Question map
Consider the following statements about the Non-cooperation movement: 1. The movement was a mixture of nationalism, middle class politics, religion, feudalism, agrarian discontent and working class agitation. 2. The movement was much greater in intensity than any other political agitation which came before it. 3. The movement helped to foster Hindu-Muslim unity. Which of the statements. given above is/are correct ?
Explanation
The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) was the first large-scale mass movement in India, exhibiting an intensity far greater than any previous political agitation [t2]. It successfully politicized diverse strata of the population, including artisans, peasants, and urban Muslims [c2]. Statement 3 is correct as the movement was intrinsically linked with the Khilafat issue, which served to cement Hindu-Muslim unity against British rule [c1][t5]. While the movement involved peasants and workers (e.g., coal miners and agrarian no-revenue movements), statement 1 is generally considered incorrect in standard historical analysis because the movement was not a 'mixture' of feudalism; rather, it often challenged feudal structures through agrarian discontent [c5][t6]. Furthermore, while middle-class participation was significant initially, many were reluctant about the boycott of councils [c3]. Thus, statements 2 and 3 are the most accurate descriptions of the movement's features.
Sources
- [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 16: Non-Cooperation Movement and Khilafat Aandolan > Non-Cooperation Movement and Khilafat Aandolan > p. 328
- [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 16: Non-Cooperation Movement and Khilafat Aandolan > Evaluation of Khilafat Non-Cooperation Movement > p. 338
- [3] India and the Contemporary World – II. History-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Nationalism in India > 1.3 Why Non-cooperation? > p. 33
- [4] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Non-cooperation Movement > p. 808