NON COOPERATION MOVEMENT
The Non Cooperation Movement was a political campaign started by Mahatma Gandhi on 4 September
1920 to have Indians revoke their cooperation from the British Government, with the aim of inducing the
Britishers to grant self governance.
Later on it was merged with the Khilafat Andolan under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi to unite both
Hindus and Muslims for the independence of the country.
Circumstances Favouring The Non Cooperation Movement;
1. Criticism of the Act of 1919; There was a great criticism of Montague Chelmsford Reform.
Leaving aside few moderates , all the nationalists criticised it .
2. Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh; The repressive Rowlatt Act and the massacre at the
Jallianwala Bagh , Amritsar had a profound effect on the leaders and the citizens of the country.
Their faith in the British system was broken and the citizens of the country rallied against it.
3. Economic hardships during the World War 1; India's indirect participation in the world war
caused a lot economic hardship in the country. Prices of good were increased which affects the
common man . All this created a lot of resentment against the government.
4. Lord Hunter Committee; A Committee of six persons were created which was known as The
Lord Hunter Committee to wash off the guilt of General Dyre , who was responsible for the
massacre at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. General Dyre was not punished but he was simply
removed from his service. Even the British Parliamentarians praised him for his work. This
created a lot of hate among the Indian Nationalists.
5. The Khilafat Andolan; During the World War 1, Turkey [German Ally] fought against the
British. After the defeat of Turkey , the Ottoman Empire was proposed to be dissolved. The
Khilafat Andolan was started by Muslims in India to persuade the British Government to not to
abolish the Caliphate. The leaders of thus movement acceptef the Non Cooperation Movement of
Mahatma Gandhi and joined it to fought against the British Government.
It was truly a mass movement where lakhs of Indians participated in the open protest against the
British Government through peaceful means. Indians learnt how to face the Police and the Military
atrocities boldly. As aresult of this movement Indian became conscious about their Political Rights.
