Mahatma Gandhi played a major role in both Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement. He took an active role in disseminating the Non-Cooperation Movement's policies and programs throughout the country. He and other loyalists toured the country in an attempt to rally public support and mobilize the masses in support of the movement. The Khilafat movement and the Non-Cooperation movement were both mass movements formed in 1919-1922 to oppose British rule in India. Despite their disparate issues, the movements adopted a unified plan of action based on nonviolence and non-cooperation. During this time period, Congress and the Muslim League merged. Many political demonstrations were held as a result of the efforts of both of these parties. In this article, we will discuss the role of Mahatma Gandhi in the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Rise of Mahatma Gandhi as a Supreme Leader

• The emergence of Mahatma Gandhi as the supreme leader of the national movement between 1919 and 1920 marked the beginning of a new era in India's struggle against colonial and exploitative British rule.
• The Gandhian era of national struggle began in 1919 and lasted until India gained independence from British rule in 1947.
• The early Gandhian movements' success, such as Champaran Satyagraha (1917), Ahmedabad Mill Satyagraha (1918), and Kheda Satyagraha (1918), paved the way for Gandhiji's meteoric rise. These movements persuaded the masses that only the Gandhi method could defeat British rule.
• The situation in India in 1919-20 was extremely volatile due to a combination of factors such as a leadership vacuum, failure of moderate and extremist policies, and the Jalliawala Bagh massacre, which pushed Gandhiji to the forefront of the Indian national freedom struggle.
• The typical character of the Gandhian movement, as well as the success of the South African experiment, had also played a significant role in his ascension to the position of a supreme national leader. Gandhiji lived like most ordinary Indians and spoke commoners' language.
• Gandhiji fought for commoners' issues, and as a result, every section of Indian society developed a strong faith in Gandhian leadership.
• During the years 1919-20, he became a symbol of hope and inspiration for the common people, leading to his ascension to the position of an undisputed supreme national leader.

Beginning of Gandhian Movements

• The Gandhian movement was a true mass movement, similar to moderate and extremist movements. He was adamant that no struggle against British rule would succeed unless the masses joined in.
• It was nonviolent in nature, egalitarian in outlook, secular and progressive in nature, strongly anti-colonial in appearance, and distinguished by the use of both constitutional and extra-constitutional methods.
• Gandhi's movement was a pan-India movement because it reached millions of Indians and was easily embraced by all segments of Indian society.
• Villagers had begun to participate in the national movement, which was no longer limited to towns and cities.
• Under Gandhiji's leadership, peasants, workers, women, students, and the business class had joined the nationalist struggle. Gandhiji defined the goal of Swaraj for the first time at the Nagpur session of Congress in December 1920.
• The Gandhian movement was fundamentally a Satyagraha, or "search for truth." The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was Gandhiji's first Satyagraha movement.
• Gandhiji was always a staunch supporter of the truth, regardless of the consequences.
• He believed that it was humanity's responsibility to cooperate with good and avoid cooperation with evil. He saw British rule as a bad thing, which is why he opposed it.
• The Gandhian movement made a significant contribution to the success of India's struggle against British rule, but it should be noted that the Gandhian movement was not without limitations.
• Subhash Chandra Bose called the sudden withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922, following the Chauri-Chaura incident, a "national calamity."
• The Non-Cooperation Movement was an important stage in India's struggle for independence from British rule.
• From August 1920 to February 1922, this movement was active. It was launched from the Khilafat platform, led by Mahatma Gandhi, and was backed by the Indian National Congress.

Beginning of Non-Cooperation Movement

• Under Mahatma Gandhi's leadership, the non-cooperation movement began in 1921. It was a large-scale protest. It was a nonviolent non-cooperation movement led by Khilafat.
• Its goals were to make amends for wrongs done to the people of Punjab and Turkey. Its goal was also to ensure the attainment of Swaraj.
• The Congress party introduced the Non-Cooperation program 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.
• Mahatma Gandhi declared in his famous book Hind Swaraj (1909) that British rule in India was established with the cooperation of Indians and had survived only because of this cooperation.
  • If Indians refused to cooperate, British rule in India would end in a year, and Swaraj would take its place.
  • As a result, he founded the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Khilafat Movement

• The Khilafat Movement (1919-1924) was an Indian-influenced Pan-Islamic movement.
• The Ottoman Emperor Abdul Hamid II (1876-1909) launched a Pan-Islamic program to use his position as the Sultan-Khalifa of the global Muslim community to save his collapsing empire from foreign attacks and crush the nationalistic democratic movement at home.
• His emissary, Jamaluddin Afghani, visited India in the late nineteenth century to spread Pan-Islamic ideas, and some Indian Muslim leaders welcomed him.
• Concurrently, Gandhi led his nonviolent nationalist movement satyagraha in response to government repressions, such as the Rowlatt Act of 1919 and the Jallianwala Bagh Massacres of April 1919.
• Gandhi supported the Khilafat cause and became a member of the Central Khilafat Committee in order to gain Muslim support for his movement.
• Gandhi linked the issue of Swaraj (Self-Government) with the Khilafat demands at the Nagpur Session (1920) of the Indian National Congress and adopted the non-cooperation plan to achieve the twin goals.

Why Gandhi Withdrew the movement?

