• Dr. Shashi Kumar Singh, Ph.D., D.Litt

On 26–27 December 1924, Mahatma Gandhi was elected President of the Indian National Congress at the Congress convention held in Belgaum. This defining moment marked Gandhi Ji’s formal leadership within the organisation, which played a central role in India’s freedom struggle. As Congress President, Gandhi Ji influenced the organisation with his principles of non-violent resistance and civil disobedience, setting its direction and intensifying the call for independence from British colonial rule. Gandhi Ji’s election to this prestigious position in the Indian National Congress solidified his position as the pre-eminent leader of India’s nationalist movement.

From his tireless efforts to advance the cause of Indian independence to his advocacy of social justice and non-violent resistance, Gandhi Ji’s influence reverberates deeply even a century later. He brought his principles of non-violence and civil disobedience to the forefront of the Congress agenda. As President of the Indian National Congress, Gandhi Ji emphasized the importance of constructive work, encouraging grassroots initiatives such as the promotion of khadi (handwoven cloth) and the self-sufficiency of villages. Gandhi Ji’s tenure as President of the Indian National Congress symbolizes his central role in shaping India’s struggle for independence and his commitment to non-violent resistance as a powerful tool for social and political change. Gandhi Ji’s leadership during his presidency continues to inspire leaders and activists around the world, serving as a beacon of hope for those advocating justice, equality, and peace.

Gandhiji embodied purity and religiousness in politics. He believed that politics devoid of principles is a death trap which destroys the soul of a nation. He remained firm on his belief throughout his life and raised the moral stature of India to a level which is unique in world history. The most important and decisive characteristic of Gandhiji as a warrior of national independence was his deep faith in the people, in their creative powers, in their indomitable will, determination and public awareness. He pursued this objective by tirelessly striving to establish Hindu-Muslim unity, eradicate the stigma of untouchability and abolish the caste system, completely emancipate women and bring them into political activity on an equal footing with men, carry out his constructive programme which envisaged the mass production of Khadi, reform all the organs of public education on a national democratic basis, etc. Gandhiji even changed his lifestyle and dress for this and saw himself as an idolin the image of the peasants who were the symbol of that era of this country.

To strengthen the anti-imperialist forces of the country, Gandhiji remained among the people till the last moment of his life, toured the country continuously, maintained close and direct contact with millions of ordinary people and understood their program and strategy for the national freedom struggle for which he used to do Satyagraha. He said, “I claim that I know countless people, I live with them day and night, these are the subjects of constant concern, because I do not believe in any other God except the God sitting in the hearts of these millions of silent people. I worship God only through the service of these millions of people.”

Gandhiji never pretended to be a great man, as many people smaller than him did. In fact, he did not start his life with any special advantages, whether physical or mental. Physically he looked thin, weak or it should be said that he was deformed. He had big ears due to which Indian poetess Smt. Sarojini Naidu gave him the nickname of ‘Mickey Mouse’, yet as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said, “In spite of his unimpressive figure, dhoti and naked body, there was a kind of royalty and emperorship in his personality due to which people used to obey his orders happily.” And the above words of Pandit Nehru proved to be literally true when after his death, he received the same respect as kings and heads of states receive. He did not hold any government post. Despite this, flags were lowered in many countries on his death. When the news of his assassination reached, the Security Council was meeting at that time. That meeting immediately took the form of a condolence meeting on his death, calling Mahatma Gandhi the ‘voice of the soul of mankind’.

The world’s greatest scientist Albert Einstein said - “Future generations will hardly believe that such a man made of flesh and blood ever walked this earth.”

The world-renowned philosopher and writer George Bernard Shaw is more known as a literary saint than as a Nobel Prize winner. Shaw says about Gandhiji - “Along with the influence of Gandhiji, you can ask about some of the influences of the Himalayas.”

The title of ‘Mahatma’ was first used with Gandhiji’s name by the immortal singer of Indian culture ‘Kavindra’ Ravindra Nath Thakur and the title of ‘Father of the Nation’ was given by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the extraordinary revolutionary son of Mother India. What was the specialty in Gandhiji due to which he was so great in the eyes of the great personalities of the country and the world?

