39 Non-Cooperation Movement

D. Subramanyam Reddy

1.  Introduction :

At a time when the Home Rule Movement was fading away Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi returned to India after spending about twenty fruitful years in South Africa and with rich experience in political agitation and a halo round his towering personality. Soon, he introduced the concept or technique of Satyagraha or non-violence and non-cooperation into the political agitation in India to attain India’s freedom and thereby transformed the movement, for the first time, into a mass movement and led the movement till India got independence in 1947. In fact, his Satyagraha served as a political weapon. It included hartal, non-cooperation, fasting, prayer, picketing, non-payment of taxes, civil-disobedience, non-violent marches and fasting unto death. With these, Gandhiji brought a great psychological change in the course of the national movement.

2.    Rowlatt:

The opportunity to experiment his Satyagraha came when the British Government introduced the Rowlatt Bills intended to curtail the civil liberties of Indians in the name of curbing terrorist violence. On this occasion Gandhi desired the people of India that in case of these bills becoming law they shall refuse to obey these laws, but “refrain from violence to life, person or property”. The Rowlatt Act was passed on March 18, 1919. It empowered the Government to deport individuals, to muzzle the press and to set up tribunals to try political offenders. When this was the situation Gandhi suggested the launching of a Styagraha in the form of hartal or closure of shops and markets to register their protest and had even undertook extensive tour of the country to explain his technique of Satyagrah. He had also advised people to observe April 6, 1919 as the day of protest. On this day, people observed hartals, led processions, organized public meetings and passed resolutions against the Act throughout the country. The press also recorded protest against the Act. Though the day passed off peacefully there were disturbances in Punjab and the Government’s repressive policy led to massacre there.

3. Jallianwala Bagh:

As the success of hartal on 6 April 1919 irritated Sir Micheal O’ Dwyer, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab he served prohibitory orders on Gandhi not to enter Delhi or Punjab and finally arrested him. Then, on 10 April 1919 he deported Dr. Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal of Amritsar for making preparations for the Congress session. There were countrywide protests against all these measures. A huge meeting was also held on 13 April 1919, the Baisakhi day in Amritsar at Jallinwala Bagh, defying the Government’s prohibitory orders against the repressive policy. Dwyer ordered his troops to fire upon the unarmed crowd without any warning. About 379 died. The news spread like wild fire throughout the country and protests poured in. Even Rabindranath Tagore surrendered his title of Knighthood to the Government. Gandhiji undertook a three day fast from 15 April 1919. The Indian National Congress which met in Amritsar under the Presidentship of Motilal Nehru observed mourning over the murder of people at Jallianwala Bagh. Meanwhile, all the political prisoners were released so as to ease the atmosphere for the reception of Montagu-Chelmsford Reform.

4. Khilafat Movement:

At this stage, Turkey was dismembered as per the Treaty of Severs, concluded after the end of the First World War, and thereby the Turkish Sultan who was also the Khaliph or the spiritual head of the Islamic world, was humiliated and religious sentiments of the Indian Muslims were hurt. Therefore, they expressed their resentment and started a movement known as the Khilafat movement under the leadership of Shoukat Ali and Mohammad Ali, popularly known as the ‘Ali Brothers’. Gandhiji who was by this time unhappy with the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms decided to identify with the Khilafat Movement and win over the Muslims for the cause of the Indian National Struggle. For this, Gandhi decided to start the Non-Cooperation Movement.

5.    The Non-Cooperation Movement

The exoneration of Dwyer by the Hunter Committee, the issue of Khilafat and the Punjab killings made Gandhiji to formally inaugurate the Non-Cooperation Movement on August 1, 1920, to write a letter to the Viceroy about the same, to surrender the medals and titles granted to him by the Government in the past, to undertake tour of southern India, preaching Non-Cooperation and finally introduce the Non-Cooperation resolution in the special session of the Congress held at Calcutta from 4 to 8 September 1920 under the Presidentship of Lala Lajpat Rai. Though there was opposition to the resolution from C.R. Das, Annie Besant, B.C. Pal, Madan Mohan Malavya and Mohammad Ali Jinna, it was passed by 1855 to 873 votes.

The Non-Cooperation resolution of September 1920 advised the people:

• To surrender Government titles and honorary offices and resign nominated seats in local bodies,
• To refuse attending Government functions,
• To withdraw their children from Government and aided schools and colleges and establish them with their own funds,
• To boycott courts,
• To refuse service in Mesopotamia,
• To boycott councils and foreign goods,
• To promote Swadeshi and collect Swadeshi Fund.

The Nagpur session of the Congress included even the non-payment of taxes in the non-cooperation programme. If this was followed, Gandhiji promised to achieve Swaraj within a year. The All India Congress Committee, which met at Vijayawada (now in Andhra Pradesh) during 31 March and 1 April 1921 also decided to collect one Crore rupees for the Tilak Swaraj Fund. It was at this session that Pingali Venkaiah of Andhra designed a tri–colour flag for the Congress. Later, with some modifications it became the National Flag of India.

