Image: Mahatma Gandhi during the early 1920s. Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
The Non-Cooperation Movement marked a major expansion of Gandhi’s political strategy. Instead of concentrating on individual local disputes, the campaign sought participation across India.
Background
The movement followed the Rowlatt legislation, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and growing political opposition to British rule. Gandhi also worked with leaders of the Khilafat movement during this period.
The 1920 decision
The Gandhi Heritage Portal records the commencement of Non-Cooperation in August 1920, when Gandhi returned honours and called for withdrawal of cooperation with the colonial government.
What did non-cooperation involve?
The programme encouraged people to boycott selected government institutions and foreign goods, promote khadi and strengthen Indian educational and social institutions.
A mass political experiment
The movement brought students, lawyers, workers, traders and other sections of society into a nationwide political campaign. Its scale represented a major change from earlier local Satyagrahas.
Why was it suspended?
Violence at Chauri Chaura in February 1922 led Gandhi to suspend the movement. He argued that the campaign had to remain nonviolent.
Read the Gandhi Heritage Portal chronology and our related Satyagraha explainer.
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