Posted:
11 years ago
First, Gandhi had nothing to do with respect to the execution of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru..Gandhi-Irwin pact clearly mentioned that it would not cover the release of those prisoners who were accused of murder or terrorism and hence Gandhi could not bargain their life on papers. But still Gandhi sent personal mercy petition to the viceroy, as he was against capital punishment, which obviously got rejected..
Second, I think you are confusing two events - CR Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party after Gandhi called off the non-cooperation movement and was imprisoned. (They wanted to push for reforms from within the constituent assembly, instead of boycotting it.) Subhas Chandra Bose formed Forward Block after Gandhi thwarted his plans of launching offensive campaigns against the British, at the eve of the war with the help of Axis powers..Gandhi deemed Bose's obvious inclination towards authoritarian regimes obnoxious; besides he believed, and with strong reasons, that an uprising in India might directly affect the war in Europe and lead to Nazi victory over Britain and Europe...We must note, at this time Britain was completely alone against the Axis powers, facing the brunt of German air invasion at home while Japanese forces were speeding towards South Asia. US was neutral and Russia had a non-aggression pact with Germany. That is why, I think, Gandhi launched his civil-disobedience movement only when the two sides were evenly matched and prospects of German victory over Europe were finished.
Anyways, Happy Gandhi Jayanti to all Indians and Happy International Non-Violence Day to all humans..π