Evaluation of the Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement
Modern History › Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movement · Topic 17.5
The Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement took nationalist sentiment to every part of the country and politicised artisans, peasants, students, the urban poor, women and traders. It brought urban Muslims into the national movement, though it also communalised politics to an extent. It broke the myth that colonial rule was invincible.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movement
At a Glance
- Strength Politicised millions across classes and regions
- Key change The masses lost fear of colonial rule
- Muslim participation Urban Muslims joined, but politics was communalised to an extent
- Three demands Favourable treaty for Turkey; Punjab wrongs; swaraj
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movement
Where Does It Fit?
This is the fifth and last topic of the category on the Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movement. The previous topic covered the government response and the withdrawal. This topic assesses the movement. The next category begins with the Swarajists and No-Changers. Previous topic: Government Response and Withdrawal of the Movement.
What Were the Strengths of the Movement?
With the Non-Cooperation Movement, nationalist sentiment reached every nook and corner of the country and politicised every stratum of the population: artisans, peasants, students, the urban poor, women and traders. This politicisation and activisation of millions of men and women gave a revolutionary character to the national movement.
| Gain | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mass politicisation | Every stratum of society drawn in |
| Revolutionary character | Millions of men and women activated |
| End of fear | The masses lost the all-pervasive fear of colonial rule and its repressive organs |
| Muslim participation | Urban Muslims brought into the national movement |
| Broadened Congress | New organisational structure and a mass goal of swaraj |
How Did It Challenge the Two Myths of Colonial Rule?
Colonial rule rested on two myths: first, that such rule was in the interest of Indians, and second, that it was invincible. The first myth had already been exploded by the economic critique of the Moderate nationalists. The second myth was challenged by satyagraha through mass struggle. Now the masses lost the all-pervasive fear of colonial rule and its mighty repressive organs.
The economic critique is described in Economic Critique of British Imperialism by the Early Nationalists, and the technique of mass struggle in Gandhi in South Africa and the Technique of Satyagraha.
What Were the Limitations?
The movement brought urban Muslims into the national movement, but at the same time communalised national politics to an extent. Although Muslim sentiments were a manifestation of a wider anti-imperialist feeling, the national leaders failed to raise the religious political consciousness of Muslims to a level of secular political consciousness.
A strongly critical view, from Dr Koenraad Elst, calls the Khilafat movement a retrograde and reactionary movement that was intrinsically anti-nationalist, setting Islamic interests against secular and non-Muslim interests. That is one writer’s assessment and is contested by the account of Hindu-Muslim cooperation that other sources give.
Other limits noted in earlier sections include the reserved response of the urban middle class and some big business, and the withdrawal in February 1922, which bewildered many leaders. The reasons for it are in Government Response and Withdrawal of the Movement.
How Does the Movement Compare in Hindu-Muslim Terms?
The massive participation of Muslims and the maintenance of communal unity, despite events like the Mappila uprisings, were among the movement’s great achievements. In many places two-thirds of those arrested were Muslims, and such participation had neither been seen before nor was seen again, according to the standard account. As an analytical point, the same Khilafat appeal that brought Muslim masses in was tied to an external religious issue, so when that issue ended, with the abolition of the caliphate in 1924, the common ground weakened. The people’s participation is described in Spread of the Movement and People’s Response.
What Is the Summary of the Movement?
The movement had three demands: a favourable treaty for Turkey, redress of the Punjab wrongs and the establishment of swaraj. Its techniques were boycott of government schools, colleges, law courts, councils, government service, foreign cloth and liquor; national schools, colleges and panchayats; khadi; and a second stage of civil disobedience through non-payment of taxes. At Nagpur in December 1920 the Congress goal changed to swaraj through peaceful and legitimate means. The Chauri Chaura violence on 5 February 1922 led Gandhi to withdraw the movement. The programme is in Programme of the Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Assessment question A standard Mains question on significance and limits
- Link to communal politics Helps in answering questions on Hindu-Muslim relations
- Turning point in mass politics The movement made the Congress a mass organisation
What Came Next?
The next category begins with the Swarajists and No-Changers, the two groups that arose in the Congress after the withdrawal. Next topic: Swarajists and No-Changers.
Key People and Terms
- Politicisation Drawing groups of people into political life
- Myth of invincibility The belief that colonial rule could not be challenged
- Secular political consciousness Political awareness not based on religion
- Satyagraha Truth force, used here as mass struggle
- Khilafat movement The movement over the treatment of Turkey and the Khalifa
- Swaraj Self-rule
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Colonial rule rested on two myths: it served Indians; it was invincible.
- The first was exploded by the economic critique; the second by mass satyagraha.
- Urban Muslims joined, but politics was communalised to an extent.
- Three demands: Turkey, Punjab wrongs, swaraj.
- Politicised artisans, peasants, students, urban poor, women, traders.
Do Not Confuse With
- Economic critique and satyagraha The first broke the myth of benevolence; the second broke the myth of invincibility
- Religious and secular consciousness Leaders failed to raise the first into the second
- Demands and techniques Three demands; boycott and constructive techniques
Memory Hook
Fear fell, millions woke, but religion and politics stayed tangled.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for a balanced assessment. These points add depth.
- Gains Mass politicisation and loss of fear
- Limits Communal side and the sudden withdrawal
- Legacy A mass Congress and a new phase
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Make a balanced assessment of the Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement.”
How to Answer
- Introduce Demands and techniques.
- Gains Politicisation and the end of fear.
- Limits Communal effects and withdrawal.
- Conclude Its lasting effect on mass politics.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main achievement of the Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement?
It took nationalist sentiment to every part of the country and politicised artisans, peasants, students, the urban poor, women and traders. This politicisation of millions gave the national movement a revolutionary character and ended the masses' fear of colonial rule.
What were the two myths of colonial rule?
Colonial rule rested on the myths that it was in the interest of Indians and that it was invincible. The Moderates' economic critique had exploded the first, and satyagraha through mass struggle challenged the second.
How did the movement affect Hindu-Muslim relations?
It brought urban Muslims into the national movement, with in many places two-thirds of those arrested being Muslims. But it also communalised national politics to an extent, since leaders did not raise religious political consciousness to a secular political consciousness.
What were the three demands of the movement?
The three demands were a favourable treaty for Turkey, redress of the Punjab wrongs, and the establishment of swaraj. The techniques included boycott of schools, courts, councils and foreign cloth, national institutions, khadi, and a second stage of civil disobedience.
Why is the movement called a turning point?
Because it politicised millions across classes, made the Congress a mass organisation with the goal of swaraj through peaceful means, and showed through mass satyagraha that colonial rule could be challenged, so the masses lost the fear of its repressive organs.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Non-Cooperation Movement challenged the myth of the invincibility of colonial rule.
Satyagraha through mass struggle did so.
2 The economic critique by Moderate nationalists exploded the myth that colonial rule served Indian interests.
The second myth was challenged by mass struggle.
3 The movement brought urban Muslims into the national movement.
It also communalised politics to an extent.
4 The three demands of the movement included establishment of swaraj.
The others were a Turkey treaty and Punjab wrongs.
5 The movement involved only the urban middle class.
It politicised artisans, peasants, students, women and traders too.
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