Non-Cooperation Movement and Khilafat Movement – Free Modern History Notes for UPSC 2025

The Non-Cooperation Movement and the Khilafat Movement were two important events in India’s fight for freedom. The Non-Cooperation Movement was a protest against British rule led by Mahatma Gandhi. It aimed to challenge British authority by refusing to cooperate with their government and institutions. People boycotted British goods, schools, and courts, and many joined in peaceful protests. The Khilafat Movement was a movement by Indian Muslims to support the Caliph, who was the spiritual leader of Muslims worldwide. They were upset with British actions that threatened the Caliph’s authority and status.

Background

Between 1919 and 1922, India saw two big movements against British rule: the Khilafat movement and the Non-Cooperation movement. Even though they focused on different issues, both movements agreed on using nonviolent protest and not cooperating with the British. During this time, the Congress and the Muslim League worked together more closely. They organized many political demonstrations together, showing a united front against British rule.

Causes

The Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements arose because many Indians were unhappy with British rule in India.
Indians felt that Britain treated Turkey unfairly after World War I, especially regarding the caliphate issue, which made Indian Muslims feel they needed to protect Muslim interests.
British actions during and after the war, like the Rowlatt Act and martial law in Punjab, made Indians even more upset.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, where British troops shot unarmed Indian protesters, showed how harsh British rule could be.
Investigations into these atrocities, like the Hunter Commission, were seen as cover-ups, and British support for General Dyer, who led the massacre, made Indians angrier.
Reforms introduced by the British, like the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, failed to satisfy Indian demands for self-government.
The economic situation in India worsened after the war, with rising prices, declining industries, and increased taxes and rents, causing more discontent.
The Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements emerged as ways for Indians to challenge British rule and address grievances related to Turkey, injustice, failed reforms, and economic hardship. They showed a united front against British rule and were crucial in India’s fight for independence.

Khilafat Issue

Muslims in India and worldwide considered the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known as the Khalifa or Caliph, as their spiritual leader.
During World War I, the Ottoman Empire, led by the Khalifa, sided with Germany and Austria-Hungary against the British. Indian Muslims supported the British during the war, believing that sacred sites in the Ottoman Empire would remain under the Khalifa’s control.
After the war, the Ottoman Empire lost territory, the Khalifa was removed from power, and the caliphate was abolished. Muslims felt betrayed and upset by these actions.
In response, leaders like the Ali brothers, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Ajmal Khan, and Hasrat Mohani founded the Khilafat Movement to oppose British policies and support the Khalifa.
They formed the All India Khilafat Committee in 1919 to organize protests and coordinate the movement nationwide.
The Khilafat Movement called for boycotting British goods to pressure the British government and show the strength of the movement.
The Khilafat issue and the desire for Muslim unity played a big part in rallying Muslims in India and guiding the Khilafat Movement from 1919 to 1924.

Development of Khilafat Non-Cooperation

Some members of the Khilafat movement wanted to take stronger actions against the British government’s treatment of Turkey and the Khalifa. They called for stopping all cooperation with the British to pressure them and show their unhappiness.
In November 1919, at a big meeting in Delhi, Khilafat leaders asked people to stop buying British goods. They thought this would hurt the British economy and make them pay attention to their concerns.
Khilafat leaders said that if the peace terms after the war didn’t help Turkey, they would stop working with the British government completely. This was meant to force the government to listen to them.
Mahatma Gandhi, who was the leader of the All India Khilafat Committee, saw an opportunity to use the Khilafat issue to start a big non-cooperation movement against the British government. He thought this alliance could help achieve bigger political goals and get more Indians involved in the fight against British rule.
By joining forces with the Khilafat movement and including their demands in the Non-Cooperation movement, Gandhi aimed to create a strong, united struggle against British rule that included both Hindus and Muslims. This partnership had a big impact on the independence movement and gained support from different parts of society.

Stand on Khilafat and Non-Cooperation

The Congress, led by Mahatma Gandhi, saw the Khilafat issue as important for bringing Hindus and Muslims together against British rule. Gandhi supported using nonviolent resistance and non-cooperation to address the Khilafat problem.
However, some Congress members were unsure about supporting a religious cause. They worried it might distract from the broader fight for Indian independence. This caused debates within the Congress about how much support to give to the Khilafat movement.
Eventually, Congress realized that backing the Khilafat movement could unite Hindus and Muslims and get more Muslim people involved in the fight for independence. They thought the Khilafat issue could bring different religious groups together for a common goal of ending British rule.
The Muslim League, which mainly represented Muslim interests, also decided to fully support Congress and its efforts on the Khilafat issue. They understood how important the Khilafat cause was for Muslims and thought working with Congress would help them achieve their goals.
Both Congress and the Muslim League saw the need for unity and working together on the Khilafat issue. They joined forces to create a strong movement that could challenge British policies and support the Khilafat movement’s demands.

