Class 12 History Notes Chapter 11 The Making and Unmaking of Non-cooperation explores an important phase of India’s independence fight in the early 1920s.
This chapter covers the development, implementation, and eventual breakdown of Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement, a crucial struggle against British colonial control.
This chapter provides an understanding of the complex details and dynamics of India’s nationalist movement during this period by looking at the elements that contributed to its emergence and collapse in depth.
In this article, we will look into the topic of the Making and Unmaking of Non-cooperation in detail. It is an important topic in Class 12 History NCERT. Students can go through this article to get comprehensive notes on the topic Class 12 History Chapter 11 The Making and Unmaking of Non-cooperation.
The Making and Unmaking of Non-cooperation
In 1917, Mahatma Gandhi spent time in Champaran, focusing on obtaining peasants’ security of tenure and freedom to cultivate their crops.
- In 1918, he intervened in a labour dispute in Ahmedabad and joined peasants in Kheda in demanding better working conditions.
- These initiatives marked Gandhiji as a nationalist with deep sympathy for the poor. In 1919, colonial rulers introduced the “Rowlatt Act” during the Great War, leading to a nationwide campaign against it.
- The protests were particularly intense in Punjab, where many men had served on the British side in the War.
- Gandhiji was detained while attempting to reach the Punjab, leading to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in April 1919.
- The Rowlatt satyagraha made Gandhiji a truly national leader. He called for a campaign of “non-cooperation” with British rule, asking Indians to stop attending schools, colleges, and law courts, and not pay taxes.
- If non-cooperation was effectively carried out, India would win Swaraj within a year. To further broaden the struggle, Gandhiji joined the Khilafat Movement, which aimed to restore the Caliphate, a symbol of Pan-Islamism.
Knitting a Popular Movement
Gandhiji aimed to end colonial rule in India by combining non-cooperation with Khilafat, a movement involving Hindus and Muslims.
- This movement led to a surge of popular action, including students boycotting government schools, lawyers refusing to attend court, and the working class striking in various towns and cities.
- The countryside was also filled with discontent, with hill tribes in northern Andhra violating forest laws, farmers in Awadh not paying taxes, and peasants in Kumaun refusing to carry loads for colonial officials.
- The Non-Cooperation Movement was a significant moment in the life of India and Gandhiji, involving denial, renunciation, and self-discipline.
- The movement shook the British Raj for the first time since the Revolt of 1857. In February 1922, a group of peasants attacked and torched a police station in Chauri Chaura, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal, resulting in the death of several constables.
- Thousands of Indians were arrested during the Non-Cooperation Movement, including Gandhiji, who was arrested in March 1922 and charged with sedition.
- Judge C.N. Broomfield made a remarkable speech during his trial, stating that Gandhiji was a great patriot and leader in the eyes of millions of his countrymen.
What was the Khilafat Movement?
The Khilafat Movement was a political campaign launched by Indian Muslims in British India between 1919 and 1922 to protest British policy toward Turkey and the projected breakup of the Ottoman Empire following WWI.
- Shaukat Ali and Muhammad Ali led the movement, which received backing from Mahatma Gandhi, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
- The movement’s purpose was to preserve the Ottoman caliph as a symbol of Muslim unity in India during the British Raj. The organization also tried to solve Turkey’s issues and promote Hindu-Muslim cooperation.
A People’s Leader
By 1922, Mahatma Gandhi transformed Indian nationalism, transforming it from a movement of professionals and intellectuals to a movement of thousands of peasants, workers, and artisans.
- Many of these people regarded Gandhiji as their “Mahatma,” recognizing his simple lifestyle and love of working with his hands.
- He was known for his ascetic lifestyle and use of symbols like the dhoti and charkha, which allowed him to empathize more fully with the labouring poor and for them to empathize with him.
- Gandhiji’s success in broadening the basis of nationalism was based on careful organization, with new branches of the Congress set up in various parts of India and a series of “Praja Mandals” established to promote the nationalist creed in princely states.
- He encouraged the communication of the nationalist message in the mother tongue, rather than in the English language of the rulers, thus promoting nationalism in the farthest corners of the country.
- A group of highly talented Indians attached themselves to Gandhiji between 1917 and 1922, including Mahadev Desai, Vallabh Bhai Patel, J.B. Kripalani, Subhas Chandra Bose, Abul Kalam Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarojini Naidu, Govind Ballabh Pant, and C. Rajagopalachari.
- These close associates came from different regions and religious traditions, inspiring countless other Indians to join the Congress and work for it.
- After being released from prison in February 1924, Gandhiji focused on the promotion of home-spun cloth (khadi) and the abolition of untouchability.
- He believed that Indians had to get rid of social evils such as child marriage and untouchability, cultivate genuine tolerance for Indians of another faith, and learn to become self-reliant, emphasizing the importance of wearing khadi over mill-made cloth imported from overseas.
Conclusion – Class 12 History Notes Chapter 11 The Making and Unmaking of Non-cooperation
In conclusion, the Non-Cooperation Movement was a significant phase in India’s struggle for independence. It was led by Mahatma Gandhi from 1920 to 1922.
The movement aimed to resist British rule through nonviolent means, urging Indians to boycott British institutions, government services, courts, schools, and other symbols of colonial authority.
The movement was launched on September 5, 1920, by the Indian National Congress (INC) under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. The movement lasted from September 1920 to February 1922.
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The Making and Unmaking of Non-cooperation- FAQs
What is the focus of Class 12 History Chapter 11?
The chapter focuses on the Non-Cooperation Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi against British colonial rule in India during the early 1920s.
Who initiated the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Mahatma Gandhi initiated the Non-Cooperation Movement as a form of peaceful resistance against British rule.
What were the objectives of the Non-Cooperation Movement?
The movement aimed to boycott British goods, institutions, and laws, and to demand self-governance (Swaraj) for India.
What were some key events during the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Events included the boycott of foreign goods, the resignation of Indian officials from government positions, and mass protests against British policies.
What factors contributed to the Non-Cooperation Movement’s final collapse?
The Chauri Chaura event, internal differences, and concerns about rising violence all contributed to Gandhi’s decision to suspend the movement.