting for a common cause.
Notably, in 1940, Ramgarh saw people coming from all over. Bose came to Ramgarh’s Ranchi Road railway station and reached the session site with a procession of bullock carts. His supporters were all dressed in red.
National leaders like Swami Sahjanand, Dhanraj Sharma and residents Babu Laxminath Singh, Gaurinath, Vishnu Singh Iswar Singh Nand Mahto, Karu Saw and many more were there for him.
ALSO READ: Deoghar: Two-day BJP state working committee meeting begins today
Cottages were built at the bank of the river Damodar and Harharia Nala, as shelters for participants from outside the town. Bose resided at the cottage of Harharia Nala.
Meanwhile, on March 14, Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated an exhibition of Khadi and Gram Udyog. A meeting of the Congress working committee also concluded here. Several important proposals were accepted by Congress which included the proposal for the Quit India movement and the idea of complete freedom was conceptualised. Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Dr Rajendra Prasad attended the Congress session.
Meanwhile, an anti-compromise session was held at the Bank of Harharia Nala under the presidency of SC Bose. They observed that the Second World War was an opportunity to get freedom from the Britishers. The followers of Bose disagreed with the policy of Mahatma Gandhi. They thought Congress was bowing to the British government for a compromise.
This was also because when the Civil Disobedience Movement was called off after the Chauri Chaura violence in 1922, Bose was one of the many who criticised his move. Further, he called Gandhi out for not consulting the other representatives before stopping the agitation.
As a result of this, the split between the two heroes also divided the people of India. People in Ramgarh and those visiting from other states were divided into two groups and attended both programmes separately.
