Source: Textbook

List all the different social groups which joined the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1921. Then choose any three and write about their hopes and struggles to show why they joined the movement.

Model Answer

The Non-Cooperation Movement saw diverse social participation. The urban middle class, including students, lawyers, and teachers, boycotted institutions, hoping to cripple British administration and achieve Swaraj. Their struggle involved the lack of alternative Indian institutions and expensive Khadi. Peasants in Awadh, led by Baba Ramchandra, joined against oppressive landlords and high rents. They sought reduced revenue, 'begar' abolition, and social boycott of landlords, viewing Swaraj as liberation from exploitation. Their struggle often turned violent, diverging from Gandhian ideals. Plantation workers in Assam defied the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, seeking free movement and return to their villages, believing 'Gandhi Raj' meant freedom. Their struggle ended brutally, intercepted and beaten before reaching home. Each group interpreted Swaraj differently, driving their participation despite unique challenges.