Question

Explain Why Gandhiji decided to withdraw from the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Answer 1

Gandhiji felt Satyagrahis needed to be trained properly for mass struggles. Gandhiji realised the Non-Cooperation Movement was turning violent in many places. Hence, Mahatma Gandhi decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922.

• Moreover, leaders within Congress were now tired of Mass struggles.
• The Government of India Act of 1919, had set up elections in Provincial Councils. Some leaders wanted to participate in elections
• They felt it was better to argue for reforms in the Council, and oppose British policies within the Councils. They also wanted to prove the Councils were not democratic.
• To argue for a return to council politics, Motilal Nehru and C.R.Das formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress.
• To gain full independence, leaders like Subash Chandra Bose and Nehru wanted radical mass agitations.

Non-Cooperation Movement – Slowing Down of Movement in Cities

Due to different reasons the Non-Cooperation Movement started slowing down in cities. The reasons are mentioned below:

• Predominantly, to substitute the British Institutions, there were no alternative Indian institutions.
• Hence, Lawyers joined back the Government courts.
• Teachers and students started going back to Government colleges and schools.
• Poor people could not afford Khadi clothes which were very expensive compared to mass produced mill cloth. Hence people could no longer afford to boycott mill cloth for too long.

Non Cooperation Movement – Important Facts

Gandhiji believed that British rule was established and survived in India due to cooperation of Indians. He believed that British rule would collapse and Swaraj would come if the Indians did not cooperate.

• The Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement started in January 1921. Different social groups with their own unique aspirations joined the Non-Cooperation Movement. Gandhiji gave the call for Swaraj and for different people it meant different things.

• The Non-Cooperation Movement started in cities with the participation of the Middle Class.
• Except Madras, in most of the provinces, the council elections were boycotted. The Justice Party felt it was a way to gain power by entering the Council.
• Lawyers gave up their practice.
• Teachers and headmasters resigned from schools and colleges.
• Thousands of students left the Government controlled schools and colleges.

Non-Cooperation Movement – Effect on Economy

• There was a dramatic effect of the Non-cooperation movement on the economy.
• Foreign goods were boycotted. In many places traders and merchants refused to trade in foreign goods.
• Production of Indian textile mills and handlooms went up as people started wearing only Indian clothes by discarding imported clothes.
• In many places merchants and traders refused to finance foreign trade.
• between 1921 and 1922, the import of foreign cloth halved, its value dropping from Rs 102 crore to Rs 57 crore.
• Foreign clothes were burnt in huge bonfires.
• Liquor shops were picketed.