SARVODAYA and CONGRESS

  • VP Divan

Immediately upon attaining independence in 1947, Mahatma Gandhi Ji wanted to disband Congress and reframe it into a public servant union, but it was impossible in view of the political and social situation of the country. Nevertheless, to derive the strength of Gandhi Ji’s programmes of freedom struggle, the then General-Secretary of the Congress, Shankarrao Ji Dev, formed a Legislative and Constructive Department within the All-India Congress; for the work of nation-building. Shri Raghunath Dhotreji, a close friend of Vinoba Ji, was made the secretary of this department. In December 1947, a meeting of the Legislative and Constructive Department of the Congress was held in the presence of Mahatma Gandhi. In this meeting, it was decided upon to organize a conference of those MLA workers and organizations from December 3 to February 12, 1948, in Sevagram-Wardha, who would keep a check on power politics by relying on the power of non-violence and adopting an approach based strictly on moral principles. It was also decided that Gandhi Ji would leave Delhi for this conference on February 1, 1948. But Mahatma Gandhi Ji was assassinated on the day of January 30, 1948, and due to this the proposed conference was canceled. But all the workers were of the view that such a convention should be organized.

A conference of the MLA workers of the country, workers and office bearers of the organizations engaged in creative work was held from March 23 to 25, 1948, at Sevagram-Wardha. President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad, Acharya Kripalani, Jayaprakash Narayan, Shankarrao Dev, Vinoba Ji etc. were present in this conference.

‘Sarvodaya Samaj’ was established in this conference under Vinoba Ji’s guidance. Similarly, the goal to form ‘Sarva Seva Sangh’ by merging all the legislative bodies was also set, and the sub-branches of ‘Sarva Seva Sangh’ came to be known as ‘Sarvodaya Mandal’ in different provinces. Congress General Secretary Shri Shankarrao Dev also took charge of the ministerial post of the ‘Sarva Seva Sangh’.

It was in the presence of Mahatma Gandhi that the desire was expressed to form a union of MLA workers who would make people tread the path of morality by delving into the power of non-violence and keeping a check on power-politics; so as to embody a Sarvodaya society. In short, the responsibility of controlling power was entrusted to Sarvodaya with a view to run the Congress’ politics according to morality. It was decided with the cooperation of Vinoba Ji and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Ji, that the work of nation-building should be carried out smoothly and the work of Sarvodaya and Congress should also run accordingly.

Pandit Ji started the work of Congress in a new way, based on the strong ideas of multilateral democracy, secular nationalism, mixed economy and absolutist international policy and Vinoba Ji carried forward the Sarvodaya movement for the creation of a rule-free, exploitation-free, classless, non-violent society; basing it on the foundation of Ekadash Vrat (holds cultural significance).

These two leaders (Vinoba Ji and Pandit Nehru Ji) had dreamt of a sort of a mutual cooperation in which on one hand, the Congress worked towards nation-building through the use of power and on the other hand keeping away from politics through the Sarvodaya movement, carried forward the formation of a non-violent society through service. This means that Panditji was the one to steer the politics of the Congress’ party towards morality.

The journey of Congress and Sarvodaya from 1948 to 1973 was under the cooperation and leadership of Pandit Nehru Ji, Indira Gandhi Ji and Vinoba Ji. Pandit Nehru and Indira Ji also made necessary laws in many provinces so as to render Vinoba Ji’s Bhoodan-Gramdan movement a stable and solid basis.

With the establishment of ‘Khadi-Graamodyog Aayog’, Sarvodaya workers could get a platform in the villages for their proposed works. Employment could be generated in the villages themselves. Congress continued to reap indirect benefits of this legislative and constructive work of Sarvodaya workers, in the elections.

In these 26 years from 1947 to 1973, the work of nation-building was done by the Congress and the Sarvodaya movement through mutual cooperation. That is why the graph of progress or downfall of these two seems running almost parallel. After 1973, a chasm developed and grew between Congress and Sarvodaya. This chasm deepened infinitely at the issue of imposition of emergency in the country. The balancing power that Sarvodaya had, for keeping the Congress on the path of morality, suddenly dwindled to zilch. As a result, the Congress deviated from its ideological path and the Sarvodaya Sangathan also became weak.

Congress and Sarvodaya are the ideological progeny of Mahatma Gandhi and hence Congress and Sarvodaya are siblings. Neither Congress nor Sarvodaya could remember this. In view of today’s political and social situation, it is necessary for Sarvodaya and Congress to cooperate once again.

Author works full time Sarvodaya; Vinoba Birthplace, Maharashtra