Why did Mahatma Gandhi feel the need to launch a more broad-hased movement in India ? How did he achieve this object ?
(A) The reason for a more broad-based movement was that the Rowlatt Satyagraha had been a widespread movement but it was mostly limited to cities and towns. (B) Gandhiji achieved his object in the way as mentioned below : Gandhiji felt that a more broad-based movement could not be organised without bringing Hindu-Muslim unity. (a) One way of achieving Hindu-Muslim unity was to take up the Khilafat issue. (b) After the defeat of Turkey in World War I there were rumours that harsh terms would be imposed on the emperor of Turkey who was also the Khalifa or the spiritual head of the Muslims. (c) The Indian Muslims decided to defend the temporal powers of the Khalifa. id) Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali — two brothers, met Gandhiji who saw this as an opportunity to bring two communities closer and start a unified national movement. Congress sessions at Calcutta and Nagpur: (a) In the special session of the Congress at Calcutta in September 1920, inspite of opposition of some leaders, Gandhiji convinced leaders to start a Non-Cooperation Movement in support of Khilafat as well as for swaraj. (b) However, many within the Congress were reluctant to boycott the council elections scheduled for November 1920, and they feared that the movement might lead to violence. (c) But finally at Nagpur session in December 1920, a compromise between two Congress groups was worked out and the Non-Cooperation programme was adopted in support of Khilafat as well as for Swaraj.
