The Non-Cooperation Movement was a major phase of the Indian independence movement that took place from 1920 to 1922. It was led by Mahatma Gandhi and sought to resist British rule in India through non-violent means. The movement was launched in response to the British government's brutal repression of the 1919 Amritsar Massacre, in which British troops fired upon a peaceful demonstration of unarmed Indian civilians, killing over 300 people.
The Non-Cooperation Movement was based on the principle of non-violent resistance, also known as civil disobedience. Gandhi believed that the British government could be effectively opposed through peaceful means, such as boycotting British goods, refusing to pay taxes, and participating in non-violent protests. He encouraged Indians to adopt a simple lifestyle, handspun and hand-woven cloth, and to boycott foreign-made goods, especially British goods.
One of the most significant programs of the Non-Cooperation Movement was the boycott of British-made cloth. Gandhi believed that the British textile industry was a major source of their economic power in India, and that by boycotting these goods, Indians could effectively strike at the heart of British economic interests in the country. As a result, many Indians began wearing handspun and hand-woven cloth, known as khadi, as a symbol of their commitment to the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Another important program of the movement was the boycott of British-controlled institutions, such as schools, colleges, and courts. Gandhi encouraged Indians to withdraw from these institutions and to establish their own, independent educational and legal systems. This was seen as a way to assert the independence of the Indian people and to challenge the dominance of British rule.
The Non-Cooperation Movement also involved widespread civil disobedience, in which Indians openly and peacefully defied British laws and regulations. This included the refusal to pay taxes, the breaking of salt laws (which prohibited the production and sale of salt by anyone other than the British government), and the refusal to cooperate with British authorities.
Overall, the programs of the Non-Cooperation Movement were designed to challenge British rule in India through non-violent means, and to assert the independence and dignity of the Indian people. While the movement was ultimately unsuccessful in achieving its goals, it played a significant role in the development of the Indian independence movement and the eventual independence of India in 1947.
