Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22)

Key Pointers

Causes: Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh; Khilafat issue (Treaty of Sevres, 1920; Ali brothers); disappointment with the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms; post-war economic distress (price rise, taxes).
Launch: Formally started 1 August 1920; Calcutta Special Session (Sept 1920, Lajpat Rai) approved; Nagpur Session (Dec 1920) ratified (C.R. Das moved the resolution).
Programme:
- Negative: Surrender of titles and honorary posts; boycott of councils, courts, schools and foreign cloth; boycott of the Prince of Wales's visit (17 Nov 1921).
- Constructive: National schools and colleges (Jamia Millia Islamia, Kashi Vidyapith, Gujarat Vidyapith), panchayats, khadi/charkha, Hindu–Muslim unity, removal of untouchability.
Participation: Students, lawyers (C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad gave up practice), peasants (Awadh Kisan Sabha under Baba Ramchandra), workers, Muslim leaders; women (picketing).
Related events: Moplah Rebellion (Malabar, 1921); Eka Movement (Awadh); Forest satyagrahas in Andhra; Vaikom Satyagraha later.
Chauri Chaura (5 February 1922, Gorakhpur, UP): A mob burnt a police station killing 22 policemen; Gandhi suspended the movement on 12 February 1922 (Bardoli resolution).
Aftermath: Gandhi arrested (March 1922; six-year sentence; released 1924). Swaraj Party formed (Jan 1923) by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru (pro-changers) to contest council elections; no-changers included C. Rajagopalachari, Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad.
Significance: First nationwide mass movement; Hindu–Muslim unity; fear of the British decreased; weakness: ended abruptly, communal tension later.

MCQs

Q1. The Non-Cooperation Movement was withdrawn after the incident at: (a) Bardoli (b) Chauri Chaura (c) Moplah (d) Kakori Answer: (b).

Q2. The Swaraj Party was formed by: (a) C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru (b) Gandhi and Patel (c) Tilak and Gokhale (d) Ali brothers Answer: (a). Formed in January 1923.

Q3. The Congress session that ratified the Non-Cooperation Movement in December 1920 was held at: (a) Calcutta (b) Nagpur (c) Amritsar (d) Lahore Answer: (b).