Consider the following subjects with regard to Non-Cooperation Programme:  

I. Boycott of law-courts and foreign cloth   
II. Observance of strict non-violence   
III. Retention of titles and honours without using them in public   
IV. Establishment of Panchayats for settling disputes   

How many of the above were parts of the Non-Cooperation Programme?   

  • Only one   
  • Only two   
  • Only three   
  • All the four

Answer: (c) Only three   

Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM)
  • “The Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM) was the first nationwide movement launched by Gandhiji in 1920 during British rule.”
    • The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) was the first large-scale mass movement under Mahatma Gandhi, mobilising people across regions, classes and communities against British colonial rule through non-violent resistance.
  • “It emerged as a powerful and fervent response to a culmination of grievances and disillusionment that had been building up among the Indian populace.”
    • The movement developed due to widespread resentment caused by repressive colonial policies, economic hardship after World War I, and dissatisfaction with limited constitutional reforms offered by the British.
  • “Rowlatt Act and the brutal Jallianwala Bagh Massacre were the immediate causes for launching the movement.”
    • The Rowlatt Act (1919) permitted detention without trial, while the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919) exposed the brutality of colonial rule, intensifying nationalist anger and leading to mass mobilisation.
Approval of the Movement
  • “Congress, at its special session of Calcutta in September 1920, approved the Non-Cooperation movement, which was later endorsed by the Nagpur session of Congress in December 1920.”
    • The Calcutta Session (1920) of the Indian National Congress accepted Gandhi’s proposal for Non-Cooperation. The Nagpur Session (1920) subsequently ratified the programme and reorganised Congress to facilitate mass participation.
  • “The movement saw tremendous participation of masses throughout the country.”
    • For the first time, the nationalist movement involved students, peasants, workers, traders, lawyers, and women, transforming the freedom struggle into a broad-based popular movement.
Organisational Changes at the Nagpur Session (1920)
  • “Provincial Congress Committees were reorganised on the basis of linguistic areas.”
    • Congress units were reorganised on linguistic lines to improve communication with the masses and strengthen grassroots political mobilisation.
  • “The Congress was now to be led by a Working Committee of 15 members, including the president and the secretaries.”
    • A 15-member Working Committee was created as the central executive body to guide the organisation and coordinate political activities.
  • “This would enable the Congress to function as a continuous political organisation and would provide it with the machinery for implementing its resolutions.”
    • These organisational reforms converted Congress from a periodic deliberative body into a permanent mass political organisation capable of directing nationwide movements.
  • “Congress membership was thrown open to all men and women of the age of 21 or more on payment of 4 annas as annual subscription.”
    • Membership was broadened to include the masses through a nominal fee of four annas, enabling wider public participation.
  • “In 1921 the age limit for membership was reduced to 18.”
    • Lowering the membership age further expanded youth participation in the nationalist movement.
Programmes of the Non-Cooperation Movement
  • “Surrender of titles and honorary positions.”
    • Participants were asked to renounce British-granted titles and honours, such as “Sir,” “Rai Bahadur,” etc. Hence, retention of titles without using them publicly was not part of the programme.
    • The Non-Cooperation Programme involved the renunciation of government titles and honorary positions (not the retention of titles and honours without using them in public).
  • “Resignation of membership from the local bodies.”
    • Indians were encouraged to withdraw from government-controlled local bodies and institutions, symbolising refusal to cooperate with colonial administration.
  • “Boycott of foreign goods; Courts, Government functions and legal practise; government schools and colleges and elections held in accordance with the provisions of the 1919 Act;
    • The movement called for the boycott of colonial institutions and goods, including:
      • Law courts and legal practice
      • Government schools and colleges
      • Elections under the Government of India Act, 1919
      • Foreign goods, particularly foreign cloth
    • Many leading lawyers of the country, like C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru, Saifuddin Kitchlew, C. Rajagopalachari, M.R. Jayakar, Vallabhbhai Patel, Asaf Ali and T. Prakasham, quit their practice.
  • “Thousands of volunteers went from house to house, trying to persuade people of the importance of adopting Swadeshi.”
    • Congress volunteers actively mobilised the public to adopt Swadeshi goods and reject foreign products, spreading nationalist awareness.
  • “The foreign-made clothing was gathered and set ablaze.”
    • Public bonfires of imported cloth became a symbolic act of protest against British economic dominance.
  • “Boycott of legislative councils (There were differences over boycott of councils). The boycott movement against liquor and toddy shops.”
    • The programme included boycott of legislative councils and campaigns against liquor and toddy shops, reflecting moral and social reform objectives.
  • “National schools, colleges, and private panchayat courts were established.”
    • Alternative national institutions were promoted to replace colonial structures, including:
      • National educational institutions
      • Private panchayat courts for dispute settlement
  • “Kashi Vidyapeeth, Bihar Vidyapeeth, and Jamia Millia Islamia were established.”
    • These institutions symbolised the creation of indigenous education systems independent of British control.
    • Establishing panchayats for settlement of disputes formed part of the constructive programme.
  • “Popularising Swadeshi goods and Khadi.”
    • The movement emphasised economic self-reliance, encouraging people to wear khadi and use indigenous goods instead of British imports.
  • “It marked the first time the Indian National Congress appealed directly to the masses, leading to a significant increase in membership.”
    • The Non-Cooperation Movement transformed Congress into a mass-based organisation, dramatically increasing popular participation.
  • “Maintenance of Hindu-Muslim unity and practice of strict nonviolence.”
    • The movement sought to promote communal harmony, particularly through cooperation with the Khilafat movement, while strictly adhering to non-violent methods.
  • “Promotion of Charkha and Khadi and Jail Bharo Andolan by Congress volunteers.”
    • Volunteers promoted charkha (spinning wheel) as a symbol of self-reliance and willingly courted arrest in acts of civil resistance (Jail Bharo).
  • “Tilak Swaraj Fund was announced by Gandhi, which aimed at collecting Rs 1 crore to aid constructive work.”
    • To finance the movement and constructive programmes, Gandhi launched the Tilak Swaraj Fund in 1921, aiming to raise ₹1 crore to support organisational expansion and nationalist activities.