Differing Strands within the Movement: The Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement was a mass movement in India from 1920 to 1922. It was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in response to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the Rowlatt Act. The movement aimed to achieve self-rule for India and to protect the Ottoman Caliphate.
In this article, we will look into the topic of Differing Strands within the Movement in detail. It is an important concept in NCERT Class 10 Social Science. Students can go through this article to get comprehensive notes on the topic ‘Differing Strands within the Movement’.
The Movement in the Towns
The Khilafat Movement was a political campaign launched by Indian Muslims in British India over British policy against Turkey and the planned division of the Ottoman Empire after World War I by Allied forces. The movement was led by the Ali Brothers, Maulana Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and Hasrat Mohani.
The Non-Cooperation Movement was a nationwide campaign of mass, peaceful civil disobedience. It involved boycotting British goods, government institutions, and elections. The movement also involved strikes and protests.
The Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement was a major turning point in the Indian independence movement. It brought together Hindus and Muslims in a common struggle against British rule. The movement also helped to popularize Gandhi’s methods of non-violent resistance. The movement was eventually called off in 1922 after the Chauri Chaura incident. However, it had a lasting impact on the Indian independence movement. It helped to create a sense of national unity and to raise awareness of the need for self-rule.
How did the Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement Started?
On August 31, 1920, the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement got started. The Non-Cooperation movement was a reaction to British control in India, whereas the Khilafat movement was a response to injustices done to Turkey. After the two groups united, they demanded Swaraj, non-cooperation, and a movement against Punjabi repression.
The Ali Brothers (Maulana Mohammed Ali and Maulana Shaukat Ali), Maulana Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and Hasrat Mohani initiated the Khilafat movement. Mahatma Gandhi emphasized that the campaign should be nonviolent while joining the Khilafat committee. The movement known as Non-Cooperation demanded that citizens refuse their taxes.
In June 1920, an all-party conference in Allahabad adopted a boycott campaign for law courts, colleges, and schools, and Mahatma Gandhi was requested to lead it. During a special meeting in Calcutta in September 1920, the Congress decided to adopt a non-cooperation policy until the errors of Khilafat and Punjab were rectified and Swaraj was created. When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk destroyed the caliphate in 1924, the Khilafat movement came to an end.
Effects of Non-Cooperation Movement
The Non-Cooperation Movement, launched in 1920 by the Indian National Congress, had a major impact on British India. The movement had economic, social, and political effects:
Economic
- Boycotted foreign goods
- Picketed liquor shops
- Burned foreign cloth in bonfires
- Indian textile mills and handlooms increased production
Social
- Lifted the untouchability of Dalits
- Uplifted women
Political
- Established the popularity of the Congress Party
- Made Gandhi a national leader
- Made people aware of their political rights.
Rebellion in the Countryside
In December 1920, the Non-Cooperation Movement got started. There were several ways in which it spread both in cities as well as the countryside:
- Cities: Participation from the middle class launched the movement. Several students departed from educational institutions under government supervision. Teachers and headmasters quit. Lawyers stopped to practice law. Most provinces refrained from holding council elections.
- Countryside: The campaign expanded to the rural areas as a result of the Rowlatt Act’s effects, rising land prices, backing from national authorities, and the boycott of British products. In the countryside, the movement received a lot of support, especially among farmers and peasants. This was because British policies like high taxes, forced labor, and the introduction of cash crops had the greatest impact on them.
The Non-Cooperation Movement extended to Awadh and other rural areas. In the Uttar Pradesh district of Awadh, Baba Ramchandra led a campaign against talukdars and landowners in the 1920s. The movement aimed at improving the social and economic circumstances of the oppressed peasants under landlord rule.
Reduced rental rates, the banning of begar, and a social boycott of the repressive landlords were among the demands made by the campaign. A series of marches and protests gave the campaign an additional boost. Also, the peasants established the “Oudh Kisan Sabha,” which was led by Baba Ramchandra and Jawaharlal Nehru. Panchayats organized “nai-dhobi bandhs” in several places to deny landowners access to even barber and washer men’s services.
Non-Cooperation and Tribals
Tribal peasants in Andhra Pradesh’s Gudem Hills saw the concept of swaraj as a violent means of reclaiming their ancestral rights to the forest. They thought that using force was the only possible option for releasing India.
Led by Alluri Sitaram Raju, the tribal peasants took part in the Non-Cooperation Movement. They accepted Gandhi’s majesty and did what he advised, refraining from alcohol and dressing in Khadi. They did not, however, take up his Swaraj concept.
A violent guerrilla group developed in the Gudem Hills during the beginning of the 1920s. To obtain swaraj, the rebels engaged in guerilla warfare, stormed police stations and made attempts to assassinate British officials. These strategies deviated from Gandhi’s call for truth and nonviolence.
Swaraj in the Plantations
For the Assamese plantation laborers, freedom meant having the ability to enter and exit the restricted area in which they were staying as well as maintaining their connection to their ancestral village.
To ensure that the plantation workers would take care of the plants, British authorities ordered the workers to leave their village and relocate to neighboring tea plantation areas where they were permitted to reside. Plantation laborers were prohibited from leaving the country under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859. Because of this, plantation laborers were not allowed to leave the tea gardens without authorization—in fact, these authorizations were infrequently granted.
Thousands of workers rebelled against the government, abandoned the plantations, and returned home after knowing about the Non-Cooperation Movement. They thought that everyone would receive land in their village when Gandhi Raj arrived. But they never made it to where they were going. A railway and ship strike had left them stranded, and they were captured by the authorities and tortured to severe physical abuse.
Conclusion – Differing Strands Within the Movement
The Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement was a complex and complicated movement. It was a movement of many strands, each with its own specific aspiration. However, all of the strands were united in their common goal of Swaraj. The movement was a major success in mobilizing the Indian people against British rule. It showed that the Indian people were united in their opposition to British rule. The movement also led to the emergence of new leaders, such as Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi’s leadership was to play an important role in the eventual success of the freedom struggle.
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FAQs on Differing Strands Within the Movement
When did the Non-Cooperation Movement begin?
The Non-Cooperation Movement started on August 1, 1920.
How did the Non-Cooperation Movement spread?
Non-Cooperation Movement spread rapidly due to Gandhi’s leadership and widespread dissatisfaction with British rule.
What were the key objectives of the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Key objectives of the Non-Cooperation Movement were to demand self-governance for India and boycott British institutions.
What strategies were used in the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Strategies included in the Non-Cooperation Movement boycotts, nonpayment of taxes, and peaceful protests.
How did the Non-Cooperation Movement impact Indian society?
Non-Cooperation Movement encouraged unity, national pride, and a spirit of resistance against British rule.
What were the effects of the Non-Cooperation Movement on Indian politics?
Non-Cooperation Movement highlighted the power of nonviolent resistance and inspired similar movements globally.
Why was the Non-Cooperation Movement eventually suspended?
Setbacks like the Chauri Chaura incident led Gandhi to call the Non-Cooperation Movement off, though its legacy lasted for long.
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