After the Vijayawada session, Gandhi undertook a tour of southern India and addressed various meetings. To popularize the movement various devices such as meetings, harikathas, bhajan sankirthanas etc., were followed by people with Swadeshi, Khaddar and anti-drink campaign. The press also extended its support to the movement. The district conferences also propagated the boycott of the first elections under the Government of India Act of 1919 to the Madras Legislative Council in November 1920. As a result of the organized propaganda carried on for months by the leaders, a large number of voters abstained from voting in the 1920 elections, in some places empty boxes were returned. The voting pattern indicates the impact of Gandhi’s message of non-cooperation and boycott of elections. Since the Congress boycotted elections, the Justice Party got majority and formed the ministry in Madras Presidency.

5.1. Boycott of law courts

The response to Gandhi’s call for non-cooperation was boycott of law courts, one of the chief features of the movement. A number of model arbitration courts were established whose members included both lawyers and non-lawyers. The constitution and functions of the arbitration board were:

• It hears and decides all cases referred to it by courts and private parties,
• The parties could choose any member or members to settle their disputes,
• The parties could have persons of their native area as co-opted members for deciding their cases,
• The parties had to implement the board’s decision within three months. The Board, in fact, inspired others to follow their model in their places. This system was followed in places like Madras Presidency.

On his way from Madras, Gandhiji visited many places and made speeches on significance of Khaddar, Swaraj, Swadeshi, Temperance etc. After completing his tour Gandhi sent a wire message dated 5 October 1921 to the people of the Ceded Districts (now called Rayalaseema) that they should concentrate on Swadeshi and boycott. Later, he wrote an article on “Fmine Relief” in “Young India”, dated October 6, 1921 remarking “it was confirmed during my journey in Rayalaseema that charka was insurance to famine and it was chief instrument of famine relief”. His tour not only strengthened the non-cooperation movement, but had also encouraged them to organize a programme of boycott of Prince of Wales arrival in Bombay on 17 November 1921. There was also boycott of studies by the students in most parts of the country. In some places like Rayalaseema, National schools were established. The leaders conducted hectic campaign tours throughout the country and enlightened the people on the Non-Cooperation programme.

5.2. Prohibition of liquor

As Gandhi also considered the prohibition of liquor as essential for the self-purification and moral well-being of the society, it was included in the programme of the Non-Cooperation Movement. Called the temperance movement, the anti-liquor programme included propaganda conferences, especially attempts to hinder the prospective bidders from bidding at sales of arrack and toddy shops and picketing them after they were released. The movement was directed against the Government as the latter had come to rely more and more on liquor taxes as a source of revenue. The social reformers and leaders having progressive views and voluntary associations took up the campaign and used the platform and the press to protest against the increasing consumption of liquor. For instance, in the south, the Anglo-Indian Temperance Association, the Christian Missionary Society, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) and the indigenous philanthropic bodies worked actively. A number of individuals closely associated themselves with the programmes of these associations. The Anglo-Indians Temperance Association sent a deputation to the Secretary of State on the liquor problem as early as in 1912 and impressed them. It also tried to bring about a reduction in the number of licenses. It had started a journal titled Abkari for temperance activity. There were 200 temperance societies affiliated to this association. The temperance movement gained strength mainly through peaceful picketing and boycott of vendors and excise officials, and appeal to contractors not to bid the abkari sales, sometimes even by cutting off of Palmyra trees from which toddy was tapped. As a result of the anti-drink campaign, there was a tremendous failure in the sales of toddy-shops throughout the Madras Presidency. In a good number of districts the shops were sold out which caused considerable decrease in revenue. In other places, there were practically no bids for the shops and sales were impossible. There was no doubt that the preaching of non-cooperation and, in some cases the picketing of liquor shops contributed largely for this phenomenal success.

5.3. Forest Satyagraha

Another unique programme followed during the Non-Cooperation Movement, particularly in the Madras Presidency was the forest Satyagraha against the imposition of a variety of forest laws on the peasants and tribals in places like Kadapa, Kurnool, Anantapur, and Chittoor. Form times immemorial, the forest dwellers enjoyed several rights in the forests such as wood for fuel, huts, agricultural implements, cots etc., leaf for manure and meals plates etc., grass and leaves for grazing animals, forest produces like fruits, roots, herbs, honey, grain and even fishing and hunting. But, the British government imposed restriction on these and even imposed grazing fee on cattle and sheep. Whenever the dissatisfied forest dwellers resorted to social boycott of forest and revenue officials, sporadic assaults on subordinate officials of the forest department they had to face cane charges, police firing, and imposition of punitive taxes. Naturally, they began defying forest rules. This happened in districts like Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapur during the non-cooperation period. The local Congress leaders took initiative and articulated the people’s grievances into an open defiance of the forest laws. Their grievances were taken to the Government’s notice by leaders like P.Kesava Pillai. As a result the Government appointed the Forest Committee with Kesava Pillai as one of its members. The Committee submitted a report and the same was adopted by the Government. But, these measures could not remove the discontent against the Government.