Calcutta Session of Congress

During a special meeting in Calcutta in September 1920, Congress agreed on a detailed plan for non-cooperation. Led by Lala Lajpat Rai, they outlined the following:

People should avoid government schools and colleges and focus on local self-governing bodies for education.
Instead of using British courts, people should seek justice through other means.
They should boycott British-controlled Legislative Councils. Though some leaders had doubts, most agreed to follow Congress’s decisions.
People should stop using foreign-made cloth and use khadi instead, promoting self-reliance.
Participants should give up British honors and titles, rejecting symbols of British authority.
The movement would progress to civil disobedience, including resigning from government jobs and refusing to pay taxes.
The movement aimed for Hindu-Muslim unity and ending untouchability.
Throughout, the movement would remain peaceful, using nonviolence to achieve its goals.

This plan aimed to rally people and pressure the British government through non-cooperation, while also addressing social issues in India.

Nagpur Session of Congress

The Nagpur Session of the Indian National Congress in December 1920 was a big moment in their fight for self-rule (swaraj).

They agreed to stick to the non-cooperation movement, boycotting government stuff, foreign goods, and British-run legislative bodies.
Instead of just talking to the British and following the rules, they decided to use mass protests to get self-rule.
They set up a Congress Working Committee with 15 members to lead the Congress and make important decisions.
They made Provincial Congress Committees based on language regions to strengthen their presence and coordinate better.
They also made ward committees to get more regular people involved in the movement.
They made joining Congress cheaper, so more people could be part of it and help in politics.
Mahatma Gandhi said if they followed the non-cooperation plan well, India could get self-rule in a year. This gave hope to Congress leaders and supporters.

This meeting made Congress more united and determined to use peaceful mass movements to push for self-rule. They wanted to pressure the British to listen to what Indians wanted.

Spread of Movement

The Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement, led by Gandhi and supported by many leaders, saw widespread participation and sparked various local struggles. Here’s how it spread:

New schools and colleges were set up to boycott government ones. Around 90,000 students joined these new institutions led by famous leaders.
Many lawyers, including big names like Motilal Nehru and Jawaharlal Nehru, joined the movement, lending their support and legal skills.
People stopped buying foreign cloth, burning it in public protests and using Indian-made cloth instead.
Picketing and protests happened, targeting shops selling foreign alcohol and disrupting services like tea and railways.
The Tilak Swaraj Fund got a lot of money, which helped keep the movement going.
Many local movements started, like the Awadh Kisan Movement, the Eka Movement, and the Mappila Revolt, showing widespread resistance to British rule.
Muslims were asked to quit the army to protest against British policies, which got Gandhi’s support but led to the Ali brothers’ arrest.
Overall, the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement saw people from all over India join in, boycotting, protesting, and disobeying British rule.

Government Response

Talks between Gandhi and the Viceroy failed in May 1921 because they couldn’t agree on speeches made by the Ali brothers. The government wanted Gandhi to convince them to remove violent parts, but Gandhi refused.
In December, the government cracked down hard on the movement. They banned volunteer groups that organized protests and stopped public meetings, making it hard for the movement to grow. They also silenced the press to stop information from spreading. Many leaders, except Gandhi, were arrested to stop the movement.
The government used arrests, detentions, and charges against leaders and activists to stop the movement. They wanted to make leaders afraid and weaken the movement.
Even though the government tried to stop the movement, people kept resisting, and the movement still affected the fight for freedom. The government showed they were determined to stay in control and stop any big movements against them.

Chauri Chaura Incident and Calling off the Movement

In Chauri Chaura, Uttar Pradesh, a clash between Congress and Khilafat activists and the police turned violent on February 5, 1922.
The police fired back after the activists attacked them, leading to a riot where the activists set fire to the police station, killing all the officers inside.
Gandhi, deeply saddened by the violence, believed it went against the movement’s principles and withdrew from the Non-Cooperation Movement to prevent further violence.
The incident marked a turning point in the movement, demoralizing activists and supporters and leading to its suspension.
It prompted reflection within the Indian National Congress and the freedom movement on the importance of discipline and nonviolence.
Gandhi called it a “Himalayan Blunder,” highlighting the need for nonviolence in the struggle for independence.
The incident showed the challenges of organizing mass movements and emphasized the importance of nonviolence in the freedom struggle.

Impact of Non-Cooperation Movement

The Non-Cooperation Movement surprised the British and inspired Indian nationalists, fostering unity among people of different backgrounds.
It was a massive movement involving millions of Indians protesting peacefully, raising political awareness and reducing fear of the government.
The boycott of British goods caused a notable decrease in UK imports, benefiting Indian merchants and promoting indigenous products like Khadi.
Gandhi emerged as a popular leader, championing nonviolence and non-cooperation, and the movement solidified his role in the independence struggle.
Overall, the movement had significant effects, awakening political consciousness, boosting nationalist sentiments, and establishing Gandhi’s leadership.

In conclusion, despite encountering internal divisions and obstacles, the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movements made significant strides in mobilizing people and fostering nationalist fervor. Although they fell short of fully achieving their goals, these movements were instrumental in shaping India’s path to independence. Their legacy laid the groundwork for subsequent movements and campaigns, leaving a lasting impact on the trajectory of India’s struggle for freedom.

Also Read: Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Massacre.