Why Non-cooperation?

2.1.3 Why Non-cooperation?

Description

Quick Overview

This section discusses Mahatma Gandhi's call for non-cooperation as a strategy to oppose British colonial rule in India, emphasizing its need and potential impact.

Standard

The section elaborates on Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy asserting that British rule in India was upheld by Indian cooperation. By advocating for a non-cooperation movement, Gandhi sought to unite various Indian social groups to resist colonial authority and achieve swaraj, or self-rule.

Detailed

In 'Hind Swaraj' (1909), Gandhi emphasized that British rule in India was sustained through Indian cooperation. He argued that withdrawing this cooperation would lead to the collapse of colonial power within a year. The non-cooperation movement proposed a phased approach starting with the boycott of government titles, courts, and foreign goods. However, there was initial resistance from Congress leaders regarding participation in elections and the potential for violence. Despite these concerns, Gandhi, alongside leaders like Shaukat Ali, mobilized support, successfully navigating internal conflicts to adopt the non-cooperation strategy at the Congress session in Nagpur in December 1920. This set the stage for a broad-based nationalist movement against British authority, aiming for swaraj.

Key Concepts

  • Non-Cooperation: A method employed to weaken British rule.

  • Swaraj: The ultimate goal of self-rule and independence in India.

  • Satyagraha: Non-violent resistance against oppression.

Memory Aids

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • Cooperate no more, let British power fall, for Swaraj we stand, united, one and all.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a town where every person stops supporting a local factory that pollutes their river. They all unite, leading to the factory closing down, highlighting the power of non-cooperation similar to Gandhi's strategy.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • N for Non-Cooperation, O for Opposition, C for Cooperation Withdrawal, S for Swaraj Success - Remembering Gandhi's goals.

🎯 Super Acronyms

NCS

  • Non-Cooperation Strategy for India's Swaraj.

Examples

  • Gandhi's strategy of the Non-Cooperation Movement led to widespread participation across different social classes in India.

  • The refusal of Congress leaders to initially support the non-cooperation movement reflected the varying opinions within the nationalist framework.

Glossary of Terms

  • Term: NonCooperation

    Definition:

    A strategy advocated by Gandhi to withdraw support for British rule to achieve swaraj.

  • Term: Swaraj

    Definition:

    Self-rule or independence from British control.

  • Term: Satyagraha

    Definition:

    The principle of non-violent resistance to tyranny advocated by Gandhi.

  • Term: Civil Disobedience

    Definition:

    Openly breaking colonial laws to resist oppression.

  • Term: Boycott

    Definition:

    Refusal to buy or use goods from a particular country or organization.