Marking the centennial celebration of the Chauri Chaura incident, the Prime Minister recently paid tribute to the unsung heroes who fought tirelessly for India’s freedom. Located in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh, Chauri Chaura is a small town that played a significant role in the chronicles of Indian history.
On 4th February 1922, this quiet town became the ground zero for a violent uprising where peasants set fire to a police station, resulting in the death of 22 policemen. This event led Mahatma Gandhi, the renowned freedom fighter, to call off the Non-Cooperation Movement spanning from 1920 to 1922.
Setting the Stage: The Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movements
On August 1, 1920, Mahatma Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement against the British government. This campaign urged citizens to promote indigenous goods, boycott imported items – especially machine-made cloth, and reject legal, educational, and administrative institutions as an act of defiance against oppressive rule.
Parallel to this was the Khilafat Movement, a pan-Islamic uprising that began in 1919. This was aimed at preserving the Ottoman caliphate, seen as a symbol of Muslim unity in India during the British Raj. To strengthen the impact, Gandhi united the Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movements, leveraging the national volunteer corps established in the winter of 1921-22.
The Chauri Chaura Incident and the Ensuing Reactions
On 4th February 1922, protesters marched to the local police station following a meeting in Chauri Chaura. The police reaction was harsh, firing into the crowd, which resulted in several deaths and injuries. In retaliation, the crowd set fire to the police station and killed the officers attempting to escape. Massive destruction of police property ensued.
The British Raj responded swiftly, prosecuting 225 accused individuals. Although initially, a shocking number of 172 were sentenced to death, only 19 were eventually executed.
Mahatma Gandhi denounced the violent turn of events and took actions that reflected his unwavering commitment to non-violence. Volunteer groups in nearby villages were disbanded, and a Chauri Chaura Support Fund was established. He persuaded the Congress Working Committee to suspend the Non-Cooperation Movement on 12th February 1922.
Leadership Divide and the Aftermath
Gandhi’s decision to halt the movement left many national leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru, reeling. Leaders like Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das expressed their disappointment and initiated the Swaraj Party in defiance.
The abrupt termination of the Non-Cooperation Movement fueled disillusionment among young nationalists, leading them to question the effectiveness of non-violence. This period saw the rise of revolutionaries such as Jogesh Chatterjee, Ramprasad Bismil, Sachin Sanyal, Ashfaqulla Khan, Jatin Das, Bhagat Singh, Bhagwati Charan Vohra, Masterda Surya Sen, and others.
Moreover, the premature end of the Non-Cooperation Movement created a chasm between Congress and Muslim leaders supporting the Khilafat movement, further complicating the political landscape.
