NCERT Notes (Study Material) on important GK topics for the UPSC civil services exam, NDA, CDS, CAPF, AFCAT. These notes will also be useful for other competitive exams like State Civil Service, SSC, Railway and so on. Check Other NCERT Notes Here
The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched by the Indian National Congress led by Mahatma Gandhi in August 1920. The non-cooperation movement was an important step because it was for the first time that the Indian National Congress party used unconstitutional means in their struggle. Gandhiji had assured that Swaraj would be achieved in a year if this movement was continued to completion.
The movement was essentially a peaceful and nonviolent protest where in the Indians were asked to:
- relinquish their titles and resign from nominated seats in the local bodies, government jobs
- withdraw their children from government-controlled or aided schools and colleges
- boycott foreign goods and use only Indian-made goods
- boycott the elections to the legislative councils
- not to serve in the British army
- refuse to pay their taxes, if the above steps did not bring results
The people boycotted British goods and started using only Indian-made goods and clothes. Foreign clothes were burned in bonfires.
Hill tribes of northern Andhra violated the forest laws, farmers of Awadh did not pay taxes and peasants in Kumaun refused to carry loads for colonial officials.
CAUSES OF THE NON COOPERATION MOVEMENT
- India’s indirect participation in the First World War caused a lot of economic hardships to the people. Prices of goods began to soar which affected the common man.
- The people of British India thought that they would be awarded with autonomy after the First World War.
- The people and politicians felt further disappointed with an unsatisfactory Government of India Act of 1919.
- Also, the passing of repressive acts such as the Rowlatt Act fuelled much anger against the government.
- The brutal massacre of unarmed people at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar made the matter worse.
- The Khilafat leaders accepted the non-cooperation launched by Gandhi and lent support to it.
Gandhiji called off the movement in February, 1922 in the wake of the Chauri Chaura incident. He said people were not ready for revolt against the government through ahimsa.
A lot of leaders like Motilal Nehru and C R Das were against the suspension of the movement only due to sporadic incidents of violence, and broke away from the INC to form the Swarajya Party.
OUTCOME & SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NON COOPERATION MOVEMENT
- Swaraj was not achieved in one year as Gandhiji had told, but people were united like never before.
- It was truly a mass movement involving a huge number of people, even in remote villages and towns.
- There was unity among Hindus and Muslims during this movement.
- The movement infused political consciousness among the people and they became aware of their rights.
- This movement established the popularity of the Congress Party among the people.
- They were not afraid of the government and willingly thronged jails.
- The Indian merchants and mill owners enjoyed good profits during this period as a result of the boycott of British goods. Khadi was promoted.
- The import of sugar from Britain reduced considerably during this period.
- This movement also established Gandhiji as a leader of the masses.
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