The British continued to look upon the forest dwellers as “robbers”, while the dwellers considered the forest administration as of the “aliens” and also an unjust and corrupt one. At this stage, the grazing fee was increased from 3 to 8 annas per cow. This led to increased illegal grazing; lifting of grass and other forest produces. There was unauthorized felling of trees. Such scattered forest crimes consolidated into a coherent movement in 1920-22 due to non-cooperation movement in Chittoor etc.

The village officers also actively involved themselves in the no-tax campaign as part of the non-cooperation movement. Some of them had also resigned.

5.4. Khaddar programme

As part of the Non-Cooperation Movement the programme of spinning, weaving and wearing of hand-made cloth was taken up by the people as per the resolution of the AICC held at Vijayawada in April 1921. This was known as the Charka (spinning wheel) and Khaddar (hand-made cloth) programme. This was aimed at self-sufficiency in cloth, promotion of cottage industries and providing additional income to poorer families. But, this programme gradually acquired political importance. To popularize Khaddar several weaving institutions fonded by the A.I.C.C. and P.C.C.s were established everywhere. The charka and Khaddar programme brought into the national movement many people, particularly the merchant and the weaving communities.

The A.I.C.C. which met at Delhi on 5 December 1921 decided to give permission to Provincial Congress Committees to sanction mass civil disobediences, as part of non-cooperation movement, wherever the people were ready. The Provincial Congresses as that of Andhra met at Vijayawada on 7 January 1922 passed resolution to authorize the commencement of Civil-Disobedience, including non-payment of taxes. On such movement was started at Pedanandipadu of Guntur district in the present Andhra Pradesh. The no-tax movement drew the peasantry into the national movement. Most of the news papers and journals gave lot of publicity to this movement and contributed to the growth of political consciousness among the people.

6. End of Non-Cooperation movement:

As the Non-Cooperation Movement was making steady progress, the Government increased repressive measures and tried to curtail the activities of non-cooperators through various methods. These measures included issuing of prohibitor y orders and imposing of punitive police force at sensitive places, imprisonment even at the slightest provocation, extracting security for good behaviour, fining for refusal to give such security, withdrawal of pensions of retired officials for joining the movement, even denial of basic rights like freedom of speech, freedom to assemble etc., sometimes prohibition of wearing of the Gandhi cap, censoring of certain publications, stopping of Government printing works given to the printing centers owned by or controlled by the non-cooperators. As a result, there was wide-spread protest against the Government’s measures against the non-cooperators and the press.

When the non-cooperation movement turned into a violent one, as was evident from the Chauri-Chaura incident, Gandhi called a meeting of the Working Committee of the Congress at Bardoli on 11 & 12 February 1922 and at his insistence it decided to abandon the civil disobedience programme of the Non-Cooperation Movement and opt for a constructive programme and all this was finally confirmed by the A.I.C.C. which met at Delhi on 24 February 1922. When this happened, the government held the Non-Cooperation Movement responsible for disturbances during 1921-1922 and arrested Gandhi on 10 March 1922 on charge of sedition and sentenced to a six-year imprisonment. Of course, he was released after two years. Thus, the Non-Cooperation Movement came to an end.

The Bardoli decision came as a shock to some. Subhaschandra Bose called it a ‘national calamity’. M.N. Roy saw in it weakening of leadership. Some considered it curbing of mass initiative. But, the withdrawal was part of strategy as movements need breathing time to gather further strength. Though the movement appeared a failure to some, it was successful to the extent that it was for the first time that the idea of non-violent non-cooperation was introduced and applied as a method of political struggle and as a means of national liberation. It commanded the support and sympathy of various sections of Indian society. The anti-colonial ideology also penetrated even into the villages. It brought Hindu-Muslim unity. It had given impetus to socio-economic reforms such as eradication of untouchabilty, prohibition of liquor, revival of home and village industries, defying of forest regulations etc. It also brought tremendous political awakening among masses. The ordinary people no longer feared the British in the way they did in the past. Faith in the justice and fair play of the British Government was shattered and a blow was struck at its prestige. People got ready for any amount of suffering and sacrifice to win Swaraj.

7. Summary :

Thus, the Non-Cooperation Movement set a stage for the future strategy of the National Movement.

Web links

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-cooperation_movement
• https://www.britannica.com/event/noncooperation-movement
• http://www.importantindia.com/16194/causes-and-importance-of-non-cooperation-movement/
• http://holisticthought.com/non-cooperation-movement-1920-1922/
• http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/india-2/non-co-operation-movement-in-india/47739/
• http://www.mapsofindia.com/personalities/gandhi/non-cooperation-movement.html