Answer: 

The decade of the 1930s saw the rapid growth of socialist ideas within and outside of congress. It was mainly accentuated by international factors like the great depression, soviet industrial success and internal factors like brewing young nationalists aligning more to the worker/peasant’s cause.

Socialist Ideas in the 1930s: Beginning of a New Phase in India’s Struggle for Independence:

• Jawaharlal Nehru’s Vision: Nehru suggested the best way forward for the Congress was take up the cause of masses and allow these class organisations to affiliate with the Congress.

o For instance, Nehru advocated taking up the economic and class demands of peasants and workers, organising masses in their class organisations—kisan sabhas and trade unions.

• Opposition to Struggle-Truce-Struggle Strategy: Inspired by Socialist Revolution, Nehru and other socialist argued that the Indian national movement should be a continuous confrontation and conflict with imperialism till it was overthrown.
• Congress Socialist Party: The Congress Socialist Party (CSP) was founded in 1934 as a socialist caucus within the Indian National Congress. The CSP advocated decentralized socialism in which co-operatives, trade unions, independent farmers, and local authorities would hold a substantial share of the economic power.
• No Office Acceptance: Post the passage of Government of India Act, 1935, a faction of congress was in favour of participating in elections, however, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Bose, and Congress socialists and communists were opposed to office acceptance.
• Support to Labour Unionism: The Congress election manifesto declared that the Congress would take steps for the settlement of labour disputes and take effective measures for securing the rights to form unions and go on strike.
• Work Under Congress Ministries: On participating in provincial elections, the congress government leaned towards socialist work.

o For instance, though, the congress government couldn’t abolish the zamindari system, but they legislated a number of laws relating to land reforms, debt relief, forest grazing fee, arrears of rent, land tenures etc.

• Resurrection of Communist Party of India: The Communist Party of India, though founded in 1920s, was reorganised in 1933, after the communist leaders from the Meerut trials were released. A central committee of the party was set up. In 1934 the party was accepted as the Indian section of the Communist International.
• Faizpur Session: The Faizpur Session (1937) of congress was held in a village which had been raising demands for the welfare of the peasants. This shows congress tilting towards the peasant’s cause.
• Formation of the Forward Bloc: The Forward Bloc was intended to function as a unifying force for all left-wing elements.

o For instance, Bose believed that Gandhi’s strategy based on the ideology of non-violence would be inadequate for securing India’s independence. To his mind, violent resistance alone could oust the alien imperialist rule from India.

The proliferation of socialist ideas made India’s struggle for independence more inclusive and sensitive. It widened the variety of political and ideological currents, but they co-existed and worked together to achieve the ultimate goal of freedom.