National Movements in UP

UP’s Role in Mass Movements

Uttar Pradesh was not just a participant but a driving force in every major mass movement of the Indian freedom struggle. Its large population, strong Congress organization, and deep-rooted grievances against British rule made it the most active province in each phase of the national movement.

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Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922)

Launched by Mahatma Gandhi in August 1920, the Non-Cooperation Movement was the first truly mass movement against British rule.

Background

• The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13 April 1919) shattered faith in British justice
• The Khilafat issue (Turkey’s Ottoman Caliphate dismantled) angered Indian Muslims
• Gandhi combined Khilafat and Swaraj demands to build Hindu-Muslim unity

Programme in UP

• Boycott of schools and colleges: Students left government institutions in large numbers across Lucknow, Allahabad, and Varanasi
• Boycott of courts: Many lawyers including Motilal Nehru gave up their lucrative practices
• Boycott of legislative councils: UP leaders refused to participate in elections
• Boycott of foreign cloth: Bonfires of imported textiles held in cities across UP
• Promotion of khadi: Spinning wheels distributed in villages
• Surrender of titles: Several UP taluqdars returned their British-given titles

UP’s Participation

• UP had the highest number of arrests during the Non-Cooperation Movement
• Jawaharlal Nehru was first arrested in December 1921 in Allahabad
• Motilal Nehru donated his mansion Anand Bhawan for Congress use
• The Awadh peasant movement (Baba Ramchandra) merged with Non-Cooperation energy
• Women came out in large numbers for the first time in UP, picketing liquor shops

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Chauri Chaura Incident (1922)

This single event in UP changed the course of the entire national movement.

Gandhi’s Response

• Gandhi was deeply disturbed by the violence
• He called off the entire Non-Cooperation Movement on 12 February 1922
• This shocked Congress leaders like Motilal Nehru, C.R. Das, and Subhas Chandra Bose
• Many argued that the movement was at its peak and should not have been withdrawn

Aftermath

• 228 people were put on trial; 172 sentenced to death (later commuted for most)
• The withdrawal led to formation of the Swaraj Party (1923) by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru
• It established Gandhi’s principle: non-violence was non-negotiable

Chauri Chaura remains one of the most debated events in Indian history — a single act of violence in a UP village halted a nationwide revolution.

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Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1934)

Launched after the Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) resolution at the Lahore Congress (31 December 1929), this movement was more organized and radical than Non-Cooperation.

Salt March and UP

• While Gandhi’s famous Dandi March (12 March - 6 April 1930) was in Gujarat, UP conducted its own salt law violations
• Peasants in eastern UP made salt from local sources in defiance of the salt tax
• No-tax campaigns were launched in several UP districts, refusing to pay land revenue

Key Activities in UP

Notable UP Leaders in CDM

• Jawaharlal Nehru arrested multiple times (spent 1930-1931 largely in jail)
• Kamala Nehru (Jawaharlal’s wife) led processions in Allahabad despite poor health
• Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (Nehru’s sister) actively organized women’s protests
• Purushottam Das Tandon led the movement in Allahabad

Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931)

• Movement temporarily suspended after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (5 March 1931)
• Resumed in 1932 after the failure of the Second Round Table Conference
• Finally called off in 1934

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Individual Satyagraha (1940-1941)

After the failure of negotiations following the outbreak of World War II, Gandhi launched a limited Individual Satyagraha movement.

• In UP, Congress workers were individually chosen to make anti-war statements
• The movement was deliberately restrained — it was a moral protest, not a mass agitation
• Hundreds of UP Congress workers were arrested over the following months

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Quit India Movement (1942)

The most intense and violent mass movement of the freedom struggle.

UP — A Major Theatre

With all major leaders in prison, the movement was carried forward by local leaders and common people. UP witnessed some of the most intense resistance.

Ballia — The “Liberated” District

• Chittu Pandey, a local Congress leader, led a mass uprising in Ballia district
• Protesters captured the district jail and freed all political prisoners
• For a brief period, Ballia functioned as a parallel government with Indian administration
• The British had to send military reinforcements to recapture Ballia
• This was one of the few instances where British authority was completely overthrown in a district

Underground Activities

• Underground radio stations operated from UP, broadcasting anti-British messages
• Usha Mehta ran the famous Congress Radio; UP had relay stations
• Students organized secret networks to distribute leaflets and coordinate strikes
• Railway lines and telegraph wires were cut in several UP districts
• Post offices and government buildings were attacked

Repression

• The British response was extremely harsh:
  • Mass arrests (thousands imprisoned in UP alone)
  • Aerial strafing of protesters reported in some areas
  • Villages collectively fined for harboring rebels
  • Press censorship imposed; newspapers shut down
  • Martial law effectively imposed in several districts

Other UP Centres of Resistance

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Impact of the Movements on UP

The three major movements progressively radicalized UP’s population:

Each movement left behind a stronger organizational network and a more politically aware populace, making UP the backbone of the national movement.

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Key Takeaways

• Chauri Chaura (5 Feb 1922, Gorakhpur) led Gandhi to call off Non-Cooperation — 22 policemen killed
• UP had the highest arrests during Non-Cooperation; Nehru family was central
• Civil Disobedience saw salt law violations and no-tax campaigns across UP
• Quit India (1942): Ballia briefly “liberated” under Chittu Pandey
• Underground radio stations and sabotage operations ran from UP during Quit India
• Each successive movement deepened mass political participation in UP

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Summary Cheat Sheet