Question

Explain the following statement with a reason:

Mahatma Gandhi ji started the non-cooperation movement in 1920.

Answer 1

Mahatma Gandhi started the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 because:

1. Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919): The savage death of innocent Indians by British troops at Amritsar stunned the nation and fueled broad opposition to British authority.
2. Opposition to the Rowlatt Act (1919): The Rowlatt Act authorized the British to arrest and imprison Indians without trial, which Gandhi strongly opposed as unjust.
3. Promotion of Non-Violent Protest: Gandhi advocated peaceful, nonviolent resistance. The movement attempted to resist British power without using guns.
4. Boycott of British Goods and Institutions: Indians were encouraged to boycott British-made commodities, schools, courts, and jobs in order to reduce British economic and administrative authority.
5. Strengthening Indian Unity: The movement brought together people of many religions, castes, and regions to oppose colonial control.
6. Empowering Indians Politically and Socially: Gandhi aimed to make Indians self-sufficient (Swadeshi) and confident in their ability to rule themselves, laying the groundwork for future liberation fights.