2B. Non-Cooperation Campaign 1920-22 Flashcards
Why did Gandhi come to power in 1920?
- Gandhi captured popular imagination through combining spiritual strength with political awareness
- Gandhi received wide geographical support as a result of his involvement in settling local disputes, as well as support from members of Congress
- No other strong all-Indian political leaders were left to challenge him - Gokhale died in 1915, Tilak died in 1920, Besant did not have a strong political position
- Congress was unable to unite to oppose Gandhi
What was decided at Congress 25th annual meeting in Nagpur, December 1920?
Gandhi persuaded delegates to vote for his policy of non-cooperation, which he achieved by a majority vote of 2/1
- Gandhi was able to achieve this due to the strength of his arguments, his ability to bind Hindus and Muslims together and his sheer charisma
What did non-cooperation entail?
Gandhi urged all Indians to:
- Boycott elections to the new legislative assemblies
- Hand back all titles and decorations awarded by the Raj
- Remove children from government schools
- Refuse invitations to social invitations run by the Raj
- Boycott the law courts
- Withhold taxes
- Refuse to buy imported goods
- Leave all government posts
How did Gandhi’s non-cooperation campaign alienate moderate and wealthy Indians?
Some of Gandhi’s instructions for non-cooperation were completely unrealistic:
- Although over 200 lawyers did stop work, lawyers were unlikely to leave their lucrative practices
- Parents were unlikely to deprive their children of an education for the campaign
In which areas was the 1920 Non-cooperation campaign realistic / successful?
Many areas of the non-cooperation campaign were realistic and effective at disabling the Raj:
- Taxation and administration were vital to the functioning of the Raj - mass refusal to pay taxes had potential to deeply paralyse the Raj
- Fearful that the movement would descend into violence, these areas were useful for campaigning as non-cooperation in these area was less likely to create conflict.
What were the initial successes of the 1920-22 Non-Cooperation campaign?
- A large number of qualified voters stayed away from the 1920 elections
- Around 200 laywers stopped work
- During the visit of the Duke of Connaught to Calcutta in 1921, shops were closed throughout the city and few Indians attended the official ceremonies
In which areas during the 1920 Non-cooperation campaign did planned action diverge from its non-violent aims?
- In Bombay, a hartal designed to coincide with the visit of the Prince of Wales turned into 4 days of rioting and looting, leaving 53 dead and hundreds injured
- The mob attacked moneylenders in Rangpur
Which two outbreaks of violence during the 1920 non-cooperation campaign threatened Hindu-Muslim relations?
- The Muslim Moplahs of Malaba declared a jihad, killing British people and wealthy Hindu + Muslim landlord and moneylenders. They also forced Hindu peasants and labourers to convert to Islam
- In the Punjab and other regions of India, Hindus forced Muslims to ‘purify’ themselves through total immersion in water tanks and rivers, resulting in many drownings
Which incident led to the end of the 1920 non-cooperation campaign?
In February 1922, Congress supporters torched a police stations in Chauri Chaura, a village in Gorakhpur, burning 22 Indian policemen alive.
How did Gandhi react to the incident in Chauri Chaura?
Gandhi withdrew to his ashram to fast and meditate, emerging a few days later to end the non-cooperation campaign, to the horror of his supporters.
When was Gandhi imprisoned? When was he released? Why?
1 month after the end of the non-cooperation campaign, Gandhi was arrested and charged with promoting disaffection with the established government.
He was sentenced to six years in prison, but was released in January 1924, after serving 2 years, due to appendicitis.
What were the successes of the Non-Cooperation Campaign for Congress?
- Congress became more involved in peasant communities (they had previously been ignored) and gained a greater understanding of peasant needs and attitudes
- Congress became more ready to understand and exploit local grievances, and explore how these could be linked to the broader campaign for swaraj.
How did the respectability Congress change after the failure of the non-cooperation campaign?
Leadership of Congress passed to moderate lawyers C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru:
- Both favoured taking advantage of the Government of India Act 1919 - members of Congress stood for election to the councils set up by the Raj in 1923, many were successful
- Congress presence on local councils increased the respectability of the party, returning many middle-class Indians alienated by Gandhi’s non-cooperation campaign to the fold.
How did non-cooperation change the membership of Congress?
- Membership of Congress grew from a base of 100,000 to 2 million by the end of 1921
- Conservative elements / middle-class elements objected to transformation of Congress from a pressure group to demonstrating open defiance of the Raj
- Muslims left Congress due to Gandhi’s failure to support them over concerns about the breakup of the Ottoman Empire after WW1
Why did Congress membership grow from a base of 100,000 to 2 million by the end of 1921?
- Congress extended its appeal to a wider spread of geographical areas throughout India
- Congress began to appeal to previously-ignored interest groups. Many new supporters came from the richer peasantry and the commercial castes, but Congress also began to recieve support from railway workers, millhands and poorer peasants.
