Table of Contents
Chauri Chaura Incident: Mahatma Gandhi started the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 to stand up against British rule in India. In Chauri Chaura, a clash between protesters and the police turned violent, leading to a surprising incident in 1922 known as the Chauri Chaura Incident. To stop the violence, Gandhi decided to stop the Non-Cooperation Movement, changing how India fought for freedom.
This decision left many people feeling disappointed, and some started thinking that peaceful ways might not be the best. It also brought new leaders like Bhagat Singh into the spotlight. The Chauri Chaura Incident not only shifted the way people viewed peaceful movements but also strained the relationship between Congress and Muslim leaders. Overall, it brought a big change to India’s struggle for independence.
Chauri Chaura Incident Background
On August 1, 1920, Mahatma Gandhi started the non-cooperation movement against the government. This movement said, “Use things made in our country, not from other places.” It also told people not to buy foreign things, especially clothes made by machines. The movement also said, “Don’t join in legal, educational, and administrative things. Don’t help a ruler who does wrong things.”
In the winter of 1921-22, some people from the Congress and Khilafat groups formed a team to help the country. The Khilafat Movement began in 1919 to keep the leader in the Ottoman area important to Muslims in India during British rule. Congress helped the Khilafat Movement, and Gandhi wanted to join it with the non-cooperation movement. They wanted to work together against the British rulers.
Chauri Chaura Incident
On February 4, 1922, something happened in Chauri Chaura, a place in the Gorakhpur district of United Province (now Uttar Pradesh) in British India. A big group of people protesting in the Non-Cooperation movement clashed with the police, and the officers started shooting. The next day, the protesters attacked and set fire to a police station, and everyone inside died. Three regular people and 23 policemen lost their lives in this incident.
Mahatma Gandhi, who really didn’t like violence, took strong action because of this sad event. On February 12, 1922, he officially stopped the Non-Cooperation Movement because of what happened in Chauri Chaura. The table below has important details about the Chauri Chaura incident.
Gandhi’s Reaction to the Chauri Chaura Incident
Gandhi didn’t eat for five days after the Chauri Chaura incident. On February 12, he stopped the movement, saying people weren’t ready for peace, and they didn’t know how to handle violent situations. Some leaders in Congress, like Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das, didn’t want to end the movement because they thought it was good for the country.
The police quickly charged 228 people for what happened. Six people died while they were with the police. After a long trial of eight months, 172 people were told they would be killed. Many people in the country didn’t agree with this decision. In 1923, the Allahabad High Court looked at the decisions again. They said 110 people should stay in prison for life, 19 people would be killed, and others would be in prison for a long time.
Gandhi’s choice and what happened in Chauri Chaura in 1922 showed everyone he really wanted peace. With more social movements in India, people should remember this idea. The Chauri Chaura problem showed that some people were not thinking carefully, making mistakes about why there were problems in their area. The violence in Chauri Chaura was very sad because it showed the strong feelings of people who chose not to talk but to be quiet.
Effects of the Chauri Chaura Incident
After the Chauri-Chaura incident, the British authorities took control by declaring martial law in Chauri Chaura and nearby places. This meant the military had complete power. They did many searches and arrested hundreds of people. Out of them, 228 had to go to trial for causing trouble and starting fires.
During the trial that lasted eight months, six people died in jail, and 172 were told they would be hanged. This made a lot of people very angry, and many went out to protest. Indian Communist leader M.N. Roy called it “legalized murder.” People across the country joined in a strike, and this made the court think again.
In April 1923, the High Court in Allahabad changed its decision. Nineteen people were still told they would be hanged, 110 were given life sentences, and others got long jail terms. After India became independent, those who were in jail got released.
Important Points:
Martial law was declared, and many searches were done.
228 people had to go to trial.
Six people died in jail, and 172 were told they would be hanged.
Public protests and demonstrations happened.
The court changed its decision after a national strike.
Nineteen got death sentences, 110 got life sentences, and others got long jail terms.
Detainees got released after India became independent.
Decline of the Non-Cooperation Movement
The Chauri-Chaura incident caused the Non-Cooperation Movement to stop. This was a big change after the sad event. Mahatma Gandhi said sorry for the violence, calling it very bad and admitting he played a part in starting the Non-Cooperation Movement. He felt bad for not talking more about not being violent and then went without food for five days to show he was sorry. Gandhi ending the movement showed he thought the Indian people were not ready for a big fight.
Gandhi saying sorry for the violence
Feeling bad for not talking more about not being violent
Going without food for five days to show he was sorry
Stopping the Non-Cooperation Movement
People being confused and not liking it, including C. Rajagopalachari
Gandhi being kept in jail for six years
Gandhi getting out of jail in February 1924 because he was not healthy.
Impact on the Khilafat Movement
The stopping of the Non-Cooperation Movement made the Khilafat Movement sad and feel like they were let down. People from both Khilafat and Congress didn’t agree with this choice. Important people like Motilal Nehru and Maulana Abdul Bari felt hurt by it. Bari wondered what Gandhi would do next, saying that the national leader didn’t achieve much through peaceful protests.
How the stopping affected the Khilafat Movement
Feeling sad and thinking someone did something wrong
People from Khilafat and Congress not agreeing
Important people like Motilal Nehru and Maulana Abdul Bari not liking it
Wondering if Gandhi can still do good things through peaceful protests
FAQs on Chauri Chaura Incident
What happened during the Chauri Chaura incident?
On February 4, 1922, the Chauri Chaura incident occurred in Chauri Chaura, Gorakhpur district, United Province (modern Uttar Pradesh), in British India. On this day, a large crowd of protesters participating in the Non-cooperation movement clashed with police, prompting the authorities to open fire.
How many officers died in Chauri Chaura?
In response, demonstrators assaulted and burned down a police station, killing all of its occupants. The incident claimed the lives of three civilians and 23 police officers.
Which movement was disbanded after the Chauri Chaura incident?
The Chauri Chaura incident had a significant impact, prompting Mahatma Gandhi to call off the Non-Cooperation Movement on February 12, 1922. Gandhiji's significant decision stemmed directly from the incident in Chauri Chaura, Uttar Pradesh.
