Kisan Congress and Mahatma Gandhi

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Senior Gandhian Scholar, Professor, Editor and Linguist

Gandhi International Study and Research Institute, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

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Kisan Congress and Mahatma Gandhi

There may be gross self-deception in this presentation. When I said that the Kisan Sabhas should be reformed, I meant that up till now Kisan Sabhas have been formed not to wrest power from the Government, but to capture the Congress. That applies to the student and labour organizations too.  Then why not run the Congress? Why set up an independent and parallel organization? Don’t you see when Kisan Sabhas are bona-fide organizations they are the Congress? Today only a fraction of India’s population is represented on the Congress register. The Congress aspires to represent the whole nation. It claims by right of service to speak even for those who are not on its register. When it becomes a fully national organization, de jure as it is today by moral right, the bulk of its membership will naturally consist of the kisans and they will be in a position to dictate its policy. 1

For me a Kisan is one who actually works on land belonging to himself or another. In every case, I have pointed the way of relief. You should read what I have written. Local difficulties should be solved locally. For the right answer, accurate knowledge of local conditions is necessary. I lack this. Hence my answer may even mislead. All organizations may be independent and yet a part of the Congress and subject to its discipline.  I had full discussion with Prof. Ranga. I agree generally about the points you have raised. (4) Q. There are many kisans in villages that have helped in war efforts under the official influence. They are not entitled to be members of the Congress organizations at present. But they are, all the same, sympathizers of the National Congress. Shall we bring them into Kisan Congress? Both classes of members can have equal voice in the matter of redress against the landlords and the Government. But the first class of members only should decide all questions of a political nature. A. Those who are real sympathizers will remain so even if for technical reasons today they may not join you. By all means take them if you so wish. 2

 

References:

1. The Hindu, 23-1-1945
2. The Hitavada, 13/14-3-1945