Indian National Congress and Hindu Mahasabha Meetings

Background:
The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 with the aim of representing the interests of the Indian people and achieving independence from British colonial rule. The Hindu Mahasabha, on the other hand, was a right-wing Hindu nationalist organization founded in 1915 with the aim of promoting Hindu interests.

Meetings:
Many members of the Indian National Congress participated in the meetings of the Hindu Mahasabha till 1938. This was due to several reasons:

1. Shared ideology: Many members of the Indian National Congress shared the Hindu nationalist ideology promoted by the Hindu Mahasabha. They believed that Hindus were a superior race and that India should be a Hindu nation.

2. Political expediency: The Indian National Congress and the Hindu Mahasabha were both fighting for independence from British colonial rule. Many Congress members saw the Hindu Mahasabha as a potential ally in the struggle for independence.

3. Personal beliefs: Some members of the Indian National Congress were also members of the Hindu Mahasabha. They saw no conflict between their political beliefs and their religious beliefs.

Change in Congress stance:
However, the Indian National Congress gradually distanced itself from the Hindu Mahasabha after 1938. This was due to several reasons:

1. Differences in ideology: The Indian National Congress believed in a secular and inclusive India where all religions were respected. The Hindu Mahasabha, on the other hand, believed in a Hindu-dominated India where other religions were subordinated.

2. Political strategy: The Indian National Congress believed that it was necessary to build a broad-based coalition to achieve independence from British colonial rule. This meant working with people of different religions and ideologies. The Hindu Mahasabha's narrow focus on Hindu interests did not fit into this strategy.

3. Communal tension: The Hindu Mahasabha's aggressive promotion of Hindu interests led to communal tension and violence in some parts of India. The Indian National Congress did not want to be associated with this violence.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, many members of the Indian National Congress participated in the meetings of the Hindu Mahasabha till 1938 due to shared ideology, political expediency, and personal beliefs. However, the Indian National Congress gradually distanced itself from the Hindu Mahasabha due to differences in ideology, political strategy, and communal tension.