Chauri Chaura Incident and Aftereffects

On February 04, 1922, a group of non-cooperation movement participants clashed with local authorities, attacked police officers, and burnt police stations, which unfortunately led to the death of 22 police officers and three civilians. This incident occurred at Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur region of Uttar Pradesh, then known as the United Provinces. 

About the Chauri Chaura Incident

Mahatma Gandhi introduced the Non-Cooperation Movement in September 1920 as a peaceful and non-violent struggle. It was launched to motivate Indians to relinquish their government jobs and titles and refuse to indulge in any activity that sustained the British government. Students were asked not to attend government schools or colleges. People began rejecting all goods made in Britain and took to wearing Khadi. They even refused to pay taxes. The aim was to establish self-government or swaraj. The Non-Cooperation Movement saw massive participation in the entire country, and the British were unprepared to combat this movement. 

However, the Chauri Chaura incident of 1922 precipitated a chain of events that abruptly ended the Non-Cooperation Movement. On February 02, 1922, the locals were found to protest against the rise in meat prices. Many were beaten, and a few leaders were sent behind bars at the Chauri Chaura police station. This incident led to a different protest against the police. On February 04, around 2,500 people walked towards the Chauri Chaura market, intending to shut down a liquor shop. Police fired several rounds in the air to disperse the agitated crowd. However, the crowd lost control and started throwing stones at the police. 

When things got out of control, a sub-inspector ordered shots to be fired into the crowd, killing three people. This angered the crowd further and forced the police to retreat and take shelter in the police station. The protesting mob then set fire to the police station, killing 22 policemen who had taken refuge inside. Following this gruesome incident, the British imposed martial law around the town and arrested hundreds of citizens.  The Chauri Chaura incident shocked Gandhi and prompted him to undergo a five-day fast. A week after the Chauri Chaura incident, Gandhi decided to call off the Non-Cooperation Movement on February 12. Many of his closest associates, including Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru, disagreed with Gandhi’s decision. Gandhi believed that people were yet not ready for a non-violent movement and that adequate training needed to be given to the masses. 

The 1922 Chauri Chaura incident and Gandhi’s decision gave a deep insight into his ideologies and commitment to non-violence. 

Why Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement

Gandhi had repeatedly warned that he did not want any violent protest in any part of the country. First, non-violence was a matter of principle for him. Second, if violence occurred anywhere, the government could easily use it as an excuse to launch a massive attack on the movement as a whole. The authorities would also justify the repression.Gandhi took responsibility for withdrawing the Non-Cooperation Movement, and the Indian National Congress called an end to it. Gandhi protected the movement from likely repression by the government and the people from demoralisation.

By the second half of 1921, the movement had shown clear signs of being on the ebb.The movement had already gone on for over a year, but the government was in no mood for negotiations. Chauri Chaura presented an opportunity to retreat with honour before the internal weaknesses of the movement became apparent enough to force surrender or make the retreat look like a rout.

Impact on the freedom struggle

Gandhi was arrested immediately after the withdrawal of the movement. Britishers used a hard-handed approach to deal with the participants and leaders. The Congress was on the verge of splitting, with a faction demanding re-entry to the legislative councils. However, Gandhi’s efforts paid off by retaining both Pro-Changers and No-Changers within the Congress.

Chauri Chaura Incident – Quick facts

Conclusion

The Chauri Chaura incident was an unfortunate episode that occurred in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh (then called United Provinces), where local citizens clashed with British police officials and caused the death of 22 policemen. Soon after this incident, Mahatma Gandhi called off the non-cooperation movement because of his deep-rooted conviction against violence.