‘Non-cooperation became the epoch in the life of India and of Gandhiji‘. Justify this statement with examples.

OR

Buried under the debris of the violence and pain of Indian partition is an enormous history of help, humanity & harmony’. Explain

The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched in 1920 by Gandhiji. It became an epoch in the life of India and of Gandhiji.

1. The movement saw the participation of people from all walks of life. Students stopped attending schools, colleges; lawyers refused to attend law courts. The working class also went on strike and refused to pay taxes.

2. It was a voluntary movement that asked people to renunciate any association with the British government. For the first time, it involved 600,000 workers. Thus, it was a mass-based movement.

3. The movement was widespread and even the farmers and peasants also called to non-cooperate. Hill tribes violated the forest laws, farmers refused to pay taxes, peasants refused to carry loads. Thus, they defied the orders of British.

4. It was a peaceful movement that entailed denial, renunciation, and self-discipline. It was the first step towards self-rule.

5. Non-cooperation was a much wider and popular movement in terms of participation, both Hindus and Muslims, Khilafat and Non-cooperation, emerged as a challenge to British imperialism like never before under his leadership.

6. The movement was so strong and appealing that it shook the foundations of British Raj. It unified the whole of India against the oppressive colonial rule.

7. A new and strong leadership under Mahatma Gandhi emerged. It gave new confidence to the common people and the hope of a better future.

OR

The Indian partition was brutal and painful. It tarnished the lives of thousands of people on both sides of the border. there was unprecedented genocidal violence and migration, thousands of lives were snuffed out and the map of India changed dramatically. Yet apart from these harrowing experiences, the partition also records an enormous history of help, humanity, and harmony. There were several instances where people left behind their religious identities and worked selflessly to bring peace and establish harmony with members of other religious communities. Their efforts helped to build trust and confidence among Hindus and Muslims.

• A Sikh doctor, Khushadeva Singh posted at Dharampur provided a healing touch, food, shelter, love, and security to numerous migrants, irrespective of their religious affiliation. This led people to develop faith and confidence in his humanity and generosity.

• His memoir Love is Stronger than Hate: A Remembrance of 1947 describes his work as humble efforts to discharge duty as a human being to fellow human beings.

• Abdul Latif, a librarian in the history department of Punjab University was another such person which proved to be a source of humanity. He worked meticulously apart from performing his duty. For him, it was his way of returning his father’s debt which once took the help of a Hindu mai and saved his life. Thus, for Abdul, religion was not a priority rather helping others was.

The memory of partition is still daunting but these accounts of humanity gave us some relief. Apart from these efforts made at the individual level, Gandhiji was a prime figure who led a march towards peace and visited riot-stricken places on foot to bring peace among the communities.