Nehru and Bose: Parallel Lives

by Rudrangshu Mukherjee

Once it became obvious, after the Pant resolution was introduced, that what was emerging was a challenge to Gandhi, many of Subhas’s supporters, like the CSP, reviewed their own positions. Jayaprakash Narayan summed up the situation rather well: ‘The whole issue then stood thus—acceptance of Pant’s resolution would mean supporting Gandhian leadership and opposition to it would mean an advocacy of alternative leadership. The socialist line was opposed to both.’82 There was a growing realization within the left group that it was not strong enough to precipitate a clash with the Gandhian leadership. Rammanohar Lohia had written with some insight in March 1939 that the ‘Leftists in the Congress should not aspire to set up an alternative leadership to the present leadership of the “Right”. They have not the strength to control the destiny of the nation, nor can they hope to attain it in the future. A direct offensive against the Right Congress leaders would result in internal conflict.’ Jayaprakash Narayan also held a similar view.83 Subhas in his unbounded optimism had overestimated his support base. Or, to put it differently, he had failed to read the pulse of the Congress, even of those he saw as his own supporters. He had brought himself perilously close to becoming a hero without a chorus.

jp narayan and lohia views on the re-election and pant resolution