• Gandhi believed that people had not fully learned or understood the nonviolent method. Incidents like Chauri-Chaura may cause excitement and fervor, turning the movement violent in general.
• A violent movement could be easily suppressed by the colonial regime, which could use violent incidents as an excuse to use the state's armed might against the protestors.
• The movement was also showing signs of wear and tear. This was natural because it is impossible to sustain any movement at a high pitch for an extended period of time. The government appeared to be uninterested in bargaining.
• The central theme of the agitation, the Khilafat issue, also faded quickly. Turkey's people rose up in November 1922, led by Mustafa Kamal Pasha, and deposed the Sultan of political power. Turkey has been declared a secular state.
• As a result, the Khilafat issue became irrelevant. In Turkey, a European-style legal system was established, and women were granted extensive rights. Education was nationalized, and modern agriculture and industry flourished. The caliphate was abolished in 1924.

Conclusion

Since Gandhiji always emphasized using the right methods to achieve the right goals, the Gandhian movement was fundamentally an ethical and moral struggle. He never took advantage of anyone's weakness. Gandhiji may have died, but Gandhism lives on. Even today, his ideas and principles continue to inspire citizens. Gandhi is best known for his nonviolent philosophy, which has influenced civil rights leaders all over the world. However, his legacy is being reexamined in light of contemporary ideas about race, feminism, and nationalism.

FAQs

MCQs

1. What was the primary objective of the Khilafat Movement?

A) Establishment of a republic
B) Restoration of the Khalifa
C) Boycott of British goods
D) Promotion of Hindu nationalism

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

A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Mahatma Gandhi
C) Sardar Patel
D) B. R. Ambedkar

3. Which incident led to the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement?

A) Dandi March
B) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
C) Chauri Chaura incident
D) Quit India Movement

4. What was a significant outcome of the Khilafat Movement?

A) Strengthening of British rule
B) Increased communal tensions
C) Unity among Hindus and Muslims
D) Decline of Indian National Congress

5. What was the main method of protest employed in the Non-Cooperation Movement?

A) Armed rebellion
B) Civil disobedience
C) Fasting
D) Social boycott

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Assess the impact of Mahatma Gandhi's leadership on the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements.

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi's leadership was instrumental in shaping both the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements, as he brought a new vision of mass mobilization and non-violent resistance to the Indian independence struggle. By aligning the Khilafat Movement with the broader goals of the Indian National Congress, Gandhi was able to unite Hindus and Muslims in a common cause against British colonial rule. His emphasis on non-violence and civil disobedience resonated with the masses, leading to widespread participation. The Non-Cooperation Movement further solidified this unity, encouraging Indians to withdraw from British institutions and assert their rights. Gandhi's ability to mobilize diverse sections of society and articulate their grievances transformed the political landscape of India, significantly contributing to the momentum of the independence movement.

Q2: Discuss the significance of the Khilafat Movement in the context of Indian nationalism.

Answer: The Khilafat Movement holds significant importance in the context of Indian nationalism as it represented a critical phase of unity among various communities in India, particularly Hindus and Muslims. The movement highlighted the shared grievances against British colonial rule, fostering a sense of collective identity and purpose. It not only emphasized the political aspirations of Indian Muslims but also brought religious sentiments into the political discourse, creating a platform for cooperation with the broader nationalist movement. The alignment of the Khilafat Movement with the Non-Cooperation Movement showcased the potential for communal harmony in the struggle for independence. However, the eventual communal tensions that arose later underscore the complexities of this unity and the challenges faced in sustaining it, making the Khilafat Movement a pivotal chapter in the history of Indian nationalism.

Q3: Evaluate the challenges faced by the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements.

Answer: The Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements faced several challenges, primarily due to the diverse political landscape of India and the differing aspirations of various communities. The Khilafat Movement, while initially unifying Hindus and Muslims, encountered resistance from conservative factions within both communities who opposed the political engagement. Furthermore, the Non-Cooperation Movement faced challenges in maintaining momentum after the Chauri Chaura incident, which led to Gandhi's decision to suspend the movement. The lack of a cohesive strategy and the rise of regional aspirations also complicated the national agenda. Additionally, the British government's repressive measures further challenged the movements, leading to a crackdown on activists and supporters. Despite these challenges, both movements played a crucial role in mobilizing public opinion and raising political consciousness among Indians, contributing to the eventual struggle for independence.

Previous Year Questions on Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2020:

Question: What was the primary aim of the Khilafat Movement?

A) Establishment of a republic
B) Restoration of the Khalifa
C) Non-cooperation with the British
D) Social reform

Answer: (B)

Explanation: The primary aim of the Khilafat Movement was the restoration of the Khalifa, the spiritual leader of Muslims, following the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019 (GS Paper 1):

Question: "Examine the role of Mahatma Gandhi in the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements." Discuss in detail.

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi played a pivotal role in both the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements, effectively uniting diverse communities against British rule. His philosophy of non-violence and Satyagraha resonated with millions, enabling mass participation in the movements. Gandhi’s support for the Khilafat Movement illustrated his commitment to inter-community harmony, as he believed that addressing the grievances of Muslims would strengthen the national struggle. In the Non-Cooperation Movement, Gandhi called for a complete boycott of British institutions, which mobilized large sections of society. Although the movements faced challenges, Gandhi’s leadership marked a significant turning point in the Indian independence struggle, showcasing the power of collective action.