Question

What is the meaning of Non-cooperation Movement? Why was it launched?

Answer 1

Step 1: Define the movement:
The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) was Gandhi's call for Indians to peacefully withdraw cooperation from British rule -- by boycotting government schools and colleges, law courts, foreign cloth and goods, legislative councils, and surrendering official titles and honours.

Step 2: Reason 1: Jallianwala Bagh and Rowlatt Act:
It was launched partly in response to the Rowlatt Act (1919), which allowed detention without trial, and the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13 April 1919) at Amritsar, which had deeply angered Indian public opinion.

Step 3: Reason 2: Khilafat grievance:
Gandhi also linked the movement with Muslim grievances over the Khilafat issue, hoping to forge Hindu-Muslim unity in a shared campaign against the British.

Step 4: Reason 3: pursuit of Swaraj:
The overarching aim, formally adopted at the Congress's Nagpur session (1920), was to attain Swaraj (self-rule) through non-violent, constitutional non-cooperation rather than armed resistance.

Step 5: End of the movement:
It was called off by Gandhi after the Chauri Chaura incident (February 1922), where a violent mob clash led to the killing of policemen, breaching his commitment to non-violence.

Final Answer:
\[ \boxed{\text{A mass boycott of British institutions launched over the Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh massacre and Khilafat grievance, aiming for Swaraj}} \]