write the importance of non cooperation movement in indian freedom struggle

Solution

The non-cooperation movement led by Gandhi ji was such a mass movement which had never been seen before and after the Great Rebellion of 1857. India for the first time saw a leader who had ability to fight face to face. According to Marjorie Sykes, Gandhi ji had ‘the gift of fight’.

Since Swaraj was not achieved within a year as Gandhi ji had assured, the movement was apparently a failure. However, the significance and importance of Non-Cooperation movement cannot be denied.

Importance and immediate good results: Indian mill-owners earned a good profit due to the programme of boycott. The import of sugar from England decreased considerably. The import of British cotton-goods decreased from Rs. 6.7 crore to Rs. 2.8 crore within a period of six months. Likewise, the import of iron decreased to 50%.

Political importance:  Popularity of the Congress and the movement increased among the masses. The non-cooperation movement certainly demonstrated that the Indian National Congress commanded the support and sympathy of vast sections of the Indian people. The spread of the movement was also nation-wide. It may be true that some areas were more active than others, but there were few that showed no sign of activity at all.

Participation of Muslims: Participation of the Muslims in the movement and the maintenance of communal harmony was also a great achievement. Muslim participation gave the movement a mass character.

Success in several cases: According to R.C. Majumdar, the non-cooperation movement was an acid test for the people. The movement was a success in several cases:

1. People became conscious of their political right.
2. People lost their trust in British administration.
3. They became confident of self-reliance.
4. The government failed to create fear in their mind.