Page "Jawaharlal Nehru" Paragraph 43

The espousal of socialism as the Congress goal was most difficult to achieve.

Nehru was opposed in this by the right-wing Congressmen Sardar Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari.

Nehru had the support of the left-wing Congressmen Maulana Azad and Subash Chandra Bose.

The trio combined to oust Dr. Prasad as Congress President in 1936.

Nehru was elected in his place and held the presidency for two years ( 1936 – 37 ).

Nehru was then succeeded by his socialist colleagues Bose ( 1938 – 39 ) and Azad ( 1940 – 46 ).

After the fall of Bose from the mainstream of Indian politics ( due to his support of violence in driving the British out of India ), the power struggle between the socialists and conservatives balanced out.

However, Sardar Patel died in 1950, leaving Nehru as the sole remaining iconic national leader, and soon the situation became such that Nehru was able to implement many of his basic policies without hindrance.

The conservative right-wing of the Congress ( composed of India's upper class elites ) would continue opposing the socialists until the great schism in 1969.

Nehru's daughter, Indira Gandhi, was able to fulfill her father's dream by the 42nd amendment ( 1976 ) of the Indian constitution by which India officially became " socialist " and " secular ".