Special Session in Calcutta (September 1920) - Modern India History Notes

In September 1920 in Calcutta, a special session of the All India Congress Committee was called and it was during this session that the Congress accepted non-cooperation as its own. The session was presided over by Lala Lajpat Rai and it was also in air that there would be strong opposition to Gandhi’s Program. On the contrary, Gandhi’s proposals were passed by the Congress by a majority of 1000 votes. This success of Gandhiji is mainly attributed to the support of the Muslims and the business class. In this article, we will discuss the Special Session in Calcutta which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Special Session - Background

• The Non-Cooperation Movement was formally announced on August 1, 1920, when news of Bal Gangadhar Tilak's death arrived early in the morning.
• Gandhi and a crowd of approximately 2 lakh people paid their respects to this "Maker of Modern India." The Movement began with strikes and processions throughout India.
• Congress convened in Calcutta for a special session on September 4, 1920. Lala Lajpat Rai presided over this special session.
• During this session, Gandhi predicted that if the non-cooperation movement was successful, Swaraj could be attained in a year. CR Das immediately refuted this assertion.
• The Congress also approved Gandhi’s program till the Punjab and Khilafat wrongs were undone and swaraj was granted. This decision was to be finalized in the annual session to be held in December 1920.
• In the meantime, in November 1920, the council elections were held as per the government of Indian act 1919.
• Gandhi’s program of council boycott saw a massive response and the elections were boycotted by all the Congress candidates.

Special Session - Features

The Congress approved a non-cooperation programme at a special session in Calcutta until the Punjab and Khilafat wrongs were corrected and swaraj was established.

• The programme called for a boycott of government schools and colleges.
• Boycott of law courts, and the administration of justice through panchayats instead.
• Boycott of legislative councils; there were some differences on this, as some leaders, such as C.R. Das was unwilling to include a boycott of councils, but bowed to Congress discipline.
• These leaders boycotted elections held in November 1920, and the majority of voters also stayed away.
• Boycott of foreign cloth and use of khadi instead.
• Practice of hand spinning to be done.
• Renunciation of government honors and titles; the second phase could include mass civil disobedience, such as resignation from government service and nonpayment of taxes.
• During the movement, participants were expected to work for Hindu-Muslim unity and the abolition of untouchability while remaining nonviolent.

Supporters and Opponents of Gandhiji

Supporters included

• Motilal Nehru,
• Jitendralal Banerjee,
• Saifuddin Kitchlew,
• Shaukat Ali, Dr.Ansari,
• Yakub Hassan

Opponents included

• C.R Das
• Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya
• Annie Besant

Conclusion

The Congress was losing faith in the possibility of achieving political advancement through constitutional means. It was disgusted by the Hunter Committee Report, especially since it had been appraised of brutalities in Punjab by its own investigation committee. It agreed to consider non-cooperation in the circumstances. The AICC met in May 1920 and decided to call a special session in September to allow the Congress to make a decision on its next steps. It was clear that they needed to come up with a solution quickly because the people were clamoring for it.

FAQs

MCQs

1. What was the primary objective of the Non-Cooperation Movement, as discussed in the Calcutta Special Session of 1920?

A. Demand complete independence
B. Boycott British goods and institutions
C. Seek constitutional reforms
D. Promote industrialization

2. Who among the following opposed the Non-Cooperation resolution at the Calcutta Special Session?

A. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
B. Jawaharlal Nehru
C. Annie Besant
D. Subhas Chandra Bose

3. Which event played a significant role in the adoption of the Non-Cooperation Movement?

A. Simon Commission
B. Cripps Mission
C. Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
D. Round Table Conference

4. The Special Session of the Indian National Congress in 1920 was held in which city?

A. Lahore
B. Bombay
C. Calcutta
D. Madras

5. What was the main method of resistance promoted by the Non-Cooperation Movement?

A. Armed rebellion
B. Violent protests
C. Non-violent civil disobedience
D. Parliamentary debates

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

1. Discuss the significance of the Special Session of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta (1920) in the context of the Indian freedom struggle.

Answer: The Special Session of the Indian National Congress, held in Calcutta in September 1920, was a landmark event in the Indian freedom struggle. It marked the Congress's formal adoption of Mahatma Gandhi’s strategy of non-cooperation as a means to resist British rule. The session signaled a departure from earlier, more moderate approaches to constitutional reforms and embraced mass civil disobedience as the primary tool of protest. This session laid the foundation for the Non-Cooperation Movement, which united diverse sections of Indian society, including peasants, workers, and the urban middle class. The movement aimed to boycott British institutions, goods, and services, thus undermining the legitimacy of colonial rule. The Calcutta Special Session also reflected the growing influence of Gandhi within the Congress and the Indian independence movement.

2. Analyze the opposition to the Non-Cooperation Movement during the Calcutta Special Session of 1920. What were the concerns of the moderates?

Answer: During the Calcutta Special Session of 1920, several moderate leaders, including Annie Besant and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, voiced their opposition to the Non-Cooperation resolution. They argued that Gandhi’s approach of mass non-cooperation and civil disobedience could lead to lawlessness and disrupt the progress that had been made through constitutional means. The moderates feared that such radical measures could alienate key sections of society and provoke violent reprisals from the British government. Moreover, they believed that the non-cooperation campaign could undermine the Indian National Congress’s long-standing efforts to achieve reforms through negotiation and dialogue with the British. Despite these concerns, Gandhi’s vision prevailed, and the Congress adopted the resolution, leading to the launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement.

3. Evaluate the impact of the adoption of the Non-Cooperation Movement at the Calcutta Special Session on the subsequent course of the Indian freedom struggle.

Answer: The adoption of the Non-Cooperation Movement at the Calcutta Special Session of 1920 had a profound impact on the Indian freedom struggle. It marked a decisive shift in the Indian National Congress’s strategy, from advocating for reforms within the framework of British rule to outright non-cooperation with colonial authorities. This change galvanized millions of Indians, including peasants, workers, students, and traders, to participate in the movement by boycotting British goods, schools, and courts. The movement also played a crucial role in uniting Hindus and Muslims through the incorporation of the Khilafat issue. Although the movement was called off in 1922 following the Chauri Chaura incident, it significantly raised political consciousness across India and demonstrated the potential of mass mobilization in challenging British rule. The Calcutta Special Session thus set the stage for future mass movements, including the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement.

Previous Year Questions on Non-Cooperation Movement

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2019

Question: Which of the following events led to the launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement?
A. Chauri Chaura Incident
B. Khilafat Movement
C. Simon Commission
D. Cripps Mission

Answer: B. The Khilafat Movement and the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre were key factors that led to the launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement by Mahatma Gandhi.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 201 8 (GS Paper 1)

Question: "The adoption of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 marked a turning point in India’s struggle for independence." Discuss.
Answer: The adoption of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 was a pivotal moment in India’s fight for independence. It represented a strategic shift in the Indian National Congress’s approach to British colonial rule, moving away from constitutional agitation and embracing mass civil disobedience as the primary form of resistance. Under Gandhi’s leadership, the movement sought to boycott British goods, institutions, and services, thereby undermining the authority of the colonial government. The movement saw widespread participation from all sections of Indian society, significantly raising political consciousness and uniting people across regions and communities. Although the movement was suspended after the Chauri Chaura incident, its impact on the freedom struggle was profound, setting the stage for future mass movements like the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement.