01 November 2022

MAINS QUESTIONS

Q1. Describe the characteristics of the Khilafat movement with an emphasis on how it aided the expansion of the Non-Cooperation movement.

Paper & Topic: GS I – National Movement

Introduction:

• The Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements were significant turning moments in India’s modern history. Both of these events significantly impacted Indian politics and helped to spark a period of widespread mobilisation. Both anti-imperialist movements, but having relatively different strategies. They were born out of many problems. The Khilafat controversy considerably increased anti-imperialist and nationalist emotions despite having little direct influence on Indian politics. Under Gandhiji’s direction, these two movements came together in the years 1920–1922.

Body:

The Khilafat Movement’s Nature:

• Desire among Indian Muslims to defend the Turkish Khalifa institution gave rise to the Khilafat movement.
• According to Islamic history, the Khalifa served as the Prophet Muhammad’s spiritual successor as well as the keeper and protector of Muslim holy sites.
• Turkey was subject to stringent limitations by the Allies following the First World War. Turkey was split, and the Khalifa was deposed.
• The Khilafat movement was started by Muslims in India to exert pressure on the British to exercise restraint, protect the integrity of the borders of the Ottoman Empire, and support the institution of the Khalifa.
• A Khilafat Committee was established in 1919 by the Ali brothers (Shaukat and Muhammad Ali), Maulana Azad, Ajmal Khan, and Hasrat Mohani.
• According to one interpretation of the group, the Khilafat could represent an effort by Indian Muslims to bring together their pan-Islamic and Indian nationalist objectives.

The Khilafat Movement’s Role in the Development of the Non-Cooperation Movement:

• A Khilafat Committee was established in Bombay on March 20, 1919, under the direction of well-known Muslim leaders.
• At initially, they adopted a moderate stance, limiting their involvement to deputations, meetings, and petitions.
• Members of the militant movement desired to start a non-cooperation campaign against the colonial authorities.
• On November 23–24, 1919, a Khilafat Conference for all of India was held in Delhi. At the convention, a request for a boycott of British products was made.
• They also promised to stop working with the government if Turkey received unfair treatment during the peace agreement.
• Gandhiji was chosen as the movement’s future leader and leader-in-chief.
• Gandhiji recognised a chance to equally unite Hindus and Muslims in support of the nationalist movement.
• He oversaw the unification of the nationalist and anti-imperialist khilafat groups during this time.

Analysis of the Khilafat and the movement for non-cooperation:

• An important factor in encouraging anti-imperialism among Indians was the Khilafat and non-cooperation movements.
• Because Muslims and Hindus joined the campaign simultaneously across the nation, it was frequently impossible to distinguish between the khilafat and the non-cooperation movement.
• The Malabar Happenings, in which Muslim peasants rose up and massacred a large number of their primarily Hindu landowners, had little bearing on the alliance between Hindus and Muslims at the time.
• The struggle against cooperation brought to light a number of significant issues, including the need to eliminate untouchability and caste prejudice.
• The independent Indian Constitution eventually included social justice, which was openly acknowledged, supported, and ultimately included.
• There were significant anti-colonial movements among the general populace.
• In both urban and rural areas, peasants, labourers, and middle-class people were quite active during this time.
• Gandhiji’s commitment to nonviolence led to a large number of women joining the movement.
• Gandhiji led these movements, which changed Indian politics in a number of important ways.
• The mobilisation of many groups of people across the nation and the rise in their political and social consciousness might be seen as the movement’s most important accomplishments.

Conclusion:

• Urban Muslims were included into the national movement by the movement. With the expansion of the Non-Cooperation Movement, nationalist sentiments became increasingly politicised and had an impact on all facets of society, including the urban poor, women, peasants, students, artisans, and traders, among others. Millions of people’s political involvement and mobilisation gave the national movement a revolutionary aura. The foundation of colonial rule was two myths. Such a law had the advantage of being unbreakable and favour Indian interests. The first misconception had been debunked by the moderate nationalists’ economic research. Through mass protest, Satyagraha has proven the second myth to be false. Since that time, the general populace is no longer as concerned about colonial rule and its effective repressive machinery as it once was.

Q2. The massacre of Chauri Chaura led to the questioning of Gandhi’s leadership. Discuss.

 Paper & Topic: GS I – National Movement

Introduction:

• Gandhiji began the Non-Cooperation Movement against the government on August 1st, 1920. It was regarded as part of “refusing to support a monarch who misrules” to use Swadeshi and to boycott foreign products, particularly clothing made by machines and judicial, educational, and administrative institutions.

Body:

Incident at Chauri Chaura:

• On February 4, volunteers assembled in the town. They then marched to the neighbourhood police station and set up a picket there.
• Numerous volunteers were shot and killed as the police began opening fire on the gathering.
• The police station was burned down by the crowd as vengeance. Some of the police officers who attempted to flee were apprehended and brutally murdered. Both police weapons and equipment were severely damaged.

Reasons for the Suspension of the Movement:

• On the other hand, Gandhiji emphasised his unwavering dedication to non-violence in order to advance himself.
• He was worried that the movement was becoming violent in several places and that the satyagrahis needed to be ready for significant demonstrations.
• Gandhi believed that the mass populace had not been adequately taught or understood the nonviolent approach.
• Elections for Provincial Councils were first held under the Government of India Act of 1919. The goal of politicians is to be elected.
• The British might halt aggressive behaviour simply by using harsher and more severe methods.
• Because it is challenging to maintain any movement at a high pitch for an extended period of time, the movement exhibited signs of tiredness.
• Gandhi believed that by using force to disperse nonviolent demonstrators, the colonial power would reveal its true nature and ultimately come under moral pressure. This was the foundation of his nonviolent approach. But incidents like Chauri Chaura raise questions about that assumption.
• Withholding support or choosing a moment of non-confrontation are fundamentally part of people-centered political action techniques.
• Since Turkey has become more secular, the Khilafat issue is no longer important.
• Leaders like Subash Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru promoted violent public agitations to win full independence.
• Khadi clothing was prohibitively expensive in comparison to mass-produced mill cloth, making it unaffordable for the poor. People were unable to continue their extensive mill-produced fabric boycott due to financial constraints.

Reaction to the suspension negatively:

• Many of the younger Indian nationalists came to the depressing conclusion that India would not be able to end colonial rule through non-violence after the Non-Cooperation Movement was put an end to.
• Many of India’s most well-known revolutionaries, including Bhagat Singh, Ramprasad Bismil, Sachin Sanyal, Ashfaqulla Khan, Jatin Das, Bhagwati Charan Vohra, Masterda Surya Sen, and a great number of others, were the product of these ardent patriots.
• The leaders of the Khilafat movement were demoralised by the abrupt end of the Non-Cooperation Movement, which harmed relations between Congress and Muslim leaders.
• Jawaharlal Nehru and other non-cooperation movement leaders were shocked when Gandhiji decided to end the demonstration after the civil resistance had solidified itself in the cause of liberty.
• Motilal Nehru and CR Das among other leaders made the decision to create the Swaraj Party in response to Gandhiji’s nomination.
• Numerous others contended that the campaign shouldn’t have halted at its height of popularity because of a single occurrence in a single state.
• The joy of interfaith coexistence has vanished.

Conclusion:

• After the Non-Cooperation Movement abruptly withdrew, nationalist emotions politicised every sphere of society, including women, traders, the urban poor, students, peasants, craftsmen, and peasants. Millions of people’s political involvement and mobilisation gave the national movement a revolutionary aura.