Q.Since the decade of the 1920s, the national movement acquired various ideological strands and thereby expanded its social base. Discuss.

graph TD
    A["Ideologies in the Indian National Movement Post-1920s"] --> B["Communalism"]
    A --> C["Ambedkarism"]
    A --> D["Gandhism"]
    A --> E["Royism/Communism"]
    A --> F["Revolutionary Ideas"]
    A --> G["Socialism"]
    A --> H["Capitalism"]
    A --> I["Religious Nationalism"]

Body

1. Emergence of Diverse Ideological Strands

• Gandhism: Centered on Satyagraha (truth-force), non-violence (Ahimsa), and social reform. It successfully mobilized the rural peasantry, artisans, and women, who had previously remained on the margins of the movement.
• Socialism and Communism: Inspired by the Russian Revolution, leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose popularized socialist ideals within the Congress. Concurrently, M.N. Roy founded the Communist Party of India (1925), focusing on the mobilization of industrial workers and peasants.
• Revolutionary Nationalism (with Socialist leanings): Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, and the HSRA infused revolutionary action with socialist goals, capturing the imagination of the youth.
• Ambedkarism and Dalit Mobilization: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar championed the cause of the Depressed Classes, arguing that social emancipation from the caste system was a prerequisite for true political freedom.
• Capitalist Class Support: Indigenous industrialists (e.g., Birla, Tata) began actively supporting the Congress, seeking economic protectionism against British capital.
• Communalism and Religious Nationalism: The decade also saw the hardening of communal identities, with the growth of the Muslim League and Hindu nationalist organizations like the Hindu Mahasabha and RSS.

2. Expansion of the Social Base

• Peasants and Workers: Ideologies of the left and Gandhian movements led to the formation of the All India Kisan Sabha and trade unions, bringing agrarian and labor issues to the forefront.
• Women: Gandhi's call drew women out of their homes into active political participation, including picketing and salt satyagrahas.
• Youth and Students: Revolutionary and socialist ideas mobilized the student community across India.