Maharashtra Board Class 8 History Chapter 7 Non co operation Movement PDF Download

7. Non-Co-Operation Movement

In the Indian national movement the period from 1920 to 1947 is known as the 'Gandhian era'. After the death of Lokmanya Tilak in 1920, the reigns of national movement went into the hands of Mahatma Gandhi. He gave a new direction to the freedom movement with the principles of Truth, Non violence and Satyagraha. Due to the influential leadership of Mahatma Gandhi the national movement became more comprehensive. This led to the beginning of a new era in the freedom movement of India.

Role of Gandhiji in South Africa

Mahatma Gandhi went to South Africa for some legal work in 1893. South Africa was a colony of the British. Many Indians had settled there for business, trade and such other work. The Indians in South Africa were treated as criminals and humiliated at all times. In 1906, the Government declared that the it was compulsory for the blacks to carry an identity card and their freedom was restricted as well. Gandhiji followed the path of Satyagraha against the injustice and gained justice for the people.

Teacher's Note

Gandhiji learned Satyagraha in South Africa before coming to India. Just like how a student learns in one school and then teaches in another, Gandhiji used these lessons in India.

Exam Trick

Remember: South Africa = 1893 and 1906. Gandhiji went there in 1893 and fought against the identity card rule in 1906. Think of it as: "Gandhiji's 20-year plan started in South Africa!"

Points to Remember

Gandhiji went to South Africa in 1893 for legal work.
Indians in South Africa faced discrimination and humiliation.
In 1906, blacks were forced to carry identity cards.
Gandhiji used Satyagraha to fight against injustice.
He gained justice for the people through peaceful methods.

Gandhiji Arrives in India

On 9th January 1915, Gandhiji returned to India from South Africa. As suggested by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, he made a tour of the entire nation. He became sad looking at the misery and poverty of the people. He took up the vow of service to the nation. He stayed at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. He followed a new technique of Satyagraha to gain justice for common people.

Teacher's Note

Gandhiji saw how poor Indian farmers were. He decided to help them just like how you help your friends when they are in trouble.

Exam Trick

Remember: 9th January 1915 is when Gandhiji came back to India. Think "1915 - Gandhiji's return year" to remember this date easily.

Points to Remember

Gandhiji came back to India on 9th January 1915.
He toured the whole country to see people's condition.
He saw poverty and decided to serve the nation.
He stayed at Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.
He used Satyagraha to help common people.

Philosophy of Satyagraha

Gandhiji brought in a novel technique of Satyagraha in the popular movement. Satyagraha means insistence of truth. The main objective of Satyagraha is through patience and Satyagraha an unjust person is made aware of truth and justice and also bring transformation in his views. A person following satyagraha should never use violence and untruth means, was the teachings of Gandhiji.

Later, not only in India but in many parts of world people adopted the path of Satyagraha to fight against injustice. Gandhiji's path of Satyagraha made on impact on Martin Luther King who was struggling for the rights of the Blacks in America, as well as on Nelson Mandela in South Africa.

Teacher's Note

Satyagraha is like fighting without weapons. In India, when we protest peacefully without violence, we are following Gandhiji's Satyagraha method.

Exam Trick

Remember: Satya = Truth, Agraha = Insistence. So Satyagraha = Insistence on Truth. Never use violence or lies in Satyagraha!

Points to Remember

Satyagraha means insistence of truth.
It aims to make unjust people understand what is right.
Satyagraha never uses violence or lies.
It brings change through patience and truth.
Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela also used Satyagraha.

Champaran Satyagraha

In Bihar, the farmers of Champaran region were forced to cultivate indigo. The cultivators suffered economically since they received fixed amount from the planters. Gandhiji went to Champaran in 1917. He organised the farmers in Champaran and launched agitation by following the way of Satyagraha. Gandhiji's first war of independence in India became successful and the farmers were given justice.

Teacher's Note

Champaran farmers were forced to grow indigo even though it gave them no money. Gandhiji helped them like a real friend. Today, farmers still face similar problems in some places.

