Question

Examine the causes and events of the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Hint:

• The Non-Cooperation movement was the first time that the peasantry was brought into the mainstream of the nationalist struggle.
• Gandhi promised "Swaraj in one year" if the program of non-cooperation was followed completely.

Answer 1

Concept:

• The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) was the first large-scale experiment with Satyagraha on a national level.
• It aimed to bring the British administration to a standstill by withdrawing all Indian cooperation from colonial institutions.

Step 1: Causes: Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh, and Khilafat
The movement was triggered by three main grievances: 1. The repressive Rowlatt Act (1919) which allowed for detention without trial. 2. The horrific Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in Amritsar. 3. The Khilafat issue, where Indian Muslims were protesting the ill-treatment of the Caliph of Turkey by the British. Gandhi saw this as an opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims in a common struggle.

Step 2: Methods of Non-Cooperation
The movement unfolded in stages. It began with the surrender of titles (like Rabindranath Tagore surrendering his Knighthood).
This was followed by the boycott of government schools, colleges, and law courts. Thousands of students left government institutions. The most effective part was the boycott of foreign cloth, which was replaced by locally produced Khadi, leading to a massive drop in British textile imports.

Step 3: The Chauri Chaura incident and withdrawal
The movement saw unprecedented participation from peasants, workers, and students across India.
However, in February 1922, at Chauri Chaura (UP), a peaceful procession turned violent and burned down a police station, killing 22 policemen. Gandhi, who was strictly committed to non-violence, immediately called off the movement, realizing that the people were not yet fully trained in the discipline of Satyagraha. Although it ended abruptly, it transformed the nationalist struggle into a genuine mass movement.