Short essay on the background of the Non Co-operation Movement

Background of the Non Co-operation Movement:

Suspension of the Rowlatt Satyagraha by Gandhiji caused much resentment among some of the national leaders. The repressive measures adopted by the British were also responsible for the slow pace of the national movement.

Meanwhile rise in the price level following the First World War was also causing much hardship to the people also the dismemberment of the Turkish Empire by the British after the former’s defeat in the War turned the Muslims of India against the British government.

All these factors combined together to inaugurate a new chapter in the freedom movement. Here was the beginning of the Non-violent Non Co-operation movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.

b. Cause of Suspension:

Intensity of the Non Co-operation movement alarmed the British government so much that they took recourse to repressive measures to suppress the peaceful volunteers.

Despite Gandhiji’s appeal to the Satyagrahis to remain peaceful there had been clashes between the police and the people in some places following police action beyond endurance.

However, a violent incident that took place at Chauri Chaura ultimately led to the suspension of the Non Co-operation Movement by Gandhiji.

The incident was that in the village Chauri Chaura, near Gorakhpur in U P., an infuriated mob set the Police Station on fire and as a result a number of constables were burnt to death. This incident took place on 4 February, 1922.

Gandhiji’s movement was a non-violent movement. There was no scope of violence in it. Realizing that his movement was drifting towards violence Gandhiji immediately declared its withdrawal (1922).

Though Gandhiji’s decision was later on duly ratified by the Indian National Congress yet at least to some of the members the suspension of the movement appeared as a bolt from the blue. This was how the first phase of the Non co-operation movement came to an end.