Page 113 - SST Class 05

Satyagraha and Non-cooperation Movement
The British exploited the Indians, so a majority of our countrymen were poor and
illiterate. It was not possible for them to give up their livelihood and join the national
movement for freedom. So, Gandhiji decided to implement the idea of Satyagraha. It

meant insistence on truth and non-cooperation. The idea of non-cooperation was
simple. People were asked not to cooperate with the British in a non-violent manner.
They could do this in the following ways :
u They could violate laws and rules of the British government.

u They could hold peaceful demonstrations.

u They could boycott foreign goods.

u They could stop work.

The idea was simple, but it had grave consequences. Hartals and processions became
common in the country. The government resorted to lathi-charges and imprisonments,
but people were resolute enough.

Gandhiji wanted to fight social evils also. He made this part of his movement. The
leaders raised the issues of Hindu-Muslim unity, abolition of untouchability, spread of
education, promotion of indigenous goods and khadi, and boycott of the British goods.
All these issues concerned common people, so they joined the movement in large
numbers.

When the British government did not heed to the people’s demands, Gandhiji decided
to launch the last stage of the movement, that was the Civil Disobedience Movement . It
was like a direct confrontation with the British. Under this, people were asked to
boycott schools and courts of law, and not pay taxes. This movement started on 1
February, 1922. People joined the movement in a large number all over India. They
held dharnas and processions. The government orders were not being followed. The

British government tried to suppress the movement somehow. It was at this stage that
a terrible incident occurred that brought this movement to a grinding halt.
Chauri-Chaura Incident : The Non-cooperation Movement was gaining strength in the
whole country. At the town of Chauri-Chaura in Gorakhpur district (now in Uttar

Pradesh), some peaceful protesters were taking out a march on 5 February, 1922. When
the peaceful march was going past a police station, the policemen came out, abused the
protestors and fired at them without any provocation. It was an uncalled for action.
The protestors grew agitated. They retaliated and set the police station on fire. In the
fire, 22 policemen lost their lives.

Gandhiji was an ardent supporter of non-violence. He was shocked when he heard of
this incident. He immediately withdrew the movement. Other leaders opposed his
decision, they said that such incidents could occur in a nationwide movement; but

March to Freedom 113