How did non-cooperation movement spread in countryside. Explain
Answers
In Awadh, Baba Ramchandra, led the peasant movement. This movement demanded revenue reduction, abolition of begar and social boycott of oppressive landlords. In October 1920, Oudh Kisan Sabha was set up headed by Jawaharlal Nehru, Baba Ramchandra.
The Peasant movement developed a violent streak, as the peasants attacked houses of the landlords and looted markets. Leaders misused Mahatma Gandhi’s name and ideals.
In the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh, tribal peasants misinterpreted the meaning of Swaraj and had suffered a lot of oppression at the hands of the British. As a result they staged a rebellion under the leadership of a man called Alluri Sitaram Raju.
Under the new forest policy the British Government had imposed a lot of restrictions on tribal. They were not allowed to collect fuelwood and graze their cattle in the forests. British had also forced them to render their services as Begars.
Raju did not believe in the Gandhian ideals completely. He thought that freedom could be acquired by force and not non-violence. To achieve Swaraj, the rebels of Gudem hills attacked British officers and carried on Guerilla warfare. In 1924, Raju was captured and executed.
Non-cooperation movement began in December 1920. It spread to the countryside in the following ways :
•The movement started with the participation of middle-class in the cities. Thousands of students left the government-controlled schools and colleges, teachers resigned and lawyers gave up their practice. It was to be a non-violent movement.
•In Awadh, peasants were led by Baba Ramchandra. Here, the movement was against the talukdars, who charged high rents and peasants had to do beggar.
•The peasant movement demanded reduction of revenue and abolition of beggar. By the end of 1920, Jawaharlal Nehru, Baba Ramchandra and others had formed Oudh Kisan Sabha. So, after the beginning of Non-cooperation movement, Congress wanted to integrate the Awadh peasants struggle into a wider struggle.
•Tribal peasants integrated the message of Gandhiji and idea of Swaraj in their own way. In Gudem Hills in Andhra Pradesh, a militant guerrilla movement was organised against colonial oppression under the leadership of Alluri Sitharamaraju. He was inspired by the Non-cooperation movement.
•The Gudem rebels attacked police stations, attempted to kill British officials and carried on guerrilla warfare for achieving Swaraj.
•The movement also spread among the plantation workers in Assam. They were not permitted to leave the tea gardens without permission.
•For plantation workers in Assam, Swaraj had a very different notion. For them freedom meant to move in and out of the confined place. The workers believed that Gandhi raj was coming and everyone would be given land in their village. So, they defied the authorities, left the plantations and headed home.