Context
Recently, 100 years have passed since the Chauri Chaura incident which took place on February 4, 1922 at Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur district of British India.
About ‘Chauri Chaura’ Incident
- The incident took place on 4 February 1922 at Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur district of the United Province.
- A large group of protesters participating in the Non-Cooperation Movement clashed with police who opened fire.
- In retaliation the demonstrators attacked and set fire to a police station, killing all of its occupants.
- The incident led to the death of three civilians and 22 policemen.
- Mahatma Gandhi, who was strictly against violence, halted the non-co-operation movement on the national level on 12 February 1922, as a direct result of this incident.
Background
- In the early 1920s, Indians, led by Mahatma Gandhi, were engaged in a nationwide non-cooperation movement.
- Using non-violent methods of civil disobedience known as Satyagraha, protests were organised by the INC to challenge oppressive regulations such as the Rowlatt Act.
- Two days before the incident, On 2 February 1922, Non-cooperation Movement was led by a retired Army soldier Bhagwan Ahir against high food prices and liquor sale.
- The protestors were beaten by the local police and several leaders were imprisoned at the Chauri Chaura police station.
- In response to this incident, around 2,000 to 2,500 protesters assembled at Chauri Chaura, Gorakhpur district of the United Province, British India (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India) and began marching towards the market on 4 February 1922.
- They picketed a liquor shop following which their leader was beaten and imprisoned.
- Several of the leaders were arrested and put in the lock-up at the Chauri Chaura police station.
- To control the situation, the sub-inspector in charge ordered the police to open fire on the advancing crowd-- killing three and injuring others. In the ensuing chaos, the heavily outnumbered police get back to the police station while the angry mob advanced and set the police station ablaze, killing all of its occupants.
- The incident resulted in the death of 22 policemen.
- In view of this incident, Martial law was imposed by the British administration in and around the Chauri Chaura area.
- Raids were also conducted and hundreds of people were arrested in response to the killing of policemen.
- On 12 February 1922, reacting upon the incident, Mahatma Gandhi halted the non-cooperation movement at the national level.
- In connection with the incident, Mahatma Gandhi was also arrested and sentenced to six years of imprisonment. However, he was later released on grounds of ill health in February 1924.
- A total of 228 people were brought to trial on charges of 'rioting and arson' in relation to the Chauri Chaura incident. Out of the said number, 6 people died in police custody while 172 were sentenced to death by hanging.
- This led to widespread protests and Indian Communist leader M.N. Roy termed it as 'legalised murder' and called for a general strike of the Indian workers.
- On 20 April 1923, the Allahabad High Court reviewed the death verdicts.
- 19 death sentences were confirmed by the Court while 110 were sentenced imprisonment for life and others were sentenced to long jail terms.
Aftermath
- Appalled at the outrage, Gandhi went on a five-day fast as penance for what he perceived as his culpability in the bloodshed.
- In reflection, Gandhi felt that he had acted too hastily in encouraging people to revolt against the British Raj without sufficiently emphasizing the importance of non-violence.
- On 12 February 1922, the Indian National Congress halted the Non-co-operation Movement on the national level as a direct result of the Chauri Chaura tragedy.
