8.2.6. The happenings of 1922 –1929

Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, was against violent movements. He abruptly called off the Non-Cooperation Movement when in February 1922, a crowd of peasants set fire to a police station in Chauri Chaura. Twenty-two policemen were killed on that day. The peasants were provoked because the police had fired on their peaceful demonstration.

In February 1922, during a demonstration, a violent incident broke out in Chauri Chaura where peasants retaliated against police brutality by burning down a police station. Gandhi, who was committed to non-violence, felt he could not continue the Non-Cooperation Movement in light of this violence. He believed that resorting to violence betrayed the principles of peaceful resistance and unity he sought to establish among Indians.

This situation is akin to a school where students protest against unfair rules, but when a fight breaks out, a teacher decides to stop the protest to teach the students a lesson about the importance of peaceful dialogue over aggression.

Once the Non-Cooperation movement was over, Gandhiji’s followers stressed that the Congress must undertake constructive work in the rural areas. Other leaders such as Chitta Ranjan Das and Motilal Nehru argued that the party should fight elections to the councils and enter them in order to influence government policies.

After the disruption of the Non-Cooperation Movement, Gandhi's followers realized they needed to refocus their efforts on community-oriented projects to help improve the lives of Indians and to gather grassroots support. Leaders like Chitta Ranjan Das and Motilal Nehru proposed that the Congress Party should participate in local elections. By having a presence in the councils, they could advocate for policy changes and gain political leverage rather than relying solely on protests.

Think of a community trying to improve a park. If the community simply protests for better conditions, they might face opposition. However, if they also work on organizing community clean-up events and engage with local government to better understand how to make changes, they can achieve more meaningful improvements over time.

Two important developments of the mid-1920s were the formation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu organisation, and the Communist Party of India. A major figure in the freedom movement, Das was a lawyer especially active in the Non-Cooperation Movement.

The 1920s saw the emergence of new political organizations that represented different ideological perspectives in India. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) focused on Hindu nationalism, while the Communist Party of India aimed for a socialist revolution. These groups sought to mobilize support for their respective causes and influenced the larger national movement in diverse ways, shaping political discourse and community engagement throughout the decade.

Imagine different sports teams forming as different organizations: one team plays for community pride, representing traditional values, while another team aims to engage youth in social issues through sports. Their strategies and approaches may differ, just as the RSS and the Communist Party of India did within the larger framework of the independence movement.

In 1927, the British government in England decided to send a commission headed by Lord Simon to decide India’s political future. The Commission had no Indian representative. The decision created an outrage in India. All political groups decided to boycott the Commission. When the Commission arrived, it was met with demonstrations with banners saying 'Simon Go Back.'

When the Simon Commission was formed without including any Indian members, it sparked widespread protests across the country. Many Indians viewed this as a blatant disregard for Indian voices in decisions that directly affected their future. Political leaders unified against the Commission, highlighting the growing discontent with British governance and the demand for Indian representation in political matters.

This situation can be compared to a committee formed to decide the rules of a game, but without including any players from the game itself. Naturally, players would be upset and protest the committee's decision-making process for not allowing their input, just as Indians protested against the Simon Commission.

The decade closed with the Congress resolving to fight for Purna Swaraj (complete independence) in 1929 under the presidentship of Jawaharlal Nehru. Consequently, 'Independence Day' was observed on 26 January 1930 all over the country.

In 1929, the Indian National Congress formally declared its commitment to achieving complete independence from British rule, which was referred to as Purna Swaraj. This resolution marked a significant shift in the movement, moving beyond demands for reforms to a clear call for total autonomy. The day, January 26th, was later celebrated as Independence Day, symbolizing the aspirations of the Indian people for freedom.

This is like a team that has been trying to negotiate better terms from their management but realizes that complete independence—forming their own organization—is the only way to achieve their goals. They symbolically choose a day to recognize their determination in a similar way.

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