Analyzing the Non-Violent Non-Cooperation Programme in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Punjab Regions of the Country

The time frame starting from 1900 was a wild period in the Indian History. It denoted the beginnings of political agitations from Bengal spreading to the rest of the country; the coming of Mahandas Karamchand Gandhi on the political scene with the despatch of the Khilafat and the non-cooperation movements; beginnings of the exercises of progressive and socialists; and the consuming mutual inquiry which showed itself in various mobs. Police which is needed to assume the essential part of identification and anticipation of wrong doing, hence focussed more on separating unwaveringness to the system and to rebuff political dissent. Police which ever have been, kept on being a piece of the state structure attempting to undermine and suppress a wide range of political and social resistance that went to the prevailing request, in this setting the British Raj. During 1920-21 the Indian National Movement went into another stage for example a period of mass legislative issues and mass preparation. The British standard was gone against through two mass, movements, Khilafat and Non-cooperation. However, arising out of isolated issues both these movements took on a typical program of activity. The strategy of non-violent battle was taken on at a public level. In this paper we examine the purposes behind the starting of these movements; the course of the movements; job of initiative and individuals. This paper likewise investigations the territorial varieties and the effect of these movements.

The appearance of Mahandas Karamchand Gandhi on the political scene of India in 1915 started another period of Indian history and government issues. It not just denotes the difference in watch inside the Indian National Congress drove public movement, yet additionally proclaims in another stage in the counter frontier battles by acquiring the majority interestingly. However he hailed from the region of Gujarat, he before long caught the public authority and turned into the most noticeable head of the counter frontier movement of India. Gandhi under the guidance of his political Guru Gopal Krishna Gokhale, familiar himself with the financial circumstance of individuals of the Indian sub-landmass from 1915 to 1917. He took broad visits and met with various pioneers and individuals to know their situation, their complaints and understand the political circumstance at the Grass root level. In 1917 A.D. Mahatma Gandhi got an opportunity for the first time to start satyagraha at Champaran in Bihar. There peasants were obliged to cultivate 15% part of their land for the agriculture of Indigo and the peasants were also to sell Indigo at prescribed rate. The peasants of Champaran asked for assistance from Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma reached there and refused to obey the order of British government. In the same way, Mahatma Gandhi protected the interests of the labourers of Ahmedabad. In Kheda (Gujarat) Gandhi raised voice in order to protect the interests of the peasants. It was after that he became dynamic politically at Champaran, Kheda and Ahmedabed. It was a consistent development to the public position of authority which Gandhi suppose to take. The British government realized that the people Mahatma Gandhi was of the opinion that after the First World War would be over, then the British government in India would provide something to India. Therefore, he helped and supported the British during the First World War. But Gandhi was astonished when after the First World War was over, the British passed the Rowlatt Act of 1919 A.D. instead of giving something to India. In 1919 Gandhi began his agitation of non-violent nature, against the cruel Rowlatt Acts that were passed by the British Government notwithstanding analysis and resistance from Indian pioneers. It was here that the imaginative technique for political activity, named as 'Satyagraha' by Gandhi was first put to rehearse on an All-India level mass agitation. This Satyagraha was not just emphasis on reality that each human ought to have the fundamental right of freedom yet additionally had the component that it ought to be utilized with the guideline of 'ahimsa'. According to his first declaration, Mahatma Gandhi asked the people of India to observe absolute strike on 31st March and 6th April 1919 A.D. The policy of the British Government of India was criticised and in many places, there were encounters between the police and the people of India. Five persons were killed through the bullets of the police. On 8th April, 1919 A.D. Mahatma Gandhi was going to Delhi that the British Government in India refused him to enter Delhi and the Punjab. Mahatma Gandhi was arrested at Palwal and sent him to Bombay.

When the people of India came to know that Mahatma Gandhi was arrested, then the people of whole Gujarat became agitated. This occurrence prompted reports in Ahmedabad that Gandhiji was captured and brought about a strike by the common labourers who were joined by different section of the general public. On eleventh April the circumstance were deteriorated when another news spread that Ansuyaben had been captured by the police boosting further the revolt in Gujarat. One thousand individual walked to the police headquarters and other government structures with instigating materials which were then assaulted and burned. It is accounted for 51 Government structures were fired by agitators, comprising essentially the labourers of the Ahmedabad city. It was the reaction of common people to assault the police headquarters and government workplaces. They avenged their long standing grievances and disdain by attacking their main places. A train conveying troops was damaged close to Nadiad Junction, and Martial Law was pronounced in Ahmedabad to re-establish peace. The peaceful agitation of Gandhi then immediately turned violent. Gandhi was totally disappointed with the turn of ones that effectively took an interest in the Movement. Krishna Das, a nearby partner of Gandhi has expressed that the worker arousing in Gujarat was firmly controlled and disciplined. The discipline of non-violence fitted in perfectly with the Patidar labourer owners as a more progressive movement might have raised worries over how to set up and keep up with command over the lower position of the common masses which was till late occasions out of the political field. The best commitment of Gandhi, apparently, is carry legislative issues to the insides of the Indian culture. The British organization at first embraced the strategy of non-intercession in the non-cooperation movement as they suspected, from their initial encounters in Ahmedabad, that suppression would additionally fuel the Movement. Thus, overlooking the movement essentially in the underlying stage would be the most ideal choice. This is an arrangement measure was taken on by the common organization of Bombay Presidency, which included the greater part of western Maharashtra and Gujarat in it. The feelings of anxiety of the pioneer system had gone to the front. The confused area of the general population, specifically the common labourers and the working class, were interestingly brought into standard political agitation under the congress flag. When Indian National Congress Committee had to pass non-cooperation movement activities at the National level. Before this Gujarat congress committee decided to sent full support to Gandhiji. It displayed that a common man was not supposed to do compromise with the violence imposed by government. But they have to oppose government policy by following the Philosophy of Gandhiji. Therefore such Movements paved the way for the Public Movements and Gandhiji emerged as a great leader.

