Congress Ministries 1937-39 — Definition

Definition

The Congress Ministries of 1937-39 represent a crucial phase in India's freedom struggle when the Indian National Congress, after winning decisive victories in provincial elections, formed governments in eight out of eleven provinces under the Government of India Act 1935.

This period marked the first large-scale experiment with democratic governance and responsible government in colonial India. Initially, the Congress was reluctant to accept office, viewing the 1935 Act as inadequate and designed to perpetuate British control.

However, after intense internal debates and pressure from leaders like Nehru and provincial Congress committees, the party decided to form ministries with the stated goal of using power to advance the freedom struggle and implement pro-people policies.

The Congress ministries were formed in Madras (C. Rajagopalachari), Bombay (B.G. Kher), Central Provinces (N.B. Khare), Orissa (Harekrushna Mahtab), Bihar (Sri Krishna Sinha), United Provinces (Govind Ballabh Pant), North-West Frontier Province (Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan's associate Dr.

Khan Saheb), and later in Assam (Gopinath Bordoloi). These governments implemented significant reforms including agrarian measures like debt relief and tenancy reforms, educational initiatives including the Wardha Scheme of Basic Education, civil liberties measures, and attempts at administrative Indianization.

However, the period was also marked by growing tensions with the Muslim League, which accused Congress of 'Hindu Raj' and launched campaigns against Congress rule. The ministries resigned collectively in October-November 1939 when the British Viceroy declared India's participation in World War II without consulting Indian leaders, leading to what the Muslim League celebrated as 'Deliverance Day.

' This 28-month experiment in provincial self-government provided valuable lessons in democratic governance, exposed the limitations of the 1935 Act, strengthened Congress organization at the grassroots level, but also contributed to communal polarization that would eventually lead to partition.

From a UPSC perspective, this topic is crucial for understanding the evolution of Indian federalism, the dynamics of Congress-Muslim League relations, and the immediate background to the Quit India Movement.