Question

Name the two groups into which the Congress was divided after the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement. State the differences between them.

Answer 1

The Non-cooperation movement (1920-1922) started after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, by the Congress under Gandhi's guidance. The purpose of this movement was to protest in opposition to the repressive policies of the British and to achieve self-government. The Non-cooperation movement was successful and was only in its final phases when the Chauri Chaura episode happened, where 22 policemen were killed after peasants attacked and burnt the police station. This event disgusted Gandhi as he was against violence with no exceptions.

The two groups into which the Congress divided after the Non-cooperation movement were the pro-changers and the no-changers.

The pro-changers group wanted to terminate the prohibition of elections to Legislative Councils. They felt that the conformation of the system was only possible by competing elections and gaining access to the legislature. It had leaders like Motial Nehru, Vithalbhai Patel and C R Das.

The no-changers group initiated a new party with the same Swaraj Party, in order to work as a group inside the Congress. They entered the legislature  through elections and made it inconvenient and hard for the British to get their policies passed. Its leaders were Rajendra Prasad, C Rajagopalachari, and Vallabhbhai Patel.