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 Main Idea
This question asks us to identify the central theme or main idea conveyed in the provided passage about the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Passage Analysis: Key Highlights
The passage emphasizes several important aspects of the Non-Cooperation Movement:
- New Energy and Success: The movement, adopted by Congress, brought significant energy and achieved considerable success across India starting from January 1921.
- Gandhiji's Role: Mahatma Gandhi undertook a nationwide tour, addressing numerous meetings and connecting with political workers.
- Mass Participation: Thousands of students left institutions for national schools, demonstrating widespread public engagement. The movement reached peasants, workers, and artisans, showing its "truly mass character" largely due to minority participation.
- Nation-wide Spread: The movement's spatial reach was extensive, with activity seen in most parts of the country.
- Demonstration of Capacity: It highlighted the ability of the common Indian people ("poor dumb millions") to participate in modern nationalist politics for the first time, bringing nationalist ideology into their lives.
- Communal Unity: Maintaining communal unity during the movement was noted as a significant achievement, although this positive aspect wasn't repeated later.
Evaluating the Options
Let's examine each option in light of the passage:
Option 1: The Non co-operation movement did not give impetus to the future movements
The passage describes the movement's "considerable success" and its demonstration of the "capacity of the 'poor dumb millions' of India to take part in modern nationalist politics". This suggests it laid groundwork and provided momentum, making this option unlikely to be the main idea.
Option 2: The movement made the Indians realize their potential to fight against the mighty British
The passage strongly supports this by stating, "The capacity of the 'poor dumb millions' of India to take part in modern nationalist politics was also demonstrated." This shows Indians realizing their collective strength and potential for political action against the ruling power.
Option 3: The British became fearful and worried of Gandhiji's leadership and co-operation of Indians
While the passage doesn't explicitly state the British reaction, it details the movement's "considerable success," "tremendous participation of different communities," and its "truly mass character." Such widespread and organized national activity, led by figures like Gandhiji, would logically imply that the British authorities would indeed become "fearful and worried." The "co-operation of Indians" directly reflects the mass participation described in the text. This option captures a likely consequence of the described events.
Option 4: That the most positive feature of the movement was that it was repeated in later years
The passage directly contradicts this statement, noting: "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."
Conclusion on Main Idea
The passage focuses on the significant impact and characteristics of the Non-Cooperation Movement within India – its widespread participation, organizational success, and the realization of the people's political capacity. Option 3, while inferring the British reaction, is strongly supported by the described scale of Indian cooperation and Gandhiji's leadership, which were key drivers of the movement's impact and would undoubtedly have concerned the British administration.
Similar Questions
Analyzing Accessory Evidence
The discovery of the silver button near the display case is the most incriminating evidence against which suspect, and why?
(A) Bharat, because he had the technical expertise to get close to the case
(B) Chitra, because she was near the museum late that night
(C) Anjali, because she is known to wear a coat with similar buttons
(D) Mr. Hemant, as he was the last person to check the area
- The narrator and his kinsman's initial impression of the "unusual man" highlights which theme most strongly?
Important Questions from Analytical Reasoning
Analyzing Accessory Evidence
The discovery of the silver button near the display case is the most incriminating evidence against which suspect, and why?
(A) Bharat, because he had the technical expertise to get close to the case
(B) Chitra, because she was near the museum late that night
(C) Anjali, because she is known to wear a coat with similar buttons
(D) Mr. Hemant, as he was the last person to check the area
- The narrator and his kinsman's initial impression of the "unusual man" highlights which theme most strongly?