A person becomes great not by birth but by his thoughts and deeds. Purity and simplicity of thoughts and conduct differentiate great people from others. Mahatma Gandhi was basically an experimental self-reformer. In his entire life, he did not say anything new that had not been said by the saints and reformers before him, but by inculcating those eternal truths in his life, Gandhiji told the world that the significance of man is not just in knowing, but in doing. He took out the weapon of self-power in front of animal force, took recourse to non-violence to face cannons and machine guns, made a daring experiment of making religion his comprehensive life and accepted the existence of God in the form of truth, non-violence and love.

In his autobiography, Gandhiji writes, “I have always believed that truth is God. Non-violence is the only way to become truthful... On the basis of my experiments till now, I can definitely say that the complete vision of this truth is impossible in the absence of non-violence. To have a direct vision of such a comprehensive Satyanarayana, there is a great need for self-like love towards all living beings.”

Summary of some resolutions and decisions taken in various sessions of the Indian National Congress during the Presidency of Mahatma Gandhi in 1924 Civil Disobedience: The Congress supported the principle of civil disobedience as a non-violent method of protest against the unjust laws and policies of the British government. Gandhi’s philosophy of satyagraha (truth-force) was central to this approach, which aimed to achieve political objectives through peaceful resistance. Social reforms: Resolutions were passed to address social issues such as untouchability and caste discrimination within Indian society. The Congress called for the elimination of social inequalities and the promotion of social justice for all citizens.

Rural Empowerment: Recognizing the importance of rural development, the Congress focused on empowering village communities through decentralized governance and grassroots initiatives. Resolutions were passed to support agrarian reforms, rural education, and cooperative movements.

Promotion of Khadi: The Congress reaffirmed its commitment to promote khadi (hand-woven cloth) and village industries as a means of economic self-reliance and resistance to British goods. The resolution aimed to empower rural communities and reduce dependence on imported textiles.

Non-cooperation strategy: Gandhi Ji advocated non-cooperation as a strategy of protest against British rule. The Congress resolved to boycott British institutions, including educational and legislative bodies, and urged Indians to withdraw cooperation from the colonial administration.

Hindu-Muslim unity: Recognising the importance of Hindu-Muslim unity in the struggle for independence, the Congress emphasised the need to bridge communal divides and foster solidarity among different religious communities. Resolutions were passed to promote inter-religious dialogue and cooperation.

International solidarity: The Congress expressed solidarity with other anti-colonial movements around the world and called for international support for India’s freedom struggle. Resolutions were passed to strengthen diplomatic relations with other countries sympathetic to India.

Hence, during Mahatma Gandhi’s Presidency of the Indian National Congress from 1924 to 2024, his leadership steered the organisation through critical moments in India’s struggle for independence as 2024 marks 100 years of his Presidency. Under Gandhi Ji’s guidance, the Congress reaffirmed its commitment to economic self-reliance and resistance to British goods. Gandhi Ji’s call for non-cooperation with British institutions became the cornerstone of Congress strategy, urging Indians to withdraw cooperation from the colonial administration and boycott British goods and institutions.

In addition, Gandhi Ji emphasized the imperative of Hindu-Muslim unity, recognizing its importance in India’s struggle for independence. Congress resolutions aimed at bridging communal divides and promoting solidarity among different religious communities reflected Gandhi’s vision of a united India. The doctrine of civil disobedience, rooted in Gandhi Ji’s philosophy of satyagraha, gained prominence as a non-violent method of protest against unjust British laws and policies. Rural empowerment initiatives focused on decentralized governance and grassroots development, which reflects Gandhi Ji’s emphasis on the upliftment of village communities.

At the international level, the Congress under Gandhi Ji’s Presidency expressed solidarity with anti-colonial movements around the world and sought international support for India’s freedom struggle. These resolutions underscored the Congress’ commitment to Gandhian principles of non-violence, self-reliance and social justice, as well as its dedication to achieving India’s independence through peaceful and democratic means. Throughout Gandhi Ji’s tenure as Congress President in 1924, his leadership profoundly shaped the Congress’ agenda and strategies, and left a lasting legacy in India’s quest for independence.

The author is an AICC member and Chairman of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee Vichar Vibhag