Q. Consider the following statements in respect of the Non-Cooperation Movement:
I. The Congress declared the attainment of ‘Swaraj’ by all legitimate and peaceful means to be its objective.
II. It was to be implemented in stages with civil disobedience and non-payment of taxes for the next stage only if ‘Swaraj’ did not come within a year and the Government resorted to repression.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II
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Answer & Explanation:
✅Correct Answer: (a) I only
Explanation:
The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920 as a part of the freedom struggle against British colonial rule. It was a mass-based movement led by the Indian National Congress and marked a significant shift toward active but peaceful resistance.
Statement I: Correct
“The Congress declared the attainment of ‘Swaraj’ by all legitimate and peaceful means to be its objective.”
This is a correct statement. In the Nagpur Session of Congress in 1920, the goal of the Congress was modified to the attainment of Swaraj (self-rule) through peaceful and legitimate means. This marked a major ideological departure from previous constitutionalist methods. The idea was to involve the masses in a non-violent struggle against British rule, under Gandhi’s guidance.
Statement II: Incorrect
“It was to be implemented in stages with civil disobedience and non-payment of taxes for the next stage only if ‘Swaraj’ did not come within a year and the Government resorted to repression.”
This statement is incorrect due to the misrepresentation of the movement’s plan and timeline.
The Non-Cooperation Movement was not designed with such a conditional timeline (“within a year”) for civil disobedience or tax non-payment. The movement aimed at immediate action through:
- Boycott of government schools, law courts, and foreign goods
- Renunciation of government titles and services
- Promotion of Khadi and national schools
Civil disobedience and tax non-payment were envisioned later but not on the condition that Swaraj must be achieved in one year or else repression would trigger the next phase. That kind of phased, conditional approach was more closely associated with later movements like the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930).
Conclusion:
Only Statement I correctly reflects the ideology and objectives of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Hence, the correct answer is: (a) I only.