Indian National Congress: Its Struggle, Sacrifice and Success

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Dr. A. Chakrapani is the Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council, elected for the second consecutive term.
Academically highly qualified and holds Ph.D. in Law. Even though his practice as an Advocate was often interrupted by Public Offices held by him, his advocacy was instrumental for delivery of historical judgments by the Supreme Court of India like Important Election cases, MISA, Rule of Reservation for the Backward Classes etc.
Dr. Chakrapani is well read and widely travelled. As part of study tours, he visited U.K., Scotland, USA, Canada, Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, South Africa, Kenya, Russia, Japan, Sri Lanka and many other Asian and European countries apart from Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Dubai and Amman. Addressed select gatherings at home and abroad.
Participated in a number of seminars, conferences and Workshops at State, National and International levels. Chaired several sessions on different topics like combating terrorism, atrocities on women, secularism, rule of reservation, role of democracy, need to strengthening public faith in Parliamentary Institutions, Good Governance etc. He addressed delegates of CPA., Conferences held in various countries. Also addressed on practices and procedures of Parliamentary Institutions.
He is a close associate of Smt, Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India and all other contemporary stalwarts of Congress Party. Actively participated in Congress Party Programmes right from his student days and has been associated with many public service oriented organisations and was awarded UN-Indopin and such other prestigious Awards.
Other Books authored by hím included Second Chambers of Legislature - A Must; Sonia Gandhi Future of India; Anti Arrack Movement in Andhra Pradesh; Process of Amendments to the Indian Constitution; Legal Profession and Sincere Lawyer etc. He also translated many books from Telugu to English and vice-versa.

Indian National Congress is one of the oldest political Parties, founded well before the other major political parties in the world. Its membership surpasses millions and millions, thereby making it one of the world's largest political parties.
Responsible for each of the Indian Political developments, beginning from the freedom movement, to establishing democratic institutions on a sound base, it has today become the bedrock of democracy. Motivating a people as diverse in culture, religion, language and lifestyle to share the same pride for democratic institutions was no mean task. The Congress has been successful in democratizing the Indian masses over the years. Much harmony has developed as political thought and processes matured.
Were we to think of a single individual who led the democratic way in philosophy and practice, we think of Bapu, our Father of Nation. Mahatma Gandhi established democracy in the hearts of people. The Congress developed and pursued his principles of Peace and Non-violence and helped the country emerge a leader of independent neutral thought like the Non-Aligned Movement, and later a global power of significance.
The mantle of Mahatma Gandhi was carried over by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who not only laid the foundation for the modernization of India, but captained his government on the socialistic pattern. Much of what India is today is because of the vision of pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and the 'unifying India' policy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. If we think of the leaders this great political party has produced, there are names, which are taken with respect and which have brought glory to the country.
Lal Bahadur Shastri emerged as a leader who could guide the country in a difficult war situation. He glorified the sacrifice of the Jawan and Kissan, who together build and safeguard the country. towards poverty alleviation programmes. Known for toughness and hard decision making capability, the country weathered many a storm during Indira ji's leadership. India emerged stronger and with a very high political standing in the world. Today, the Congress Party is not just a storehouse of talent, but also a playground for learning the practice of democracy.
Shri Rajiv Gandhi, a hesitant entrant to politics, changed the way India was being governed and brought in e-governance systems for better transparency and responsiveness. He modernized India and made it possible for it to enter the 21st century with aplomb.

The national sentiment in the Indian sub-continent had its beginnings in the post 1857 period. It gathered momentum through regional associations formed at the presidency towns. The emergence of both English and vernacular journalism in several parts of the country coupled with enlightenment brought out by the reform moments contributed further to the growth of national consciousness. The founding of the Indian National Congress in 1885 heralded the long drawn out anti-colonial struggle.
The Indian National Congress was the first organized political organization to be formed in the colonial world to struggle for the liberation of enslaved people. Indian nationalism born out of contradiction between the interests of the colonial headquarters and the colonised moved forward, gathering strength from strength, to begin with, from the educated sections who, at that time, represented the interests of the incipient bourgeoisie. The educated elites at the time were the only 'militant' sections in the society. They became the mouthpiece of inchoante aspirations of millions of people against the exploitation of colonial rule. The exploitative nature of the British rule was well brought out by nationalist leaders and scholars like Dadabhai Naoroji, the author of magnum opus 'Poverty and the Un-British rule in India', Romesh Chunder Dutt (Economic History of India, 2 volumes), to name only a few.
The national moment passed through several phases from 'moderate' to the final phase, Quit India Movement, till 1947. The movement changed its policies, programmes and strategies from time to time. However, from 1920's it gained popular nature with the introduction of non-violence and Satyagraha as major forms of struggle. Mahatma Gandhi through his interventions both in the agitational mode and Constructive Programmes brought the masses into the struggle. From 1930's onwards the rising kisan, workers, youth and women movements joined the mainstream struggle and added vigour. The contributions made by revolutionary groups such as Hindustan Socialist Republic Army added further strength to the growing militancy. The popular movements operating under the broad spectrum of socialist ideology brought into focus the dynamics of internal contradiction, namely, the conflict of interests between haves and have-nots. They added a new dimension that free India should adopt pro-poor policies and freedom should embrace economic quality and social justice in addition to political freedoms. The Indian National Congress that met at Karachi session presented a blue print incorporating all these ideas and adopted the concept of economic planning to be pursued in post independent India. The Zamindari abolition and land reforms would constitute the mainstay of its agricultural agenda.