When people of Punjab came to know that Mahatma Gandhi was arrested then the whole Punjab protested. Everywhere, processions were taken out. At several places, there were conflict with the policemen. On 10 April, 1919 at Amritsar, famous leaders Dr. Kitchlu and Dr. Satya Pal were arrested then the people became more frustrated. People marched in processions and the police fired on them, as a result some men were killed. People took their dead bodies in processions and killed many British also. The government enforced Martial law in cities of Punjab. Many harrasments were imposed on Punjab people on 12th April 1919 A.D. the administration of Amritsar was handed over to General Dyre and he applied the article 144. So on 13 April, 1919 on the Baisakhi Day, people called a meeting at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar against the arrest of their leaders. At that time, the conference was being held peacefully at the Jallianwala Bagh. The people were listening the speeches of their leaders. Then, General Dyre along with some soldiers reached there. He

Machinegun 1650 shots were fired. Then General Dyre, without considering the condition of the people there, went away from there. According to the Government report, during that massacre by General Dyre, 379 persons were killed and 3000 persons were injured but these figures were much less than the actual figure.

The Muslims had great respect and honour for their Khalifa. During the first world war, British did not want to lose the co-operation by the Muslims in India. Therefore, the Britain declared that after the first world war would be over, Britain would not harm Turkey. But when the first world war was over, the Muslims in India, demanded that Mesopotamia, Arab, Syria and Palestine should remain forever, under the control of the sultan of Turkey. But the British did not pay any attention towards the demand. The Muslims in India, were tormented to realize such type of the circumstances in Turkey. They started the Khilafat Movement. A deputation of the Muslims under the leadership of Doctor Ansari met the viceroy of India at the time. That deputation demanded that the Turkish Empire should not be harmed and the powers of the Khilafat should not be decreased. The viceroy of India, did not pay any attention towards the demands. In the same way, another deputation of the Muslims in India, under the leadership of Maulana Mohammad Ali met the secretary of the state of India, Mr. Fisher and the Prime Minister, D. Lloyd George but there was not any good result of it. In order to make the Khilafat Agitation more active, the Muslims in India, celebrated the day of 19th March, 1920 A.D. as a grief day. On 10th March, 1920 A.D., Mahatma Gandhi declared that there was only a solution for the Muslims and that was the Non-cooperation. In March, 1920 A.D. the non-cooperation Movement was started. The Khilafat Agitation was merged into the non-cooperation movement. The result of it was that, the Khilafat at Movement became more active. So the Rowlatt Act of 1919 A.D. and the Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy, injured the feelings of the people of India. Therefore, along with the extremists, the Moderates were obliged to realize that the harsh and the rigid policy was essential to expel out the British from India. Due to these events, the National Movement was inspired a lot. In September 1920 the session of the Indian National Congress was held in Calcutta. The pioneer leaders like Moti Lal Nehru, C.R. Das supported the plan of non-cooperation movement. This decision was finalized in Dec 1920 in Nagpur session. The main motive of non-cooperation movement was to oppose oppression and illegal activities being done in Punjab By British, To remove the injustice regarding Khilafat movement, to Mahatma Gandhi thought that the British government in India, would not provide independence soon to the people of India and Mahatma Gandhi realized that the people of India should take some other steps. Through the policy of non-cooperation, their demands would be fulfilled. So Gandhi had started the non-cooperation movement.

