Chauri Chaura Incident: The Chauri Chaura incident is the turning point in the Indian freedom movement. A clash between the non-cooperation movement participants and policemen killed about 22 policemen and 3 civilians at Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur district in the United Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh). Mahatma Gandhi’s mind in action and his ideology can be seen through the Chauri Chaura incident and his reaction to it.
Read below this article to find out the series of events that happened during the Chauri Chaura movement and Gandhiji’s response to them as a consequence. Also, find out how it impacted the Indian freedom struggle.
Chauri Chaura Incident 1922
The Chauri Chaura Incident: A Series of Events
- The Indian National Congress launched the non-cooperation movement in September 1920 under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi.
- It was meant to be a peaceful and non-violent movement where people would leave their government offices, jobs, and titles, no longer go to government schools and colleges, not go to army service, and refuse tax payments as a last resort.
- Swaraj, or self-government, was the aim of the Indian National Congress.
- People voluntarily took part in the Chauri Chaura movement, and it was successful in that, at least, the participation part.
- However, an event at Chauri Chaura turned the tide of the revolution. On February 2, 1922, people were protesting against the high prices of meat at the market. The police beat them, and their leaders were arrested and detained at Chauri Chaura police station.
- The volunteers organized another protest against the police.
- Around two thousand five hundred (2500) people paraded to Chauri Chaura market for a protest against a liquor-selling shop on February 4.
- One of their leaders was apprehended. Thereafter, a number of people walked to the police station, requesting the release of the detained leader.
- The police shot in the air, hoping to scare and disperse the crowd. Nevertheless, the crowd grew angry and started throwing stones at the police.
- The situation was getting worse, and the sub-inspector from the station fired on the crowd, killing three people. These angered the masses, who then attacked the police, who were outnumbered. The people went out of control and set ablaze the police station, thus killing all the policemen and officials inside.
- The British government, as a response to the incident that took place at the Chauri Chaura police station, imposed martial law in the area and arrested hundreds of people.
Gandhi’s Reaction to the Chauri Chaura Incident
- For his ‘role’ in the Chauri Chaura incident, Gandhi went on a fast for five days. He declared the movement officially ended on February 12, claiming that people were not ready to take a non-violent step. He too believed that the people were not trained enough to show restraint against violent attacks.
- Congress leaders like Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das did not wish for the movement to be called off, as they believed that it was bringing success to the country.
- The government acted quickly and tried 228 people in connection with the case. Six died in the custody of the police. After the eight-month’-long trial, 172 people were sentenced to death.
- The country was awash with resistance to the verdict. In 1923, the Allahabad High Court reviewed the sentences of the convicted of the Chauri Chaura incident and upheld 19 death sentences and 110 life imprisonment, and the rest of them were given many years of jail term.
- The Chauri Chaura incident in 1922 and Gandhi’s decision were the beginning of revealing his ideologies and commitment to non-violence. This principle should be internalized by organizers when India experiences some of the most widespread social movements.
- It was quite clear that the nationalists were hot-headed and had made a mistake of judgment after the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922. Such a portrayal discounts local sources of political discontent as criminal. The violence at Chauri Chaura was awful because it reflected very strong morality on the part of holding back.
Why Gandhi Withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement
- The Bardoli campaign, however, involved civil disobedience on a large scale. Gandhi had stated on several occasions that he didn’t even want a single act of violence anywhere else in the country.
- First, Gandhi holds non-violence as a principle. Moreover, if violence occurred anywhere, the government could conveniently cite it as an excuse to launch a comprehensive attack against the movement as a whole. It would justify the repression.
- Gandhi did this on behalf of himself and the Working Committee. Gandhi did a great job of protecting the movement from likely repression by the government and the people from demoralization.
- The movement started to show signs of an ebb in the second half of 1921.
- The Chauri Chaura incident gave a golden opportunity for the movement to retreat with honor. The government was not about to start any negotiations. It had already gone on for over a year. At this point, the weaknesses of the movement were beginning to become apparent.
- So, it was apparently a wise decision by Gandhiji to call off the non-cooperation movement after the Chauri Chaura incident.
Impact on the Freedom Struggle
- The withdrawal of the non-cooperation movement, precipitated by the Chauri Chaura incident, influenced the non-cooperation movement. Mahatma Gandhi gave up on the movement after it went against non-violence.
- Gandhi got arrested at once after the withdrawal of the movement.
- The Congress was on the brink of dividing with a section calling for re-entry into the legislative councils. However, due to the efforts of Gandhi, both Swarajists and No-Changers stayed within the Congress organization.
- Due to such a decision, the old strategies were examined with a fresh eye, and the new course taken on the way to the independence of India involved non-violent civil disobedience.
Fun fact: During the video conferencing on February 4, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Chauri Chaura Centenary Celebrations’ at Chauri Chaura and also released a stamp for the event.
Conclusion
When it comes to the Indian freedom struggle, the historical Chauri-Chaura movement played a significant role. This incident occurred on February 4, 1922, in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh. During this incident, Indian protestants who were protesting during Gandhiji’s Non-Cooperation Movement were fired by the British police. In the above article, we have provided complete information about the Chauri Chaura movement.
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Chauri Chaura Incident – FAQs
1. Where is Chauri-Chaura located?
Chauri Chaura lies in the district of Gorakhpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
2. What happened in the Chauri Chaura incident?
A large group of protesters participating in the non-cooperation movement clashed with police, who opened fire.
3. What was the reason that led to the Chauri Chaura incident?
Gandhi’s non-cooperation, non-violent doctrine moment led to the Chauri Chaura incident.
4. What was the political or social consequence of the Chauri-Chaura incident?
A total of 172 people out of 225 accused were sentenced to death; however, 19 were hanged to death, and the remaining were shifted.
5. Who was Bhagwan Ahir in the context of the Chauri Chaura incident?
Bhagwan Ahir was an army pensioner living in Gorakhpur (UP) who was beaten up badly by the British police. This led to a sentimental uproar and then the Chauri Chaura Incident.
6. Which movement was called off due to the Chauri Chaura incident?
In February 1922, Gandhi withdrew the non-cooperation movement and got arrested.