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8. Mahatma Gandhi and the national movement

Circumstances leading to the Non-Cooperation movement
Rowlatt act
The sedition committe was the Rowlatt committe was officially called, was headed by Justice Rowlatt. The committe recommended special legislation, which laid to the suspension of laws, safe-guarding the right and liberties of the people. Inspite of oppositions from Indians the Rowlatt Act was passed in March 1919. This Act authorized the government to imprison any person without any trial and convict him in a court. This Act also empowered the police to search a place without any warrant. The Indians regarded the Act as a grave insult, since it came at the end of the First World War when Indians were expecting some constitutional concessions from the British government. This Act also came to be known as ‘black act’.
Jallianwalla bagh tragedy-
Amritsar had observed a hartal on 6th April. On 10th April two prominent leaders Dr. Satyapal and Dr. Kitchlew were unnecessarily deported from Amritsar. Hartal was immediately declared. A large crowd of people marched through the main streets of the city and the situation became violent. On 11th April General Dyer arrived and took command of the city. He announced that there should be no public meetings. Inspite of this announcement on 13th April 1919, a public meeting took place at Jallianwalla bagh in defiance of the order. General Dyer without any warning opened fired upon the peaceful crowd. There was no escape for the people as the bagh was surrounded by the tall building and there was only one proper exit. The army fired till the ammunition finished. About 1000 innocent demonstrator were killed and many more were wounded. The conscience of the nation was shaken at the massacre of the innocent people.
Khilafat Movement
After the First World War the Muslim were also upset with the British because of the treatment meted out to the caliph of turkey who was regarded as the religious head of the muslims. The caliphs were not left with any real power and were deprived of all authority. Muhammad Ali and Saukat Ali took the lead, setting of the Khilafat committee to support the caliphs. Gandhiji saw in the Khilafat movement an opportunity for uniting Hindus and the Muslims. He decided to work with the Khilafat committee and advised them to adopt the non-cooperation movement. Thus the non-cooperation was initially started by Khilafat committee.
Non-Cooperation movement
Meaning: - Non-Cooperation is ‘a way of protesting in which you do not cooperation with the evil doer’ it means that Indian would not help the British in anyway. The Indian would try to block all efforts made by the British in every sphere.
Objectives:
1. Restoring the old status of the sultan of turkey 2. Punishing those guilty of atrocities in Punjab 3. Attaining swaraj for India PROGRAMME OF THE MOVEMENT
Boycott programme
1. Boycott of legislative councils 2. Boycott of law courts by the lawyer 3. Boycott govt. schools and colleges 4. Boycott of British goods 5. Surrender of titles
Swadeshi programme:
1. It popularized swadeshi and khadi by reviving hand- spinning and hand-weaving 2. Establishment of national schools and colleges 3. Stressed on Hindu- Muslim unity 4. Removal of untouchabilities and other measures for harijans welfare 5. Emancipations and upliftment of women
Suspension of Non-Cooperation movement
On 5th Feb. 1922 a clash took place at Chauri Chaura a small town in the Gorakhpur district of U.P a police officer had bitten some volunteers picketing a liquor shops. A whole crowd of peasants that had gathered there who were fired upon them by the policeman went to the police station. The mob set fire to the police station with some 22 policeman inside it. Gandhiji was greatly shocked at such a turn of events. It showed that movement was becoming violent and unruly. He withdrew the non-cooperation movement on Feb. 12 1922.
Impact of non-cooperation movement:
1. The movement provided a great national base to the congress organization. People of all cast, creed and regions proclaimed Gandhi as their leader. 2. The movement undermined the power and prestiges of the British government. Officials were now nervous and bit shaky. 3. Repression failed to crush the spirit of the people. The movement made people bold and patriotic. 4. Another positive achievement was that the movement set the scheme for Hindu Muslim unity. 5. The congress became a revolutionary movement. It transformed the INC from a deliberate assembly into an organization for action. 6. As a consequence of the non-cooperation movement, several steps were taken in the direction of prohibition and removal of untouchabilities.

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