Non Co-operation Movement (1920-22)

In 1920, Gandhi advised Khilafat committee to launch non violent non cooperation movement. On 9 June 1920 in Allahabad, the Khilafat committee accepted this proposal of Gandhi and handed over the leadership of this movement to Gandhi.

In May 1920, it was decided at All India Congress Committee meeting to boycott all foreign goods and schools and to organize a special session of Congress in September.
Gandhi started Non Cooperation movement from 1st August 1920. It was the first mass movement led by Gandhi. Bal Gangadhar Tilak died on the same day.

In September 1920, the special session of congress was organized in Calcutta under the presidentship of Lala Lajpat Rai. The session gave the approval of non cooperation movement despite the opposition from some senior leader like C. R. Das, he opposed to the boycott of Vidhan Parishad. Annie Besant, S.N. Bannerjee, Madan Mohan Malviya, M.A. Jinnah, B.C. Pal and Shankar Nayar also opposed. Ali Brother and M.L. Nehru supported non cooperation movement.
At the Nagpur session, Chittranjan Das and Lala Lajpat Rai withdrew their opposition that at Calcutta session. Gandhi declared, 'The British government must realize that if it does not want to do justice then destroying British empire shall be the duty of each and every Indian. Gandhi prepared a new constitution for congress and thereby changed the character of congress. The membership charge was reduced to 25 paise anually. Provincial congress committee was reorganised on linguistic basis. A 15 member executive was constituted to look after the routine work of congress (This proposal was also proposed by Tilak in 1916 but was not passed). Congress decided to use Hindi as far as possible , the language for communication.

The boycott of education was most successful in West Bengal. S.C. Bose was made the president of National College made during non cooperation movement.

After Nagpur session in 1920, four members quit congress:  M.A. Jinnah, Annie Besant, B.C. Pal and G.S. Khaparde.

Gandhi toured India during non cooperation movement, first with Ali Brothers and then Prabhu Das Gandhi.
Famous lawyers who left their practice during non cooperation movement were : C.R. Das (West Bengal), M.L. Nehru, Vallabh Bhai Patel and Vitthal Patel(Gujarat), C. Rajgopalchari, Saifuddin Kichlu, Arun Asaf  Ali, T. Prakasham and M. Jaykar.

Gandhi returned the title 'Kesar-i-Hind' before launching non cooperation movement. Jamunalal Bajaj returned the title 'Rai Bahadur'.

March 1921, in the Vijaywara session, Tilak Swaraj fund was organised for running the movement and more than 1 crore was collected.

May 1921, the Viceroy Lord Reading met Gandhi and asked him to convince Ali Brothers for not giving provocation speeches.

July 1921, Mohd Ali Jinnah declared that it will be against their religion if any Muslim serve the army.

On 5 February 1922, a procession of congress and Khilafat movement was organised at Chauri Chaura, Gorakhpur. People killed 22 police officers.

In February 1922, the Congress executive met at Bardoli where Gandhi declared discontinuation of non cooperation movement. This proposal is known as Bardoli resolution.

On 10 March 1922, Gandhi was arrested and sentenced to 6 years imprisonment but was released on 5 February 1924 due to health reasons.  

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