# At Nagpur explained — The Story of My Experiments with Truth

> Chapter companion for The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi.

## What happens

The chapter describes the annual Congress session at Nagpur where the noncooperation resolution was passed unanimously after minor amendments, the Congress constitution was revised with a debate on the number of delegates and the goal of swaraj, and resolutions on Hindu-Muslim unity, removal of untouchability, and khadi were adopted.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nonviolence and Satyagraha

The Congress adopted the condition that means for attaining swaraj must be peaceful and legitimate, reinforcing the commitment to nonviolence.

### Social Justice and Anti-Colonialism

Resolutions on Hindu-Muslim unity, removal of untouchability, and khadi were passed, addressing social justice and anti-colonial struggle.

### Religion and Interfaith Dialogue

The noncooperation movement for the Khilafat was a practical attempt to foster Hindu-Muslim unity.

## Character check-ins

### Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Presented the draft constitution and participated in the debates on delegate numbers and the goal of swaraj.

### Sjt. Vijayaraghavachari

President of the Nagpur Congress session.

### Pandit Malaviyaji

Advocated for the goal of swaraj within the British Empire only.

### Mr. Jinnah

Supported Pandit Malaviyaji's viewpoint on limiting the goal to swaraj within the British Empire.

### Chittaranjan Das

Proposed amendments to the noncooperation resolution.

## Key lines

> Fifteen hundred delegates, jealous of the interests of the people, broad-minded and truthful, would any day be a better safeguard for democracy than six thousand irresponsible men chosen anyhow.

Gandhi argued that a smaller number of conscientious and honest delegates is more effective for democracy than a large number of irresponsible ones.

_Reflects Gandhi's skepticism about the value of large delegate numbers in democratic processes._

> I am of opinion that, if this constitution had been worked out by the people honestly, intelligently and zealously, it would have become a potent instrument of mass education, and the very process of working it out would have brought us swaraj.

Gandhi believed that faithful implementation of the Congress constitution would have educated the masses and led to self-rule.

_Highlights Gandhi's vision of the constitution as a tool for mass mobilization and swaraj._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-v-xliii-at-nagpur
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters