Motivation behind the two movements was provided by a series of events after World War I, which belied all hopes of government’s generosity towards Indian subjects.

• Economic situation in the post-War period: Almost all sections of society suffered economic hardship due to the war, and this strengthened anti-British attitude.
• Enhanced Repression: Rowlatt Act, Imposition of martial law in Punjab and Jallianwala Bagh massacre exposed brutal & uncivilised face of the foreign rule.
• Injustice of Hunter Committee on Punjab atrocities proved to be an eyewash.
• Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms with their ill-conceived scheme of dyarchy failed to satisfy the rising demand of the Indians for self-government.
• Other events brought Hindu and Muslim communities closer to launch movements.
  • Lucknow Pact (1916) stimulated Congress-Muslim League cooperation.
  • Rowlatt Act agitation brought Hindus and Muslims, and other sections of society, together.
  • Radical nationalist Muslims like Muhammad Ali, Abul Kalam Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and Hasan Imam had now become more influential than the conservative Aligarh school elements who had dominated the League earlier.

Khilafat Issue

Muslims were angered by the treatment meted out to Turkey by the British after World War I. Muslims in India, like Muslims all over the world, regarded the Sultan of Turkey as their spiritual leader, Khalifa, so naturally, their sympathies were with Turkey. During the war, Turkey allied with Germany and Austria against the British. When the war ended, the British took a stern attitude towards Turkey—Turkey was dismembered and Khalifa was removed from power. This incensed Muslims all over the world.

Indian Muslims demanded from the British:

• Khalifa’s control over Muslim sacred places should be retained.
• Khalifa should be left with sufficient territories after territorial arrangements.

Khilafat Committee

A committee was formed under the leadership of Ali’s brothers (Shaukat Ali and Muhammad Ali), Maulana Azad, Ajmal Khan and Hasrat Mohani.

Congress & Khilafat Movement

• Gandhi (head of Khilafat committee) was in favour of launching Satyagraha and Non-Cooperation against the government on Khilafat issue. However, Congress was not united on this form of political action.
• Tilak was opposed to having an alliance with Muslim leaders over religious issues and sceptical of satyagraha as an instrument of politics. Gandhi made a concerted bid to convince Tilak of the virtues of satyagraha and the expediency of an alliance with Muslim community over Khilafat issue.
• There was opposition to some of the other provisions of Gandhi’s non-cooperation program like a boycott of councils.
• Gandhi in the end was able to convince Congress and the latter also obliged the same because:
  • It was felt that this was a golden opportunity to cement Hindu-Muslim unity and to bring Muslim masses into the National movement.
  • Congress was losing faith in constitutional struggle, especially after the Punjab incidents and the blatantly partisan Hunter Committee Report.
  • Congress was aware that the masses were eager to give expression to their discontent.
• Muslim league decided to give full support to Congress for the cause.

Organisational Changes in Congress

• Some important organisational changes were made:
  • Congress working committee (CWC) of 15 members was set up to lead Congress from now onwards.
  • A provincial congress committee on a linguistic basis were organized.
  • Ward committees were organized.
  • Entry fee was reduced to four annas.
• Gandhi declared that if the non-cooperation program was implemented completely, swaraj would be ushered in within a year.
• Many groups of revolutionary terrorists, especially those from Bengal, also pledged support to the Congress program.
• Organized by Mahatma Gandhi to induce British government of India to grant self-government, or swaraj, to India. It was one of Gandhi’s first organized acts of large-scale civil disobedience.

Events that led to Non-Cooperation Movement

• Indians were dissatisfied with GOI Act 1919 as they were expecting autonomy at the end of World War-I in return for their support to the British.
• Peasants suffered as the prices of agricultural products did not increase.
• Faith in the British system of justice was broken due to Rowlatt Act, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and Hunter Committee.
• Khilafat issue played an important part in launching the NCM.
• Droughts, epidemics, and high inflation also contributed to their unpopularity.
• Gandhi launched NCM on 1^st of August 1920. Nagpur Session of Congress clearly defined the objective and the steps of NCM. It had adopted the aim of ‘Swaraj.’ Lala Lajpat Rai also passed away on the same day.

New Direction to India’s Freedom Struggle

• Was a mass movement it reached from Indian peasants, workers, artisans, shopkeepers, and traders to professionals.
• Became the first contact for many of them with nationalist politics and the ideology of nationalism.
• Poor people, by their courage, sacrifice, and fortitude in the face of adversity, dispelled the notion that the desire for national freedom was the preserve of the educated and rich. Now freedom became an elemental urge common to all.
•  Hindus and Muslims both participated, thereby bridging the gap caused due to British policies.
• Contributed to the rise of local movements. Ex. In Assam, labourers on tea plantations went on strike. Defiance of forest laws becomes popular in Andhra.
• Commanded the strength and sympathy of vast sections of society. Even after its withdrawal, a different line of political activities came up to keep up the spirit of resistance, and it gave a new direction to India’s freedom struggle.
• Both constructive and destructive programs were included.