Introduction:
The centenary of the Chauri Chaura incident in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh was commemorated by the release of a postage stamp by the Prime Minister. The incident, which saw a large crowd of peasants set a police station on fire on February 4th, 1922, resulting in the death of 22 policemen, had significant implications on India’s freedom struggle.
The Launch of Non-Cooperation Movement as a Background
On August 1st, 1920, Mahatma Gandhi initiated the Non-Cooperation Movement in opposition to the government. This involved the promotion of swadeshi (local products) and the boycott of foreign goods, primarily machine-made clothes. It also involved refusal to assist a ruler who misrules, resulting in the boycott of legal, educational, and administrative institutions. The Non-Cooperation Movement was conjoined with the Khilafat Movement, a pan-Islamic force supported by the Congress and Gandhi.
The Unfolding of the Chauri Chaura Incident
Volunteers of the Congress and the Khilafat Movement congregated in the town of Chauri Chaura on February 4th, 1922. In retaliation to police firing into the crowd, the protestors set the police station ablaze, resulting in massive destruction of police property and, tragically, killing 22 policemen.
The British Raj’s Reaction
In response to the incident, the British Raj acted aggressively, prosecuting the accused rapidly. Initially, 172 out of 225 accused were sentenced to death in a sessions court; however, eventually only 19 were executed.
Gandhi’s Reaction and Subsequent Suspension of Non-Cooperation Movement
Gandhi condemned the violence, disbanded nearby volunteer groups, and set up a Chauri Chaura Support Fund. Viewing the incident as a taint of unforgivable violence on the Non-Cooperation Movement, he successfully pressed for its suspension, with the Satyagraha formally ended on February 12th, 1922.
Reactions from Other National Leaders
National leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and others leading the Non-Cooperation Movement were taken aback by Gandhi’s abrupt decision to halt the movement. Recognizing this as a setback, leaders like Motilal Nehru and CR Das expressed their disappointment and went on to establish the Swaraj Party.
Justification for Suspension of the Movement
Gandhi justified his decision based on his staunch belief in non-violence. As historian Bipan Chandra argues, Gandhi’s method of non-violence was premised on the concept that repressive force against peaceful protesters would reveal the true nature of the colonial state and exert moral pressure. Incidents like Chauri Chaura defeated this strategy.
The Immediate Impact of Suspension
The sudden termination of the Non-Cooperation Movement resulted in disillusionment among younger Indian nationalists, nudging them towards the belief that India could not gain independence through non-violence alone. This period saw the emergence of many revolutionaries, including Jogesh Chatterjee, Ramprasad Bismil, Sachin Sanyal, Ashfaqulla Khan, Jatin Das, Bhagat Singh, Bhagwati Charan Vohra, Masterda Surya Sen, among others. Furthermore, the abrupt end also created a rift between the Congress and Muslim leaders, leading to the disillusionment of Khilafat movement leaders.
