The Indian National Congress (INC), led by Mahatma Gandhi, launched the Non-cooperation Movement on September 5, 1920. The party introduced the Non-Cooperation programme during a Congress session in Calcutta in September 1920. The non-cooperation movement was active from September 1920 to February 1922. It marked the beginning of a new era in the history of the Indian freedom struggle. The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched in the aftermath of a series of events, including the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, and was put on hold due to the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922. In this article, we will discuss the Non-Cooperation Movement which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Non-Cooperation Movement - Features

• The Non-Cooperation Movement was a pivotal stage in India's independence from British rule. Following the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, Mahatma Gandhi led it. Its goal was to use nonviolent means to oppose British rule in India.
• As a form of protest, Indians were asked to relinquish their titles and resign from nominated seats in local bodies.
• People were asked to resign from their positions in the government and were told to take their children out of government-controlled or aided schools and colleges.
• They were asked to boycott foreign goods and use only Indian-made goods, as well as to boycott legislative council elections.
• Individuals were asked not to serve in the British army. It was also planned that if the preceding steps failed to produce results, people would refuse to pay their taxes.
• Swarajya, or self-government, was also demanded by the INC. Only completely non-violent means would be employed to get the demands fulfilled.
• The non-cooperation movement was a watershed moment in the independence movement because it demonstrated that the INC was willing to forego constitutional means to achieve self-rule for the first time.
• Gandhiji had promised that if the movement was carried out to its conclusion, Swaraj would be achieved within a year.

Non-Cooperation Movement - Causes

• Indians believed that they would be rewarded with autonomy at the end of the war in exchange for their extensive support of manpower and resources to Britain during the First World War.
• However, the Government of India Act 1919 was inadequate. Furthermore, the British enacted repressive legislation such as the Rowlatt Act, which enraged many Indians who felt betrayed by rulers despite their wartime support.
• Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak's Home Rule Movement laid the groundwork for the non-cooperation movement.
• The INC's extremists and moderates were united, and the Lucknow Pact also saw cooperation between the Muslim League and the Congress Party. With the return of the extremists, the INC took on a more militant tone.
• The people of India suffered greatly as a result of their country's participation in the war. Prices of goods began to rise, affecting the average person. Peasants suffered as well because agricultural product prices did not rise. All of this fueled resentment of the government.
• The repressive Rowlatt Act, as well as the brutal massacre at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, had a profound impact on Indian leaders and the people.
• Their faith in the British justice system had been shattered, and the entire country rallied behind its leaders, who were advocating for a more aggressive and firm stance against the government.
• The Ali Brothers (Maulana Mohammed Ali and Maulana Shaukat Ali), Maulana Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and Hasrat Mohani led the Khilafat movement.
• It received Mahatma Gandhi's support in convincing the British government not to abolish the caliphate. The leaders of this movement supported Gandhiji's non-cooperation movement and led a joint protest against the British.

Non-Cooperation Movement - Significance

• Congress evolved into the party of the common man. It now had widespread support from ordinary peasants, workers, and intellectuals.
• Charkha and Khadi came to represent Indian nationalism.
• Gandhi was able to see India for what it truly was. He realized that India's true power lies in the countryside, not in the cities.
• There was a need for a general awakening of the masses to their political rights and privileges, as well as a total loss of faith in the government system.
• People realized that only through their own efforts could India hope to be free.
• It demonstrated that the Congress was the only organization capable of properly directing national efforts to achieve freedom.
• The movement also revealed that the communal problem will be a major issue, and that this communalism problem is entirely state-sponsored.
• This movement also established Gandhiji as the leader of the masses.
• As a result of this movement, people became more conscious of their political rights.

Non-Cooperation Movement - Criticism

• Gandhi's decision had thrown the Congress for a loop. The Jallianwallah Bagh tragedy, Swaraj, problems with Khilafat volunteers, and other factors prompted its inception. But none of them received a solution.
• In one year, Gandhi's idea of Swaraj proved to be a mirage.
• Many leaders, including Lala Lajpat Rai, opposed the boycott of educational institutions. Some leaders did not like how it began, many others did not like how it was conducted, and the majority of them could not digest the abrupt withdrawal.
• There was shock for the people of Punjab who were hoping for miracles to happen to punish the perpetrators of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Nothing happened, and the revolutionary activities in Punjab suffered another setback.
• Because Congress was left without a political programme, some new outfits arose in parallel.
• The lawyers' boycott of law courts was not as successful as the educational boycott.

Conclusion

The Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920 fell short of its immediate goal of establishing Swaraj in India. However, this apparent failure should not obscure the enormous impact the movement had on India and its people. Despite the fact that none of the planned activities were carried out, the movement was not a failure. Gandhiji decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in response to various incidents of violence perpetrated by the masses, particularly the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922, in which the people clashed with the police, setting a police station on fire.

FAQs

Question. What was the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Question. What were the causes of the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Question. What were the key objectives of the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Question. How did the Non-Cooperation Movement end?

