7. Non-co-operation Movement

(1) Which restriction were put up on the Blacks in South Africa according to the declaration of 1906?

According to the declaration of 1906, the Government made it compulsory for the blacks in South Africa to carry an identity card, and their freedom was restricted.

(2) Where did Gandhiji launch the first satyagraha in India?

Gandhiji launched the first satyagraha in India at Champaran in Bihar in 1917.

(3) Which officer gave orders of firing in the Jallianwala Baug?

General Dyer gave the orders to fire on the disarmed innocent people in the Jallianwala Baug.

(1) Explain the philosophy of Satyagraha.

• Satyagraha means insistence of truth.
• The main objective of Satyagraha is to make an unjust person aware of truth and justice through patience, and to bring transformation in his views.
• A person following Satyagraha should never use violence and untruth means.

(2) Why was the Swaraj Party established?

• The members of the Indian National Congress, such as Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru, put up the idea of contesting elections and obstructing the work of the British government from within the legislature.
• To implement this strategy and severely oppose the unjust policies of the British inside the Legislative Assembly, the Swaraj Party was established in 1922.

(1) Rowlatt Act was opposed by the people of India.

• A committee under Sir Sydney Rowlatt drafted a new law which gave the right to the government to arrest anybody without any warrant or imprison them without any trial.
• Appeal was prohibited against the punishment given through this act.
• Because it completely restricted civil liberties, the Indians called it the 'Black Act', leading to a tide of anger and strong opposition all over India.

(2) Gandhiji suspended the Non-co-operation Movement.

• In February 1922, the police opened fire on a peaceful procession at Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
• The people became angry and set fire to the police station, in which one officer and 22 policemen were killed.
• Hurt by this incident of severe violence, Gandhiji suspended the Non-co-operation Movement on 12 February 1922.

(3) The Indians boycotted the Simon Commission.

• The reforms introduced by the Montague Chelmsford Act of 1919 were unsatisfactory, causing discontent among the Indian people.
• On this background, the British appointed a commission under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon.
• However, none of the Indian members were included in this commission. Hence, the Congress decided to boycott the Simon Commission.

(4) Khilafat Movement was started in India.

• Muslims all over the world regarded the ruler of Turkey as their religious leader (Khalifa).
• During the First World War, to get the support of Indian Muslims, the British assured that the Khalifa's empire would not be harmed.
• But after the war ended, England did not stick to its assurance, which aroused a tide of great discontent among the Muslims.
• Therefore, the movement started by Indian Muslims to support the Khalifa came to be known as the 'Khilafat Movement'.