No question of Cong withering away after freedom, argument erroneous: Bose at party's 1938 Haripura session

THE Congress has had a historical connection with Gujarat as its stalwarts, Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel, hailed from there and the party has held five of its sessions in the state, with each of those contributing in shaping the country's history.

- ASIM KAMAL

The upcoming All India Congress Committee (AICC) session in Ahmedabad on April 8-9 will be the party's sixth in the state and the second post independence.

It will also be the Congress's third session in Ahmedabad since its formation in 1885.

A couple of days before the session, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh put out on X the official records of the past sessions held in Gujarat.

The records throw light on the historic presidential addresses at the sessions, from Surendranath Banerjee in 1902 talking about autocratic power being devoid of the elements of permanence to Subhas Chandra Bose in 1938 dismissing as "entirely erroneous" the argument that the Congress should wither away after independence.

The Congress first met in Gujarat at Ahmedabad during December 23-26, 1902 under Banerjee's presidentship.

In his long presidential address that touched upon a number of issues, Banerjee had said, "All history proclaims the truth that autocratic power is devoid of the elements of permanence and that authority to be permanent must be planted deep in the affections of the people and derive its sustaining breath from the vitalising springs of popular enthusiasm."

"Despotic rule represents a stage of transition, the period of which should not be unnecessarily prolonged. But transition must give place to permanence. All signs point to the conclusion that the period of reconstruction has now arrived." he had said.

A total of 471 delegates had attended the session.

The second time the Congress met in Gujarat was at Surat during December 26-27, 1907 under the presidentship of Rash Behary Ghose. This session was historic as it witnessed the first split in the party and was marked by internal tensions among the moderate and extremist factions.

Around 1,600 delegates had attended the Surat session.