Q. The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress (1929) is very important in history, because
- the Congress passed a resolution demanding complete independence
- the rift between the extremists and moderates was resolved in that Session
- a resolution was passed rejecting the two-nation theory in that Session
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2012)
Answer:
1 only
Notes: The correct answer is
[A] 1 only. The Lahore Session of 1929, presided over by
Jawaharlal Nehru, is considered a turning point in the Indian national movement as it shifted the goal from "Dominion Status" to absolute sovereignty.Why statement 1 is correct:
- Purna Swaraj (Statement 1): Following the rejection of the Nehru Report by the British government, the Congress passed the historic "Purna Swaraj" (Complete Independence) resolution. It declared that "Swaraj" now meant nothing less than full independence from British rule.
- Symbolic Act: At midnight on December 31, 1929, Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the newly adopted tricolor flag of Indian independence on the banks of the river Ravi.
- Independence Day: The Congress fixed January 26, 1930, as the first Independence Day, to be celebrated annually until India was actually free.
Why statements 2 and 3 are incorrect:
- Extremists and Moderates (Statement 2): The rift between the Extremists and Moderates was actually resolved much earlier, during the Lucknow Session of 1916 (the Lucknow Pact), where the two wings reunited after the 1907 Surat Split.
- Two-Nation Theory (Statement 3): The "Two-Nation Theory" gained significant political traction much later, specifically in the late 1930s and the 1940 Lahore Resolution of the Muslim League. While the Congress always stood for a united India, the specific rejection of this theory as a resolution was not the defining feature of the 1929 Congress session.
Key Outcomes of the 1929 Lahore Session:| Feature | Detail |
| President | Jawaharlal Nehru (representing the rise of the younger, socialist guard). |
| Main Resolution | Declaration of Purna Swaraj. |
| Action Plan | Authorized the Congress Working Committee to launch a Civil Disobedience Movement. |
| Boycott | Resolved to boycott the Round Table Conference and the legislatures. |