Question. What were the impacts of the Non-Cooperation Movement?

MCQs

1. Who was the leader of the Non-Cooperation Movement?

A) Jawaharlal Nehru

B) Subhas Chandra Bose

C) Mahatma Gandhi

D) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

2. What event led to the launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920?

A) Salt March

B) Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

C) Quit India Movement

D) Chauri Chaura Incident

3. Which of the following was NOT a goal of the Non-Cooperation Movement?

A) Boycott of British goods

B) Boycott of government jobs and schools

C) Promotion of the use of Khadi

D) Complete armed rebellion against the British

4. Why did Mahatma Gandhi call off the Non-Cooperation Movement?

A) The movement had achieved Swaraj

B) The movement was becoming violent after the Chauri Chaura incident

C) The British government agreed to Indian independence

D) Gandhi was imprisoned

5. What was the main objective of the Non-Cooperation Movement?

A) To establish a communist government

B) To seek self-rule (Swaraj) for India through non-violent means

C) To promote Indian feudalism

D) To demand social reforms for the lower castes

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Analyze the causes and objectives of the Non-Cooperation Movement in India.

Answer: The Non-Cooperation Movement, launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920, was a response to the growing discontent against British rule and the repression of Indians by the colonial government. The major causes included:

• Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919): The massacre, in which hundreds of unarmed civilians were killed by British troops, sparked widespread outrage and led to demands for self-rule.
• Rowlatt Act (1919): The repressive Rowlatt Act, which allowed for the detention of Indians without trial, increased resentment towards British colonial rule.
• Failure of Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms: The Reforms introduced by the British were seen as insufficient, leading to disillusionment with the British promises of self-government.

The objectives of the movement included:

• Boycott of British goods and institutions: Gandhi called for the boycott of British goods, government schools, courts, and foreign cloth.
• Promotion of self-reliance (Swadeshi): The movement encouraged the use of Khadi and indigenous goods to promote economic independence.
• Swaraj: The ultimate goal was to gain self-rule (Swaraj) for India, empowering Indians to govern themselves.

The movement, although widely supported, was eventually called off in 1922 due to the Chauri Chaura incident, where violence broke out.

Q2: Discuss the significance of the Non-Cooperation Movement in the Indian freedom struggle.

Answer: The Non-Cooperation Movement was a pivotal moment in the Indian freedom struggle. Its significance can be analyzed as follows:

• Mass Participation: The movement marked the first time that mass involvement was seen in the fight for independence, transcending social, economic, and regional boundaries.
• Rise of Gandhi’s Leadership: Gandhi emerged as the central figure in the Indian independence movement, using non-violence and civil disobedience as powerful tools against British colonial rule.
• Strengthening of Nationalism: The movement helped foster a strong sense of national identity and unity among Indians, with diverse communities coming together for a common cause.
• International Attention: The widespread nature of the movement drew global attention to the Indian cause, further isolating the British empire politically.
• Foundation for Future Movements: The Non-Cooperation Movement laid the foundation for later movements, including the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement, which eventually led to India’s independence.

Q3: What were the social and economic impacts of the Non-Cooperation Movement on Indian society?

Answer: The Non-Cooperation Movement had significant social and economic impacts:

• Promotion of Swadeshi and Boycott of British Goods: The movement led to the rise of indigenous industries, particularly the Khadi movement, which promoted the use of hand-spun cloth and goods made in India. This helped reduce the economic dependence on British imports.
• Social Mobilization: The movement galvanized people from all sections of society, including women, students, and workers, in the fight against colonialism. It also strengthened the Indian National Congress as the primary political organization representing the people.
• Rejection of Western Education and British Institutions: The boycott of British educational institutions and courts led to the growth of indigenous institutions and the promotion of traditional education systems.
• Empowerment of Rural India: The movement also reached the rural masses, and the boycott of foreign goods impacted the urban economy, while rural areas began to engage more in the Swadeshi movement.
• Rural-Urban Divide: The movement, while promoting national unity, also highlighted the divide between rural and urban India, as the latter was more engaged with the movement, while the rural population was largely focused on practical concerns.

Previous Year Questions on the Non-Cooperation Movement

1. UPSC CSE 2020

Question: "What were the causes that led to the launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920?"

Answer: The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched in 1920 due to a combination of factors, including the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919), which resulted in widespread anger against British rule, and the Rowlatt Act, which allowed for the suppression of Indian voices without trial. The failure of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms to meet the Indian demands for self-rule also played a key role in rallying public support for non-cooperation.

2. UPSC CSE 2019

Question: "Explain the reasons for the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement by Gandhiji in 1922."

Answer: Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922 after the Chauri Chaura incident, where a mob attacked and killed 22 policemen. Gandhi, who was committed to non-violence, believed that the movement had become violent and was deviating from its core principles. Consequently, to maintain the non-violent character of the struggle, he decided to call off the movement to prevent further violence.