Congress Rule in Provinces - Key Historical Events

Provinces with Congress Ministries: Congress ministries were formed in Bombay, Madras, Central Provinces, Orissa, United Provinces, Bihar, NWFP, and Assam.

Hold Offices Lightly: Gandhi advised Congressmen to treat these offices as ‘crowns of thorns’ and use them in unexpected ways to further the nationalist goal.
Police and Army: Gandhi urged that Congress should prove its ability to rule with minimal reliance on police and the army.

Public Enthusiasm: The formation of Congress ministries released suppressed mass energy and increased the prestige of Congress.
Limitations: Despite enthusiasm, the ministries had limitations in changing the basic imperialist character of the system and introducing radical reforms.

Emergency Powers: Repealed laws granting emergency powers.
Lifting Bans: Bans on illegal organizations, books, and journals were lifted, and press restrictions eased.
Police Powers Curbed: Police powers were curbed, and political prisoners were released.
Confiscated Properties Restored: Properties confiscated during the Civil Disobedience Movement were restored in Bombay.
Blemishes: Some blemishes included arrests of socialists and the use of CID against communists and leftists.

Constraints: Ministries faced constraints like inadequate powers, financial resources, class adjustments, time, and opposition from reactionary forces.
Legislation: Despite constraints, Congress ministries managed to pass laws relating to land reforms, debt relief, and other agrarian issues.
Beneficiaries: Statutory and occupancy tenants benefited the most, while sub-tenants and agricultural laborers did not gain much.

Promoting Industrial Peace: The Congress aimed to advance workers’ interests while promoting industrial peace, advocating for compulsory arbitration before strikes.
Mediation: Ministries acted as mediators between labor and capital, with some success except in Bombay.
Repressive Measures: Some repressive measures were taken, which leftist critics opposed. Nehru supported the ministries in public to protect them from criticism.

Prohibition: Imposed in certain areas.
Harijan Welfare: Measures taken for welfare, including temple entry, public facilities, scholarships, and increased representation in government services.
Education and Health: Attention given to primary, technical, and higher education, as well as public health and sanitation.
Khadi Promotion: Encouragement given to khadi through subsidies.
Prison Reforms: Undertaken as part of social welfare reforms.
Indigenous Enterprises: Encouragement provided to indigenous enterprises.
Planning Development: Efforts to develop planning through the National Planning Committee set up under Subhash Bose in 1938.

Mass Literacy Campaigns: Launched as part of extra-parliamentary activities.
Congress Institutions: Setting up of Congress police stations, panchayats, and Grievance Committees to present mass petitions to the government.
States Peoples’ Movements: Included in the extra-parliamentary activities of Congress.

Radical Social Transformation: The Congress ministries confirmed that Indian self-government was necessary for radical social transformation.
State Power Usage: Demonstrated that state power could be used to further a movement’s ends without being co-opted.
Communal Riots Control: Successfully controlled communal riots.
Bureaucratic Morale: The morale of the bureaucracy was lowered.
Neutralization of Hostile Elements: Council work helped to neutralize many previously hostile elements like landlords.
Vision of Independence: The people began to perceive what independence might look like.
Administrative Experience: Indian administration weakened the myth that Indians were unfit to rule.
Congress Resignation: The ministries resigned in October 1939 after the outbreak of the Second World War.

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