The Non-cooperation movement was perhaps the biggest event in the history of India’s struggle for independence since the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. The movement was launched as a protest against the Rowlatt Act, the Jallianwallah Bagh Massacre and the Khilafat movement. It was pitched in under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress from September 1920 to February 1922, marking a new awakening in the Indian Independence Movement.
Features of Non-Cooperation Movement
- The movement included surrender of titles and honors, boycott of Govt School, college, court, and resignation from govt service.
- Boycott of foreign goods, especially clothes along with picketing of shops selling foreign goods and liquor was one of the most important activities. Bonfires of foreign clothes became a common scenario. This resulted in decline in value of foreign clothes
- It also encouraged hand-spinning and weaving. Charkhas were popularized on a wide scale and Khadi became the uniform of national movement
- Hindu -Muslim unity was promoted, and reached its peak with national leaders like Gandhiji gave speeches from mosques
- Tilak Swaraj Fund was started and oversubscribed exceeding the target of rupees 1crore.