Indian freedom movement became a mass movement after the adoption of Non-Co-operation movement.
Non-Co-operation Movement:
The first national level struggle by the INC under the leadership of Gandhiji was the Non-Co-operation movement. It was a novel agitation of not to co-operate with the British. The characteristics of Non- co-operation policy were:
- Denial of taxes
- Returning the British awards and prizes
- Boycott elections
- Boycott foreign goods
- Lawyers shall boycott courts
- Students shall boycott English schools
In addition to his appeal for Non-Co-operation, Gandhiji motivated the people to participate in constructive programmes like making indigenous products, spinning khadi cloth using charka, establishing national educational institutions, popularising Hindi and eradicating untouchability. Kashi Vidya Pith, Gujarat VidyaPith and Jamia Millia were some of the national educational institutions started during this period.
People in different parts of India responded to Gandhiji’s appeal for non co-operation.
- Farmers in Awadh refused to pay taxes.
- Workers struck work.
- The tribal groups in northern Andhra entered the forests and collected the forest products violating the forest laws.
- Lawyers boycotted courts. Students quitted colleges and schools run by the British.
- The public, including women, burnt foreign clothes on the streets.
Non-Co-operation movement had a major role in making the national movement, which was till then confined to the elite of the society, a grass root mass movement. However, Gandhiji withdrew the movement following the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922.
Quit India Movement:
The Quit India Movement was the third mass movement launched by Gandhiji against the British. It was a mass movement based on the ideology of nonviolence meant to force the British to leave the country offering complete freedom to Indians. As part of the movement, Gandhiji called for:
- Farmers shall not pay tax.
- Princely states shall recognise the sovereignty of their people.
- Government officials shall disclose their loyalty to Indian National Congress
- without resigning their positions. Without quitting their positions in the army, soldiers shall disobey orders to shoot and kill Indians.
- If possible, students shall boycott education till attaining freedom.
Gandhiji gave the slogan ‘Do or Die’ to the common people. The Quit India Movement began on August 8,1942. The next day, Gandhiji and all the top leaders of the Congress were arrested. In protest, the uncontrolled mob demolished government offices, electric lines and railway lines. At the end of 1942, India was under the fire of popular unrest. The British government suppressed the movement very severely. The Quit India movement was a clear indication of the people’s determination to grab freedom for their country.