Exam Trick

Remember: Champaran = 1917 and Indigo farming. Think "Indigo In 1917 at Champaran" to remember this easily.

Points to Remember

Champaran farmers were forced to grow indigo.
Farmers earned very little money from indigo.
Gandhiji went to Champaran in 1917.
He organized farmers and started Satyagraha.
The farmers won justice and freedom to farm what they wanted.

Kheda Satyagraha

Due to constant famines in Kheda district, Gujrat, the crop had failed. Still land tax was forcibly collected by the Government. Gandhiji suggested that the farmers should refuse to pay the tax. The farmers began the movement for scraping of tax at Kheda in 1918. Gandhiji accepted the leadership of this movement. Within a short period of time, the Government suspended the tax.

Teacher's Note

In Kheda, there was no food but the government still took tax from farmers. Gandhiji said "No" to unfair tax, just like you should say "No" to unfair things.

Exam Trick

Remember: Kheda = No rain, No crops, but still tax! Gandhiji said NO to the tax in 1918. Think "Kheda - No tax after Satyagraha."

Points to Remember

Kheda had constant famines and crop failures.
The government still forced farmers to pay land tax.
Gandhiji started a movement against the unfair tax in 1918.
Farmers refused to pay the tax.
The government finally stopped collecting the tax.

Workers Movement at Ahmedabad

During the first world war there was great inflation. Mill workers demanded for rise in salary. But the mill owners rejected this demand. As per Gandhiji's advice, the workers went on hunger strike. Finally, the mill owners had to back off and the salary of workers was increased.

Teacher's Note

Mill workers in Ahmedabad were paid very little. Through hunger strike and Gandhiji's help, they got more salary. Today, workers still use strikes to get fair wages.

Exam Trick

Remember: Ahmedabad workers went on hunger strike on Gandhiji's advice. Hunger strike = No food as protest. This forced the mill owners to give more salary.

Points to Remember

Mill workers wanted more salary during World War 1.
Mill owners refused to increase their pay.
Gandhiji advised workers to go on hunger strike.
Workers stopped eating as a protest.
Mill owners gave workers more salary.

Satyagraha Against Rowlatt Act

In the first world war, the Indians had helped the British. The Indians felt that after the world war is over there will be a system of governance for taking decisions for well being of the Indians. There was growing unrest among the Indians regarding the increasing prices, taxes etc.

To supress this discontent and to suggest measures about it, a Committee was appointed under Sir Sydney Rowlatt. According to reccomendations of this committee a new law was passed without considering the opposition of Indian members in Central Legislative Assembly on 17 March 1919. This law came to be known as 'Rowlatt Act'. This Act gave the right to the government to arrest anybody without any warrant or imprison without any trial. Appeal was prohibited against the punishment given through this act. The Indians called this act as 'Black Act' and a tide of anger arouse all over India against this act. Gandhiji launched a Satyagraha against it. On 6th April 1919, he appealed to the Indians to follow Hartal all over India against the Act. Indians responded to this appeal on a large scale.

Teacher's Note

The Rowlatt Act was very unfair. It allowed police to arrest people without reason. It was like a teacher punishing a student without asking why they did wrong. Indians protested against this unfair law.

Exam Trick

Remember: Rowlatt Act = Black Act = Arrest without reason. On 6th April 1919, Gandhiji called for Hartal (strike). Think "Black = Bad law that allowed arrest without warrant."

Points to Remember

The Rowlatt Act was passed on 17 March 1919.
It allowed government to arrest people without warrant or trial.
Indians called it the Black Act because it was very unfair.
Gandhiji called for Hartal on 6th April 1919.
People all over India protested against this act.

Jallianwala Baug Massacre

The movement that aroused against the Rowlatt Act took over a fierce form in the province of Punjab. Amritsar became the main centre of this movement. The Government had started the spate of supression. Gandhiji was prohibited from entering the province of Punjab. General Dyer issued orders of ban on public meetings in Amritsar. Important leaders like Dr.Satyapal and Dr.Kitchelu were arrested for their involvement in Amritsar Hartal case.

