Question

Why did Mahatma Gandhi launched non cooperation movement of 1920 to 1922? What were its programmes? What made Gandhi to suspend the movement

Answer 1

Answer:

While the Rowlatt Act had been a widespread movement, but it was only limited to the cities. So now Gandhiji had to think a more broad based movement. But he was certain that no movement could be launched without bringing the Hindus and Muslims together. In order to achieve this he thought to take up the Khilafat issue. To defend the temporal powers of Khalifa, a Khilafat committee was formed in 1919. A young generation Muslim leaders like the brothers Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali began discussing with Mahatma Gandhi about bringing Hindus and Muslims together in a movement. Gandhiji saw this as an opportunity to bring Muslims closer together in a umbrella with Hindus.

At the Calcutta session of September 1920, Gandhiji convinced other leaders of Congress to launch a movement for Khilafat issue as well as for Swaraj.

Finally at the Nagpur session of December, 1920, the Non-Cooperation Khilafat program was adopted.

This time Gandhiji asked people to boycott every institutions of British government. He asked people to defy civil services, institutions, law courts, etc. The meaning of swaraj in this movement was taken differently by different social groups.

There were variety of reasons for the calling off of Non-Cooperation movement such as gudem hill revolt, slow coming up of native institutions, introduction of no tax campaign, turning of violence riots, etc. But main reason was the turning of the movement into a violence figure at Chauri Chaura, Gorakhpur (U.P.). In 1922, a peaceful demonstration turned into a violence riot with police and people. Around 22 police men were killed. On hearing this, Gandhi called off the Non-Cooperation Movement.