Question

Compare the Non-cooperation Movement with the Civil Disobedience Movement. Also discuss, how the Gandhi Irwin Pact raised the stature of Indian National Congress

Answer 1

The Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movement was a significant phase of the Indian independence movement from British rule. Both movement was led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.Although both was launched with similar objectives, but there were differences in these movements.

Comparison of Non-cooperation Movement (NCM) with the Civil Disobedience Movement(CDM):

1. NCM means to refuse to cooperate with British Government but CDM means to refuse to obey the laws formed by the british
2. The goal of the Non-Cooperation movement was Swaraj or self-rule by demanding the status of dominion status from the British government. While the goal of the Civil Disobedience movement had moved further; from Swaraj to complete independence from foreign rule.
3. There was large scale participation of Muslim working class in the Non- Cooperation movement which was not witnessed in the Civil Disobedience movement later on due to the Divide and Rule policy of the British and communal propaganda of Muslim League and Hindu Mahasabha.
4. The Civil Disobedience movement was much more widespread in its geographical extent and mass participation as compared to the Non- Cooperation movement.
5. For Indian women, the Civil Disobedience movement was the most liberating experience to date and can truly be said to have marked their entry into the public space.
6. The Civil Disobedience movement was of much longer duration. It ended in two phases. The second phase ended in April 1934, four years after its launch. The Non-Cooperation movement was of shorter duration and was withdrawn on 12th February 1922 after the Chauri Chaura incident on 5th February 1922. It thus lasted for one and a half years only.
7. The Civil Disobedience movement was much more peaceful and non-violent in comparison to the Non-Cooperation movement. This is also the reason for the former much longer duration compared to the latter. The Non- Cooperation movement was withdrawn by Gandhi since it had turned violent.
8. Neither the Non-Cooperation movement nor the Civil Disobedience movement could achieve their stated objectives of Swaraj and CompleteIndependence respectively. However, their real effectiveness lay in the political mobilisation of the masses and the half-hearted constitutional reforms extended by the British government.

Gandhi-Irwin Pact: The 'Gandhi-Irwin Pact' was a political agreement signed by Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India, on 5 March 1931 before the second Round Table Conference in London.

Gandhi Irwin Pact raised the stature of Indian National Congress:

1. No doubt, youth were disappointed: they had participated enthusiastically and wanted the world to end with a bang and not with a whimper. Peasants of Gujarat were disappointed because their lands were not restored immediately (indeed, they were restored only during the rule of the Congress ministry in the province). But many people were jubilant that the government had been made to regard their movement as significant and treat their leader as an equal, and sign a pact with him. The political prisoners, when released from jail, were given a hero’s welcome. So in this way it raised the stature of congress.
2. Gandhi Irwin Pact was not retreat as mass movements are necessarily short-lived and capacity of the masses to make sacrifices, unlike that of the activists, is limited. So Gandhi Irwin pact was cautiously taken steps by Congress. Also first time congress leader was treated on equal footing by British Government. So, In this way it raised the stature of Congress as compared to British Government.