THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT

Abstract

The history of Indian freedom movement would be incomplete without mentioning the contributions of women. The Non-cooperation movement was a significant phase of the Indian struggle for freedom from British rule. Many women participated in this movement by performing their domestic and social roles. Sarla Devi, Muthulaxmi Reddy, Susheela Nair, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Sucheta Kripalani and Aruna Asaf Ali are some the women who participated in the Non - violent Non- cooperation movement. Kastruba Gandhi, Kamla Nehru, Vijayalakshmi Pandit and Swarup Rani also participated in the national movement, Lado Rani Zutshi and her daughters Manmohini, Shyama and Janak led the movement in Lahore. Women, literate and illiterate, rural and urban swelled the ranks of the freedom fighters, took over positions of responsibility, courted imprisionment, and were arrested in large numbers. It was in the political struggle against imperialism (British rule) that Indian women began actively participating in life outside the home. The participation of women legitimised the Indian National Congress. Women marched and picketed in sex-segregated groups, usually wearing distinctive orange or white saries to emphaises their purity and sacrifice. Women won great respect for their political work and social benefits followed. Women's in activities validated Indian unity and Satyagraha. The Non-cooperation movement (Ashahyog Andolan) was the next major event in the Indian struggle for freedom after the First war of Independence in 1857. Non-cooperation means refusal to assist the Government which did not listen to the people's just grievances and had in their view became corrupt. If the Government persistently refuses to cooperate with the people, the people in turn should refuse to co-operate with the Government. This meant not to extent cooperation to British rules and abstain from violence. The entire history of the freedom movement is replete with the saga of bravery, sacrifice and political sagacity of great men and women of the country1. During Non-cooperation movement women started participating in the national movement on a large scale. They had the support of many nationalist political leaders. In the Non-cooperation movement women in the different parts of the country joined the processions, organized Prabhat Ppheris, took part in the Satyagraha campaigns, organized demonstrations in front of liquor shops and foreign cloth shops propagated use of Khadi and Charka, some of them left Government schools and colleges. Thus, it encouraged nationalism and patriotism amongst the people. Mahatma Gandhi returned to Indian from South Africa in 1915 and took up the demand for self-rule and Non- cooperation movement. The Role of Women in the No-Cooperation Movement (1921-1922):