Notes-Class 8-History-Chapter-7-Non Co-operation Movement-Maharashtra Board

The start of the Gandhian era :

• The period from 1920 to 1947 is known as the "Gandhian era" in the Indian national movement.
• Following Lokmanya Tilak's death in 1920, Gandhiji took charge of India's freedom struggle.
• He gave the freedom movement a new direction by enforcing the principles of Truth, Nonviolence, and Satyagraha. It grew more comprehensive.

Role of Gandhiji in South Africa

• Gandhiji went to South Africa for legal work in 1893, where he began his political career.
• Many Indians had settled in South Africa for trade and business purposes.
• They were treated as criminals and subjected to humiliating treatment.
• Many restrictions were placed on their freedom, such as the requirement that they carry an identity curd.
• Gandhiji took the Satyagraha route and obtained justice for them.

Ganhiji arrives in India

• When Gandhiji returned to India on January 9, 1915, Gopal Krishna Gokhale advised him to tour the entire country.
• He was saddened by the misery and poverty he witnessed.
• He made a commitment to serve the country and stayed at Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Ashram.

Philosophy of Satyagraha

• Gandhiji used a new Satyagraha technique to obtain justice.
• Satyagraha is the insistence on the truth.
• It is a novel method of resisting tyranny and injustice through nonviolent means.
• The goal of Satyagraha was to make the unjust person aware of the truth and justice, as well as to change his mind.
• A Satyagrahi should never resort to violence or deception.
• Martin Luther King used Satyagraha to fight for black people's rights in America, and Nelson Mandela used it in South Africa.

Workers movement at Ahmedabad

• Inflation was extremely high during World War I.
• The mill workers demanded a raise in pay, which the mill owners refused.
• Gandhiji suggested that the workers go on hunger strike.
• In the end, the mill owners were forced to back down, and workers' wages were raised.

Satyagraha against Rowlatt Act :

Begining :

• The Indians had helped the British during World War I.
• As a result, they believed that decisions concerning the Indians' well-being would be made after the war.
• During the First World War, the prices of everyday commodities rose.
• The debt burden also increased.

The Rowlatt Act :

• On March 17, 1919, a new law was passed based on Sir Sydney Rowlatt's recommendations without taking into account the opposition of Indian members of the Central Legislative Assembly.
• The Rowlatt Act was enacted to suppress growing discontent and propose solutions.
• It empowered the government to arrest and imprison any Indian without a trial or warrant.
• There could be no appeal against the punishment imposed under this Act.

Protest :

• The Indians called it the "Black Act."
• Gandhiji began a Satyagraha against it.
• Gandhiji called upon the people to observe hartal on 6th April to protest against the Act.
• A large number of Indians responded to this appeal.

Khilafat Movement :

The reason for the movement :

• The Khalifa, the religious leaders of Muslims all over the world, ruled Turkey.
• In order to gain the support of Indian Muslims during the First World War, the British provided false assurances that the Khalita empire would not be harmed. However, they did not keep their word.
• It instilled resentment and prompted the Khilafat Movement by Indian Muslims to support Khalita.
• Gandhiji backed the Khilatat Movement in its efforts to promote Hindu-Muslim unity against the British.
• He believed that with this unity, the government could be brought back to its senses.

Effects :

• A freedom movement began, bringing Hindus and Muslims together in unprecedented numbers.
• Gandhiji supported the Khilafat movement, and the Khilafat committee in turn offered the government the following non-cooperation.

Non-co-operation Movement :

• Gandhiji developed the concept of non-cooperation.
• According to him, the British rule in India only lasted because of the Indians' cooperation.
• If the Indians abandon this cooperation in favour of total non-cooperation, the British government will collapse.
• With this goal in mind, he appealed to the people of India to join the Movement.

Resolution of Non-co-operation :

• At its Nagpur session in 1920, the Indian Notional Congress passed a resolution on the Non-cooperation Movement.
• After Chittaranjan Das proposed the resolution, it was approved, and Gandhiji was given command of the movement.

The Non-Cooperation Movement's Programme:

• Boycott of government offices and courts is part of the Non-cooperation Movement's programme.
• Many prominent lawyers, including Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das, boycotted the courts and ceased practising.
• Protests against government schools and colleges.
• Schools and colleges, as well as universities, were established to provide national education.
• Boycott of coming elections.
• Boycott on foreign goods and clothes.
• Bonfire of foreign clothes were set at several places and demonstration in front of shops selling such clothes were organised.
• Due to this, the import of foreign clothes decreased.

Progress of Non-co-operation Movement :

• In 1921, the Prince of Wales arrived in India. He was greeted with a well-organized hartal, closed stores, and deserted streets.
• The movement had spread from Assam's planters to Bengal's rail workers.
• To bring the movement under control, the British government used large-scale suppressive measures.

Withdrawal of the Non-co-operation Movement :

• The police firing on the peaceful procession led to violence in Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh in February, 1922.
• In this incident, twenty-two policemen were burnt alive by the enraged mob.
• Gandhiji was hurt by this incident so he suspended the Non-co-operation Movement on 12 February, 1922.

Arrest of Gandhiji :

• Gandhiji was charged with three anti-national articles published in 'Young India.'
• In March 1922, he was arrested and imprisoned for six years.
• His trial was held in an Ahmedabad special court.
• He was later released on medical grounds.

Constructive programme :

• After his release from prison, Gandhiji undertook constructive programme.
• It included the spread of Swadeshi, the popularisation of khadi, Hindu-Muslim unity, the abolition of untouchability, and the prohibition of alcohol, among other things.
• Because of these constructive programmes, the national movement expanded into rural areas.

Simon Commission :

• To appease public dissatisfaction with the unsatisfactory provisions of the Montague Chelmsford Act of 1919, the British Government established the Simon Commission in 1927, chaired by Sir John Simon.
• The Congress boycotted the commission because it did not include a single Indian.
• People protested strongly against the commission, shouting 'Simon go back' wherever it went.

Protest by Lala Lajpat Rai :

• Lala Lajpat Rai led a protest against the Simon Commission in Lahore.
• The demonstrators were charged with a lathi by the police.
• A police officer named Saunders used a lathi to attack Lalaji.
• Following the attack, Lalaji stated, "Every blow on my body will prove to be a nail in the coffin of the British Empire."
• Lalaji died as a result of his injuries.

Nehru Report :

Berkenhead, Secretary of State of India, criticised that the Indian leaders cannot draft a unanimously accepted constitution.

This challenge was taken up by all party committee under the chairmanship of Pandit Motilal Nehru.

Nehru Report proposed that :

• India should get self-government.
• Implementation of Adult Franchise System.
• Linguistic Division of Provinces.

Congress accepted the Nehru Report and warned the government that it would launch a Civil Disobedience Movement if the government did not accept the Nehru Report by the end of the year 1929.

On this background, the Lahore session of the Indian National Congress was held.