As a protest against this, on 13th April 1919, on a Baisakhi day, the people of Amritsar assembled at a place named Jallianwala Baug. General Dyer arrived with armed force. The place was enclosed from all sides and had only one small gate. General Dyer positioned his army and closed down the only gate. Without giving any prior notification to the disarmed innocent people, he ordered his soldiers to fire. 1660 rounds, had been fired. The army continued firing until the ammunition was over. In this massacre about 400 people including men and women were killed. Many people were wounded. After firing curfew was announced and hence immediate treatment to the injured could not be made available. In entire Punjab, military law was enforced and many were sent to jail by the government.

General Michael O Dyer, Governor of Punjab, was responsible for this massacre. All over India there was protest against this act. As a protest against this massacre, Rabindranath Tagore gave away the title of 'Sir' bestowed on him by the British Government. Later Indians demanded for enquiry of this massacre, hence the British government appointed the Hunter Commission.

Teacher's Note

Jallianwala Baug massacre was a very sad event. Innocent people were killed for no reason. Rabindranath Tagore returned his "Sir" title to show his anger. This taught us that sometimes we must say "No" to wrong things.

Exam Trick

Remember: 13th April 1919 at Jallianwala Baug. General Dyer fired 1660 rounds. About 400 people died. Think "Black day in history - Massacre without warning."

Points to Remember

Jallianwala Baug massacre happened on 13th April 1919.
General Dyer ordered soldiers to fire on innocent, unarmed people.
About 400 people died and many were wounded.
Rabindranath Tagore gave back his "Sir" title in protest.
The British appointed Hunter Commission to enquire about the massacre.

Khilafat Movement

Muslims all over the world regarded the ruler of Turkey as their religious leader. During the first world war Turkey fought against the British. To get the support of the Indian Muslims in the war, the British had assured that after the end of the war, Khalifa's empire will not be harmed. But after the end of First World War England did not stick to its assuarance. A tide of great discontent aroused among the Muslims. The movement started by Indian Muslims to support the Khalifa was called 'Khilafat Movement'. Gandhiji thought that on this problem if the Hindus and Muslims come together and start a national movement then the government can surely be brought to its senses. Therefore Gandhiji supported the Khilafat Movement. The Khilafat Committee accepted Gandhiji's proposal of following non-co-operation to the government. Hindu-Muslim unity was seen especially during this period.

Teacher's Note

In Khilafat Movement, Hindus and Muslims worked together. This shows how different religions can unite for a fair cause. Even today, we should support each other.

Exam Trick

Remember: Khilafat = Support for Turkey's Khalifa. British broke their promise. Gandhiji supported this to bring Hindu-Muslim unity. Think "Khilafat = Hindu-Muslim together."

Points to Remember

Khilafat Movement was started to support Turkey's Khalifa.
British promised to protect the Khalifa but broke their promise.
Indian Muslims started this movement in anger.
Gandhiji supported it to unite Hindus and Muslims.
Hindu-Muslim unity was strong during this period.

Non-Co-Operation Movement

The concept behind the Non-co-operation movement was that, the British government in India is dependent only on the co-operation of the Indians. If the Indians adopted complete non-co-operation then the British government will completely collapse. With this intention he evoked the people of India to take part in this movement.

In 1920, the Indian National Congress session was held at Nagpur. The resolution of Non-co-operation movement put forth by Chittaranjan Das was accepted. All reigns of the movement were given in the hands of Mahatma Gandhi. According to this resolution, a programme was framed to boycott Government offices, courts, foreign goods, Government schools and colleges.

Teacher's Note

Non-co-operation means "Do not cooperate." Indians stopped buying British goods and stopped working with the British government. It was like a student refusing to do work for someone who treated them badly.

Exam Trick

Remember: Non-co