The Punjabis played an important role in the Non-cooperation movement started by Gandhi. When Gandhiji reached Lahore, the students of the Dyal Singh, D.A.V. College, Snatan Dharam College and F.C. College observed strikes and these institutions remained closed for fifteen days. In 1921-22, there were 69 National schools and colleges where more than eight thousand students were studying. For the success of non-cooperation movement, Lala Lajpat Rai and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya appealed the people of the Punjab not to take part in the elections of the Punjab Legislative Councils. The appeal had a deep effect on the people of the Punjab. Bakshi Take Chand, Mir Mohammad Alam, Lala Dunichand, Prof. Ruchi Ram Sahni withdrew their names from the elections. The prominent lawyers like Lala Lajpat Rai, Pandit Kashmiri Lal, Bhim Sen Sachar gave up their practice. To decide the mutual disputes, about 80 Panchayats were set up. A national court was also set up in Bhiwani. During the non-cooperation movement the Punjabis began to use native goods. Mrs. Sarla Devi played very important role for the success of Non-Cooperation Movement. She propagated Swadeshi in the districts of Jhelum, Lahore, Sialkot etc. The Punjabis began to use Khaddar in those days. Thus all types of co-operation was provided by the Punjabis to the Non-Cooperation Movement started by Gandhiji and gave the proof of their patriotism.

After Tilak's demise, Shivrampant Paranjpe, Kakasaheb Khadikar, Gangadharrao Deshpande, Vasukaka Joshi, Haribhau Phatak, Chintaman Vaidya who were the followers of Tilak, accepted Gandhi's leadership and implemented the non-cooperation program in Maharashtra. In Pune, Dharwad, Surat, Thane, Ahmedabad and Mumbai regions dharnas were given by people before wine shops, which were encouraged by the congress and Gandhiji. During non-cooperation movement Gujarat Vidyapith was established in Ahmedabad in 1920 by Mahatma Gandhi. A college was also established in Pune in the name of Tilak Ji. Initially 87 students were enrolled in it. Indumati Chamanlal of Ahmedabad is the founder of the first Khaddi store in India. Jhinabhai Ratanji Ashtaputri, Nanasaheb Devdhekar, Ramchandra, Shankar Rajwade boycotted the courts. In many places, the people of Maharashtra and Gujarat had skirmish with the police but the British government could not suppress the non-cooperation movement because as long as the tyrannies and oppressions by the British government increased in order to suppress the non-cooperation movement, that movement became more active and Zealous.

Mahatma Gandhi was not only succeeded in defeating the mighty British Empire through truth and non-violence, but he also inspired the struggles going on inside the country and abroad through his fight campaign. He advocated the idea that by using these strong weapon like truth and non-violence, we can defeat powerful powers also. Apart from this, Mahatma Gandhi also inspired the Akali Movement of Punjab that through non-violence and non-cooperation they can get their holy places (gurudwara) free from the cluches of Mahants in a peaceful manner. The farmers of Maharashtra won a big victory by following the Satyagraha. The Tata company was supposed to build a dam and a hydroelectric project at the confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers, in which 54 villages were to be submerged. The agreements finalized between Tata company and the British but they did not give any consideration to the problems of the farmers. At this time leaders like Shankarrao Dev, Dr. Phatak etc taking inspiration from Gandhi, decided to solve the Mulshi project through the path of Satyagraha. Satyagraha went on in the Mula river valley from 1920 to 1924, in the end the farmers became victorious.

The non-cooperation movement became more active and enthusiastic, day by day. In 1921 A.D., the session of the Indian National Congress was held at Ahmedabad and during that session, Mahatma Gandhi was given more powers. The Indian National Congress allowed Mahatma Gandhi to start the civil Disobedience Movement. But unfortunately in the district of Gorakhpur, at the place called Chauri-Chaura, the people set a police station on fire and during that incident, a police sub-inspector and 21 policemen were burnt alive. That violent action tormented the heart of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji suspended the non-cooperation movement without consulting with some other leaders of the Indian National Congress. The common people of India became very frustrated because the non-cooperation Movement was at its prime age and the people of India were of the opinion that the British government in India was to bend before the demands made by the Indians. In that way, Mahatma Gandhi was bitterly criticised. national leader. 2. To study the Khilafat and non-cooperation Movement of India. 3. What was the contribution of Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat during this movement.

In reality, the Khilafat Agitation had started in India with great zeal and enthusiasm, but later on that zeal and enthusiasm was changed into frustration. The Muslims and Hindus had got united for a short period. When the British started to behave Turkey properly, then the Khilafat agitation came to an end. The non-cooperation movement was not an unsuccessful movement. Though in the political field, the achievements of the non-cooperation were not much important, but the desire of the people of India, was becoming more keen and ardent. The British Government in India and its repressive policy were shaken by the Non-cooperation movement. Therefore, the non-cooperation movement cannot be called as an unimportant movement.

1. Bipan Chandra (1997). India's struggle for Independence Penguin Books India (P) Ltd, New Delhi, 1997. 2. Mahatma Gandhi (2011). Letter to Viceroy (Bardoli, February 1, 1922), The Selected works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol. IV, Navjivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad, 2011. 3. Aadhunik Bharat Ka Itihaas, Samadhan Mahajan, Samarth Offset, Pune, 2014. 4. S. B. Rajgor (1982). History of Gujarat, S. Chand and Co. Ltd., New Delhi. 5. Sumit Sarkar (1983). Modern India, McMillian India Ltd., New Delhi.

Assistant Professor in History, SMDRSD College, Pathankot