The Non-Cooperation Movement demonstrated that it commanded the support and sympathy of vast sections of the Indian people. Its reach among many sections of Indian peasants, workers, artisans etc, had been demonstrated. The spatial spread of the movement was also nation-wide. Some areas were more active than others, but there were few that showed no signs of activity at all.
The capacity of the 'poor dumb millions' of India to take part in modern nationalist politics was also demonstrated. This was the first time that nationalists from the towns, students from schools and colleges or even the educated and politically aware in the villages had made a serious attempt to bring the ideology and the movement into their midst.
The tremendous participation of different communities in the movement, and the maintenance of communal unity, despite the Malabar developments, was in itself no mean achievement. There is hardly any doubt that it was minority participation that gave the movement its truly mass character in many areas. And it was, indeed, unfortunate that this most positive feature of the movement was not to be repeated in later years once communalism began to take its toll. [324 words]
[Extracted, with edits and revisions, from India's Struggle for Independence1857-1947, by Bipin Chandra and Others, Penguin Books, 1989.]
Understanding the Non-Cooperation Movement's Reach
The provided passage discusses the Non-Cooperation Movement, initiated by the Congress. It highlights the movement's significant impact and widespread adoption across India starting from January 1921.
Movement's Key Achievements and Characteristics
The passage details several key aspects of the Non-Cooperation Movement:
- Renewed Energy and Success: The Congress's adoption of the movement infused it with new energy, leading to considerable success nationwide.
- Nationwide Outreach: Gandhiji's extensive tours and meetings engaged many political workers and addressed hundreds of gatherings.
- Student Participation: Thousands of students left their institutions to join over 800 newly established national schools and colleges.
- Promise of Swaraj: Gandhiji had linked the adoption of his program to the achievement of Swaraj within a year.
- Broad Support: The movement demonstrated its command over the support and sympathy of "vast sections of the Indian people," including peasants, workers, and artisans.
- Mass Mobilization: It proved the capacity of India's "poor dumb millions" to participate in modern nationalist politics, marking an effort to bring nationalist ideas to the masses.
- Communal Unity: A significant achievement was the maintenance of communal unity during the movement, despite challenges like the Malabar events.
- Mass Character: The participation of minorities contributed significantly to the movement's mass character in many areas.
Analysis of Options Based on the Passage
Let's analyze each option in light of the information given in the passage:
Option 1: The idea of Swaraj seemed futile
This is incorrect. The passage mentions that "Gandhiji had promised Swaraj within a year, if his programme was adopted." This indicates Swaraj was a concrete goal, not something that seemed futile. The movement was aimed at achieving it.
Option 2: The non-cooperation movement was a complete success
The passage mentions "considerable success" and highlights its widespread reach and impact. However, it does not state that the movement was a "complete success." It implies that some positive features were unfortunately not repeated later, suggesting it wasn't entirely complete in every aspect.
Option 3: The non-cooperation movement gained the sympathy of majority of the Indians
This statement is strongly supported by the passage. It explicitly states that the movement "commanded the support and sympathy of vast sections of the Indian people" and demonstrated the "capacity of the 'poor dumb millions' of India to take part in modern nationalist politics." This indicates widespread sympathy, aligning with the idea of a majority.
Option 4: The Indian National Congress represented microscopic minority
This is contradicted by the passage. The movement's success, widespread participation of various sections like peasants and workers, and its "mass character" clearly indicate that the Congress, through this movement, was mobilizing and representing far more than a microscopic minority.
Conclusion from the Passage
Based on the evidence presented in the text, particularly the emphasis on "vast sections of the Indian people," the participation of the "poor dumb millions," and the movement's "mass character," it is evident that the Non-Cooperation Movement garnered significant support and sympathy from a large portion of the Indian population.
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