Mains Daily Question
Nov. 22, 2021

Civil Disobedience Movement was a step ahead of Non Cooperation movement in many respects. Discuss.

Model Answer

Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) was launched by Gandhiji in 1930 on the issue of defiance of repressive salt law. It continued till 1934 and left and indelible mark on the Indian National Movement.

How CDM was a step ahead of Non Cooperation movement (NCM) :-

  • The philosophy behind CDM was not just non-cooperation with the British government, but active defiance of unjust laws. NCM’s underlying philosophy was just non cooperation with the British government.

  • CDM saw unprecedented participation of women , they took out processions, picketed liquor shops etc. In other words, the movement brought them out of the private sphere in public sphere.

  • The participation of masses in rural areas was far ahead than in NCM, illegal making of salt and its distribution became a national activity.

  • CDM put forward the demand of ‘Purna Swaraj’ or complete independence from British rule, NCM was vague in its definition of self rule.

  • CDM gave birth to many other movements like anti-chowkidara tax agitation, anti-Union Board movement, defiance of forest laws in Central India, Karnataka etc.

  • Though these movements were based on local and regional issues, the essence and strategy behind these movements was based on CDM. These movements helped to link local issues with national issues and thus made CDM hugely popular.

  • The number of people who went to jail was around 90,000 which was 3 times that of NCM.

CDM marked an important stage in the national fight for freedom from British rule. It put forward the demand of Poorna Swaraj on the national plane, which meant that there could be no retreat now. 

Subjects : Modern History
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