Programme of the Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement
Modern History › Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movement · Topic 17.2
The Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement was formally launched on 31 August 1920. The Congress approved the programme at a special session in Calcutta in September 1920 and endorsed it at Nagpur in December 1920, where it also changed its goal to swaraj by peaceful and legitimate means. The programme boycotted schools, courts, councils and foreign cloth.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movement
At a Glance
- Formal launch 31 August 1920, by the Khilafat Committee
- Congress approval Special session at Calcutta, September 1920
- Nagpur session December 1920: creed changed, CWC of 15 set up
- Promise Gandhi said swaraj within a year if fully implemented
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movement
Where Does It Fit?
This is the second topic of the category on the Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movement. The previous topic explained the Khilafat issue and its link with non-cooperation. This topic traces how the movement was launched and what its programme was. The next topic describes the spread of the movement and the response of different groups. Previous topic: The Khilafat Issue and Its Link With Non-Cooperation.
How Did the Movement Reach Its Launch?
The path from the Khilafat issue to the movement ran through a series of dated steps.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Early 1920 | A joint Hindu-Muslim deputation to the viceroy on the Khilafat issue proved abortive |
| February 1920 | Gandhi announced that the Punjab wrongs and constitutional advance had been overshadowed by the Khilafat question, and that he would lead non-cooperation if the peace terms failed to satisfy Indian Muslims |
| May 1920 | The Treaty of Sevres with Turkey completely dismembered Turkey |
| June 1920 | An all-party conference at Allahabad approved a programme of boycott of schools, colleges and law courts and asked Gandhi to lead it |
| 31 August 1920 | The Khilafat Committee started a campaign of non-cooperation and the movement was formally launched |
| September 1920 | Special Congress session at Calcutta approved non-cooperation until the Punjab and Khilafat wrongs were removed and swaraj established |
| December 1920 | Nagpur session endorsed the programme |
Tilak died on 1 August 1920, a month before the formal launch. The causes of the issue are in The Khilafat Issue and Its Link With Non-Cooperation.
What Did the Calcutta Programme Contain?
The special session of the Congress at Calcutta in September 1920 approved a non-cooperation programme that was to continue until the Punjab and Khilafat wrongs were removed and swaraj was established.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Education | Boycott of government schools and colleges |
| Law courts | Boycott of courts, with justice dispensed through panchayats instead |
| Legislative councils | Boycott of councils; C.R. Das and others were unwilling at first but bowed to Congress discipline, boycotted the November 1920 elections, and most voters also stayed away |
| Foreign cloth | Boycott of foreign cloth, use of khadi and hand-spinning |
| Honours | Renunciation of government honours and titles |
| Second phase | Could include mass civil disobedience, resignation from government service and non-payment of taxes |
Participants were to work for Hindu-Muslim unity and the removal of untouchability, remaining non-violent throughout. The movement’s three demands are commonly listed as a favourable treaty for Turkey, redressal of Punjab wrongs and establishment of swaraj.
What Did the Nagpur Session Change, December 1920?
At Nagpur, the Congress endorsed the programme of non-cooperation. It also changed the creed: instead of attaining self-government by constitutional means, the goal became attaining swaraj through peaceful and legitimate means, which committed the Congress to an extra-constitutional mass struggle.
| Change | Detail |
|---|---|
| Creed | Swaraj by peaceful and legitimate means, from self-government by constitutional means |
| Leadership | A Congress Working Committee of 15 members to lead the Congress |
| Provincial bodies | Provincial Congress committees organised on a linguistic basis |
| Local units | Ward committees organised |
| Membership | Entry fee reduced to four annas |
| Promise | Gandhi declared that swaraj would come within a year if the programme was fully implemented |
As an analytical point, the organisational changes mattered as much as the creed: linguistic committees, ward units and a four-anna fee made the Congress a body that could reach villages and the poor, which is what a mass movement needed.
Who Joined and Who Left?
Many groups of revolutionary terrorists, especially from Bengal, pledged support to the Congress programme. At this stage some leaders, such as Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Annie Besant, G.S. Kharpade and B.C. Pal, left the Congress because they believed in a constitutional and lawful struggle. Others, such as Surendranath Banerjea, founded the Indian National Liberal Federation and played a minor role in national politics afterwards.
