UPSC Mains Question & Answer GS1

Q."Non-Cooperation Movement gave new direction and energy to the National Movement".Explain. (IAS-Mains 2008, 150 words)

Ans. Non-Cooperation Movement prevailed in many parts of India. The Bijolia movement in Mewar, Rajasthan, won a partial victory in 1922, 'while agitation against cesses and begar on the Khalisa lands of the Udaipur Maharana took place. In Bengal, peasants under the student leader Someshwar Prasad protested against indigo cultivation. No tax campaign was

organised in Midnapore in Bengal. In the United Provinces, the peasants upsurge in South and South-east Avadh associated with Baba Ram Chandra culminated in widespread agrarian riots in Rae Bareilly, Prarapgarh, Faizabad and Sultanpur in 1921. Eka Movement was also started in North-west Avadh by some local Congressmen. In Andhra, a powerful agitation led by Duggirala Gopala Krishnayya developed in Guntur district, where people' refused to pay municipal taxes. In Malabar, (northern Kerala) the Muslim peasants, Moplahas created a powerful anti-zamindar movement, under the inspiration of Khilafat leaders like Ali Musaliar, against the Hindu landlords.

So the movement gave a new boost to nationalism in India. It hastened the advent of Swaraj. Henceforth the Congress accepted the policy of direct and self-reliant acts. The movement made the masses in general and the workers in particular fearless in crossing

swords with the Government. The prisons began to be regarded as places of pilgrimage by the patriots.

Prohibition got encouragement. The Congress realised the nature and value of real sanction, 'i.e., popular support. Though the movement failed to attain Swaraj, il definitely came nearer to it.