Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922)

📖 Gandhi’s View in Hind Swaraj (1909)

  • British rule in India existed only because Indians cooperated with it.
  • If Indians withdrew cooperation, the system would collapse.
  • After the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre & denial of justice, Gandhi declared: “The only effective means to restore national honour and prevent future wrongs is the establishment of Swaraj.”

📅 Launch

  • 1 August 1920 → Movement inaugurated by Gandhi.
  • Linked to Khilafat Movement.
  • Adopted officially in December 1920, launched January 1921.

🛠 Methods & Stages

  1. Surrender of government titles.
  2. Boycott:
    • Civil services, army, police, courts, legislative councils.
    • Government schools, foreign goods.
  3. If government repression continued → Full Civil Disobedience.

🏙 Movement in Towns

  • Middle-class participation initially.
  • Teachers resigned.
  • Lawyers gave up legal practice.
  • Students left government-controlled schools and colleges.
  • Council elections boycotted (except Madras → Justice Party came to power, dominated by non-Brahmins).

💰 Economic Impact

  • Foreign goods boycotted.
  • Liquor shops picketed.
  • Foreign cloth burnt in bonfires.
  • Imports of foreign cloth halved (1921–1922).
  • Production of Indian handloom & textiles increased.

🌾 Movement in Countryside – Awadh

  • Led by Baba Ram Chandra (Sanyasi, ex-indentured labourer from Fiji).
  • Peasants forced to do begar (unpaid labour) on landlords’ farms.
  • High rents & cesses demanded by talukdars/landlords.
  • Demands:
    • Abolition of begar.
    • Reduction of land revenue.
  • Promotion of:
    • Swadeshi goods – khadi.
    • Removal of untouchability.
    • Hindu–Muslim unity.
    • Abstention from alcohol.
  • Charakha became a household item.
  • Panchayats organised nai-dhobi bandhs – barbers & washermen refused services to landlords.
  • Misunderstandings:
    • Local leaders told peasants that Gandhi had said no taxes were to be paid & land would be distributed to the poor.
  • Oudh Kisan Sabha founded in Oct 1920 by Jawaharlal Nehru & others; 300 branches within a month.
  • 1921: Peasant revolts → Attacks on landlords’ houses, looting bazaars, seizing grain.

🏞 Tribal Movements – Gudem Hills, Andhra Pradesh

  • Cause:
    • Forest laws restricted grazing & fuel collection.
    • Forced labour for road construction.
  • Guerrilla movement against British officials.
  • Leader: Alluri Sitaram Raju (believed in Gandhi but supported use of force).
  • Actions:
    • Attacked police stations.
    • Killed British officials.
  • 1924: Raju arrested & executed.

🍃 Swaraj in Plantations – Assam

  • Plantation workers wanted:
    • Freedom to move in/out of plantations.
    • Links to home villages.
  • Inland Emigration Act (1859) → Workers couldn’t leave without permission.
  • Hearing about NCM, thousands left plantations believing “Gandhi Raj” was coming & land would be distributed.
  • Many stranded due to railway & steamer strikes; caught & beaten by police.

🚔 Government’s Response

  • Police firing killed many.
  • Congress & Khilafat volunteer organisations declared illegal.
  • Public meetings banned.
  • Most leaders (except Gandhi) arrested.

🌟 Important Personalities Involved

  • C. Rajagopalachari
  • Vallabhbhai Patel
  • Gopabandhu Das
  • Ajmal Khan
  • Subhash Chandra Bose
  • Jawaharlal Nehru
  • Motilal Nehru & C. R. Das – gave up legal careers.

🛑 Withdrawal of the NCM (Feb 1922)

  • Reason: Turning violent in many places.
  • Chauri Chaura incident (U.P.): Mob burnt police station → 22 policemen killed.
  • Gandhi believed:
    • Struggle must remain non-violent.
    • Satyagrahis needed more training.
  • Other issues:
    • Khadi more expensive than mill cloth → poor couldn’t afford it.
    • Lack of alternative institutions → students, teachers, lawyers returned to British system.

📈 Maximum Reach & Impact

  • Spread nationalist sentiment to every corner of India.
  • Politicised all sections of society.
  • Promoted Swaraj & Swadeshi institutions:
    • Gujarat Vidyapith
    • Kashi Vidyapith
    • Bengal National University
  • Unity among Indians under Gandhi’s leadership.
  • Economic Impact:
    • Imports of foreign cloth halved (1921–1922).
    • Foreign goods boycott strengthened Indian industry.

✅ Board Exam Prep Notes

  • Chauri Chaura (Feb 1922) → Key reason for withdrawal.
  • Expect map question on Awadh, Gudem Hills, Assam.
  • 5-mark likely: Describe the spread of NCM to towns, countryside, tribals, and plantations.
  • One-mark: Leader of Gudem Hills movement → Alluri Sitaram Raju.