Non-Cooperation Movement in Assam

Context After the end of the First World War in 1918 AD, there was a strong reaction against British imperialism in Assam like many other places in India centered around the Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Montagu Chelmsford Reforms debate etc. In this situation, on April 17, 1920, Gandhi called for the first boycott of government educational institutions, offices, courts and for Hindu-Muslim unity and alliance in the All India Khilafat Conference. However, Hindu-Muslim relations were bitter in Surma Valley at that time due to various reasons. But with the wave of the Khilafat movement, the relations between the two communities started to normalize. Abdul Ghafoor, Navin Chandra Bardolai, Tarunram Phukan, Chandranath Sharma, Syed Sadullah etc. leaders paved the way for the start of non-cooperation movement in Assam by creating an atmosphere of communal unity and harmony in Assam.

Program of the Non-Cooperation Movement Negative and Positive In the special session of the National Congress held in Calcutta in September 1920 under the presidency of Lala Lajpatrai, the Khasra Program of the Non-Cooperation Movement was presented and adopted in the Nagpur session of the Congress held in December 1920. The negative program of the movement included relinquishment of titles, titles, posts, etc. granted by the British government, boycott of government meetings, courts, schools and colleges and boycott of foreign goods. And positive programs included the establishment of national educational institutions, the wearing of khadi cloth produced by handlooms and spinning wheels, the abolition of untouchability, the establishment of Hindu-Muslim unity, the establishment of arbitration boards for dispute settlement and, above all, the establishment of Swaraj.

NATURE OF NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT IN ASSAM The Assam Association founded in 1903 was the only important organization in Assam on the eve of the Non-Cooperation Movement. Disagreement arose among the members of the Assam Association over the question of joining the Non-Cooperation Movement. Finally, in the conference of Assam Association held at Tezpur on 26-28 December 1920, a majority vote was taken to join the Non-Cooperation Movement. While there was controversy in the Brahmaputra valley over the question of joining the Non-Cooperation Movement, there was no controversy in the Surma valley. Hindus and Muslims in the Surma valley spontaneously joined the non-cooperation movement.

The non-cooperation movement created great enthusiasm and enthusiasm in Assam. Bagmi Chandranath Sharma, Hemchandra Barua, Amiyakumar Barua, Muhbuddin Ahmed etc. organized the students and youth of Brahmaputra valley and started the movement. Many students from Cotton College and other educational institutions also participated in the non-cooperation movement without any hesitation by quitting their studies. Similarly, many students from other educational institutions including Murari Chand College of Surma Valley came out and joined the non-cooperation movement as volunteers and were initiated into the mantra of establishing Swaraj. Besides, many national educational institutions were established as part of the positive program of non-cooperation movement in places like Guwahati, Nalbari, Jorhat, Tezpur, Shibsagar, Nowgao in Brahmaputra valley and Karimganj, Silchar, Rajnagar, Moulvibazar, etc. in Surma-Barak valley. Eminent young lawyers Chandranath Sharma, Navin Chandra Bardolai, Krishnanath Sharma, Kuldhar Chaliha, Tarunram Phukan etc. joined the Non-Cooperation Movement by boycotting the British courts. Similarly Mahendra Chandra Biswas, Kamini Kumar Chand of Surma Valley left the legal profession and joined the Congress party as full-time workers.

Establishment of the Assam Provincial Congress, Gandhiji's visit to Assam and the momentum of the Non-Cooperation Movement On 5 June 1921, the Assam Provincial Congress Committee was formed.  As a result, the Assam Association dissolved into the Congress and the All-India Non-Cooperation Movement, initiated by the Assam Congress, swept across the Brahmaputra Valley.  From 18-30 August 1921 Gandhiji visited Assam and gave speeches in cities like Gauhati, Naogaon, Tezpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh etc.  Despite the non-cooperation and obstruction of the British authorities, the imposition of Article 144, etc., thousands of people attended every public meeting called by Gandhiji and at the end of the meeting, set fire to foreign goods and clothes.  Chabagan workers also showed their support for the non-cooperation movement in public meetings at Tezpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh etc.  As a result of Gandhiji's visit to Assam, Nooruddin Ahmad Khan Bahadur dropped his title, 19 lawyers left the legal profession, and many Guwahati businessmen stopped selling Bilati textiles.

Prince-of-Wales came to India to quell the raging tide of non-cooperation movement. A strike was observed in Guwahati on November 17, 1921, in sync with the entire country. During the Non-Cooperation Movement, payment of land revenue to the British Government was stopped in some parts of Assam. Police clashed with protesters in Naogao, Jorhat, Tinsukia, Yamunamukh etc.

On the basis of non-cooperation movement, 8,799 workers from 13 chabagans of Chargola and Longai valley of Karimganj subdivision gathered at Chandpur station on May 2, 1921 shouting "Mahatma Gandhiji Jai" to return home. But about 300 workers died due to police brutality and cholera attacks. This incident is known as 'Chandpur Tragedy' in history. A four-day hartal was observed in Sylhet to protest the incident and the Assam-Bengal Railway and steamer services were stopped for some time.

Conclusion The people of Assam united with the All India struggle through the Non-Cooperation Movement.  Many people of Assam abstained from alcohol, opium and khadi and started wearing khadi cloth.  As a result of the non-cooperation movement, Khadi textile manufacturing centers were established at Guwahati, Barpeta, etc., 38 national schools were established throughout Assam in 1921-22, and a large number of students participated in the non-cooperation movement out of which about 15,000 students never returned to educational institutions.  The women of Assam also participated in large numbers at the call of Gandhiji which was an unprecedented event in the history of Assam.

But when the country was gradually moving towards the goal of Swaraj, on February 5, 1922, the agitators killed 25 policemen and 1 constable on fire in Chowrichura, Uttar Pradesh, and Gandhi withdrew the non-cooperation movement on February 12, 1922.  After the withdrawal of the non-cooperation movement, the British government started a severe repression in Assam.  According to an unofficial count, 996 people were arrested from the Brahmaputra valley till March 22, 1922.  Areas where revenue was less collected during the movement like Boko, Patharughat, Barnagar etc. started to collect revenue ruthlessly again and peasants were pushed to the face of inevitable destruction.