Purna Swaraj: The Demand for Full Independence 26 January 1930

Author: 
Indian National Congress

Editor's note: The Indian National Congress met in Lahore in December 1929. The following pledge was  approved by the Congress  just before midnight on December 31, 1929. The pledge was taken by the public on January 26, 1930. One option before the Congress was to demand Dominion Status, under which India would have still remained at least nominally under British rule. The Congress rejected this option, and instead asked for Purna Swaraj, which means Full Independence.

Purna Swaraj Resolution 1929-30

 

Gandhiji hoisting the Indian flag with the charka at the Lahore session of the Indian National Congress, December 1929.

We believe that it is the inalienable right of the Indian people, as of any other people, to have freedom and to enjoy the fruits of their toil and have the necessities of life, so that they may have full opportunities of growth. We believe also that if any government deprives a people of these rights and oppresses them the people have a further right to alter it or to abolish it. The British Government in India has not only deprived the Indian people of their freedom but has based itself on the exploitation of the masses, and has ruined India economically, politically, culturally, and spiritually. We believe, therefore, that India must sever the British connection and attain Purna Swaraj, or complete independence.

India has been ruined economically. The revenue derived from our people is out of all proportion to our income. Our average income is seven pice (Editor's note: There were 4 pice in an anna, and 16 annas in a rupee) per day, and of the heavy taxes we pay, 20 per cent are raised from the land revenue derived from the peasantry and 3 per cent from the salt tax, which falls most heavily on the poor.

Village industries, such as hand-spinning, have been destroyed, leaving the peasantry idle for at least four months in the year, and dulling their intellect for want of handicrafts, and nothing has been substituted, as in other countries, for the crafts thus destroyed.

Customs and currency have been so manipulated as to heap further burdens on the peasantry. British manufactured goods constitute the bulk of our imports. Customs duties betray clear partiality for British manufactures, and revenue from them is used not to lessen the burden on the masses but for sustaining a highly extravagant administration. Still more arbitrary has been the manipulation of the exchange ration, which has resulted in millions being drained away from the country.

Politically, India's status has never been so reduced as under the British regime. No reforms have given real political power to the people. The tallest of us have to bend before foreign authority. The rights of free expression of opinion and free association have been denied to us, and many of our countrymen are compelled to live in exile abroad and cannot return to their homes. All administrative talent is killed, and the masses have to be satisfied with petty village offices and clerkships.

Culturally, the system of education has torn us from our moorings, and our training has made us hug the very chains that bind us.

Spiritually, compulsory disarmament has made us unmanly, and the presence of an alien army of occupation, employed with deadly effect to crush in us the spirit of resistance, has made us think that we cannot look after ourselves or put up a defense against foreign aggression, or even defend our homes and families from attacks of thieves, robbers, and miscreants.

We hold it to be a crime against man and God to submit any longer to a rule that has caused this fourfold disaster to our country. We recognize, however, that the most effective way of gaining our freedom is through nonviolence. We will therefore prepare ourselves by withdrawing, so far as we can, all voluntary association from the British Government, and will prepare for civil disobedience, including nonpayment of taxes. We are convinced that if we can but withdraw our voluntary held and stop payment of taxes without doing violence, even under provocation, the end of this inhuman rule is assured. We therefore hereby solemnly resolve to carry out the Congress instructions issued from time to time for the purpose of establishing Purna Swaraj.

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Comments

dr. goulatia has given very touching details of partition and the trauma ,the family went through.we thank god that the goulatia family arrived india safely.many failed to reach even.one feels sad when one loses the grand status as of dr goulatias family.thats life.

It was started by pandit jawarharlal nehru

the famous nonviolent freedon fighter Badshah khan attended this a session of the indian congressas ii am writing a book on him if any detail or photograph can be provided pervaiz khan ex MNA ANP former NWFP pakistan

Why was it on January 26, 1930. Is there any reason behind the particular date?

In the Lahore session of Congress in 1929, under President Jawaharlal Nehru, the resolution of "Poorna Swaraj", Complete Independence, was adopted. Nehru marched to the banks of Ravi with the Congress members and they took oath not to rest until Purna Swaraj was achieved. On December 21, 1929, the Tiranga (tricolor) flag was unfurled. On January 26, 1930, the first Independence Day was celebrated. The Civil disobedience movement was started as well as the movement to no longer submit to British Rule. Nehru spent most of the period from 1930 to 1936 in jail for conducting civil disobedience campaigns.

It is false information as Gandhi started the movement of Total Independence. Purna Swaraj movement was the demand of Bhagat Sing and his comrades. Bose was also in the same demand. Nehru in fear of breaking of Youth Congress had to bow before Congress move of Dominion. Gandhi too though was admonished to it but was forced by Patel, Nehru to accept on Total Independence in Calcutta.

what is the congress which formalized the Purna Swaraj

What is the role of women in POORNA SWARAJ ANDOLAN.

Who was the Muslim league established

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