Mahatma Gandhi was horrified by jallianwala bagh massacre. He lost all faith in the goodness of the British government and declared that it would be a “sin” to co-operate with the “satanic” government.
In March 1920, he issued a manifesto declaring a doctrine of the non-violent non-cooperation movement.
Gandhi, through this manifesto, wanted people to:
•Adopt swadeshi principles
•Adopt swadeshi habits including hand spinning & weaving
•Work for the eradication of untouchability from society
Indian Muslims who had participated in the Khilafat movement to restore the status of the Caliph gave their support to the non-cooperation movement. In response to the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and other violence in Punjab, the movement sought to secure Swaraj, independence for India.
Gandhi promised Swaraj in one year if his Non-Cooperation programme was fully implemented.
Gandhi called for a nationwide protest against the Rowlatt Act. All offices and factories would be closed. Indians would be encouraged to withdraw from Raj-sponsored schools, police services, the military, and the civil service, and lawyers were asked to leave the Raj’s courts.
Indians returned honours and titles given by the government and resigned from various posts like teachers, lawyers, civil and military services.
The impact of the revolt was a total shock to British authorities and a massive encouragement to millions of Indian nationalists.
As a result of this movement, people became conscious of their political rights. They were not afraid of the government.
Movement was withdrawn because of the Chauri Chaura incident. Although he had stopped the national revolt single-handedly, on 10 March 1922, Gandhi was arrested. On 18 March 1922, he was imprisoned for six years for publishing seditious materials.
It was one of Gandhi’s first organized acts of large-scale civil disobedience.
The movement marked the transition of Indian nationalism from a middle-class to a mass basis.
It was during this movement Subhas Chandra Bose resigned from civil service. He was appointed as the principal of the National College in Calcutta.
262. Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22)
