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1. Congress Socialist Party (CSP)

Formation & Early History

  • Founded: 1934.
  • First Meeting: Held in Patna (May 1934) during a Congress Committee gathering.
  • First Session & Formalization: Occurred in Bombay (October-November 1934) to establish its rules and regulations.
  • Nature: Established as a socialist group within the Indian National Congress.

Key Founders and Leaders

  • Prominent Founders:
    • Acharya Narendra Dev (President)
    • Jayaprakash Narayan (General Secretary and Convenor of the Patna meeting)
    • Minoo Masani
  • Other Notable Leaders:
    • Ram Manohar Lohia
    • Achyuta Patwardhan

Ideology and Stance

  • Influences: A combination of Marxism and Fabianism.
  • Methods: Believed in a dual approach of armed struggle and peaceful resistance.
  • Economic Vision: Advocated for decentralized socialism, distributing economic power to cooperatives, trade unions, independent farmers, and local governments.
  • Social Vision: Aimed to eliminate religious divisions by uniting people across different classes.
  • Disagreements:
    • Disagreed with Gandhi’s spiritualism.
    • Disagreed with the Communist Party of India’s attitude towards the Congress.
  • What It Did NOT Advocate:
    • Boycott of British goods and evasion of taxes.
    • The dictatorship of the proletariat.
    • Separate electorates for minorities and oppressed classes.

2. Bihar Socialist Party

Formation

  • Founded: 1931 (pre-dates the CSP).
  • Founder: Phulan Prasad Varma.
  • Location: Formed at a meeting in his home.

Ideology and Association

  • Ideology: Based on the beliefs of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, and the Fabian Society.
  • Political Affiliation: Also operated as a part of the Indian National Congress.
  • Key Associated Figures:
    • Jayaprakash Narayan
    • Gangasharan Singh
    • Rambriksh Benipuri
    • Ramanand Mishra
    • Narsingh Narayan (a socialist member)

3. Jayaprakash Narayan (JP)

Titles and Honors

  • Widely Known As: “Loknayak” (Leader of the People).
  • Award: Posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1999.

Role in Movements

  • Quit India Movement (1942): A key organizer, along with Ram Manohar Lohia and Aruna Asaf Ali.
  • Total Revolution: Famously declared “Sampoorna Kranti” (Total Revolution) at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna on June 5, 1974.

Celebrations

  • Jay Prakash Diwas was celebrated in April 1946 upon his release from prison.
  • A large rally was held at the Bankipur Maidan in Patna demanding his release.

4. Opposition to Socialism

The Bombay Manifesto (1936)

  • Signatories: A document signed by 21 businessmen.
  • Purpose: Openly opposed Jawaharlal Nehru’s preaching of socialist ideals, which were presented at the Congress session in Lucknow.
  • Reception: It evoked widespread support from a large section of the business community across India.

5. Jawaharlal Nehru’s Socialism

Advocacy

  • By 1933, Jawaharlal Nehru had become a champion of socialism.
  • Goal: To overthrow British rule, Princely states, Landlordism, and Capitalism.
  • Inspiration: His idea of socialism was inspired by the Soviet Union’s model; he had visited the USSR in November 1927.

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