The Congress’s adoption of the movement begun by the Khilafat Committee gave it new energy, and 1921 and 1922 saw an unprecedented popular upsurge, described in Spread of the Movement and People’s Response.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Chronology Dates of the movement are stock Prelims facts
- Nagpur changes The creed and organisational changes are frequently asked
- Programme details Constructive and boycott items are a common question
What Came Next?
The next topic describes how the movement spread and how different sections of society responded. Next topic: Spread of the Movement and People’s Response.
Key People and Terms
- Treaty of Sevres The May 1920 treaty that completely dismembered Turkey
- Swaraj Self-rule; the new Congress goal through peaceful and legitimate means
- Khadi Hand-spun, hand-woven cloth promoted over foreign cloth
- Panchayats Village bodies to dispense justice in place of government courts
- Congress Working Committee The 15-member body created at Nagpur
- Indian National Liberal Federation Founded by Surendranath Banerjea after leaving the Congress
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Movement launched 31 August 1920; Congress approval Calcutta, September 1920.
- Nagpur December 1920: new creed, CWC of 15, linguistic committees, four annas fee.
- Treaty of Sevres: May 1920.
- Tilak died on 1 August 1920.
- Gandhi: swaraj within a year if fully implemented.
Do Not Confuse With
- Allahabad conference and Calcutta session Allahabad: all-party, June 1920; Calcutta: Congress, September 1920
- Calcutta and Nagpur Calcutta approved the programme; Nagpur endorsed it and changed the creed
- Constructive and boycott items Boycott of schools, courts, councils, cloth; construction through khadi, panchayats and national schools
Memory Hook
Sevres in May, Allahabad in June, launch in August, Calcutta in September, Nagpur in December.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the programme and the Nagpur session. These points add depth.
- Programme Boycott and constructive items
- Nagpur Creed and organisation
- Opposition Councils boycott debate and departures
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Describe the programme of the Non-Cooperation Movement and explain the changes made in the Congress at Nagpur in 1920.”
How to Answer
- Background Sevres treaty and Allahabad conference.
- Programme Boycotts and constructive work.
- Nagpur Creed and organisational changes.
- Conclude Congress became a mass organisation.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement formally launched?
The Khilafat Committee started a campaign of non-cooperation on 31 August 1920, which formally launched the movement. The Congress then approved a non-cooperation programme at a special session in Calcutta in September 1920 and endorsed it at the Nagpur session in December 1920.
What was the Treaty of Sevres?
The Treaty of Sevres, signed with Turkey in May 1920, completely dismembered Turkey. It dissatisfied Indian Muslims, and in June 1920 an all-party conference at Allahabad approved a programme of boycott of schools, colleges and law courts and asked Gandhi to lead it.
What did the non-cooperation programme include?
It included boycott of government schools and colleges, courts, legislative councils, and foreign cloth, use of khadi and hand-spinning, and renunciation of government honours and titles. A second phase could include mass civil disobedience, resignation from government service and non-payment of taxes.
What changes were made at the Nagpur session of 1920?
The Congress endorsed non-cooperation and changed its goal to swaraj by peaceful and legitimate means. It set up a 15-member Working Committee, organised linguistic provincial committees and ward committees, and cut the entry fee to four annas.
Which leaders left the Congress after Nagpur?
Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Annie Besant, G.S. Kharpade and B.C. Pal left because they believed in a constitutional and lawful struggle. Surendranath Banerjea founded the Indian National Liberal Federation and played only a minor role in national politics afterwards.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Treaty of Sevres was signed in May 1920.
It dismembered Turkey.
2 The Nagpur session changed the Congress goal to swaraj through peaceful and legitimate means.
It committed Congress to an extra-constitutional mass struggle.
3 A Working Committee of 15 members was created at the Nagpur session.
Linguistic provincial committees were also organised.
4 The non-cooperation programme included a boycott of foreign cloth and use of khadi.
Hand-spinning was also to be practised.
5 The movement was launched in 1922.
It was formally launched on 31 August 1920.
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