Calcutta Congress Session of 1920

The Special Session of the Indian National Congress held in Calcutta in September 1920 stands as a pivotal turning point in India’s political trajectory. Convened specifically to formulate a unified response to colonial policies after World War I, this session formally approved Mahatma Gandhi’s resolution on the Non-Cooperation Movement. Presided over by Lala Lajpat Rai, the convention marked an official transition in the national strategy, shifting away from constitutional petitions toward extra-constitutional mass agitational methods.

Historical Background and Catalysts

The session was summoned in the backdrop of widespread public outrage across British India. A series of coercive colonial actions and unfulfilled wartime promises created severe discontent among the masses and political leaders.

• Rowlatt Act of 1919: The Imperial Legislative Council passed the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, enabling indefinite detention without trial and judicial review.
• Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: General Reginald Dyer opened fire on an unarmed gathering in Amritsar on April 13, 1919. The official Hunter Committee report failed to take stern penal action against responsible officers, destroying Indian faith in British justice.
• Khilafat Issue: Indian Muslims felt betrayed by the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire under the Treaty of Sèvres in August 1920, which stripped the Ottoman Sultan of his authority as the Caliph (Khalifa).
• Passage of Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms: The Government of India Act 1919 failed to grant real self-determination, offering a flawed system of dyarchy in the provinces.

Leadership and Political Alignments

The proposal for non-cooperation sparked intense debates among Congress stalwarts. Gandhi secured support by allying with Muslim leaders of the Khilafat Committee, such as the Ali Brothers (Shaukat Ali and Mohammad Ali), and winning over key leaders like Motilal Nehru.

Major Resolutions and Action Programme

Mahatma Gandhi moved the primary resolution on Non-Cooperation, which passed by a majority of votes. The resolution framed a comprehensive programme of surrender, boycott, and constructive work.

• Surrender of Titles: Voluntary relinquishment of government-conferred titles, honors, and honorary offices.
• Educational Boycott: Withdrawal of students and teachers from government-controlled schools, colleges, and aided institutions, alongside the creation of independent national educational institutions.
• Judicial Boycott: Abstention by lawyers and litigants from government law courts, replacing them with community-based arbitration courts or local Panchayats.
• Legislative Boycott: Boycott of upcoming elections to the reformed legislative councils mandated by the Government of India Act 1919.
• Economic Boycott: Boycott of foreign cloth and imported manufactured goods, accompanied by the promotion of hand-spinning through Charkha and hand-woven Khadi.

The Declaration on Swaraj

During his speech on the resolution, Mahatma Gandhi declared that if the country implemented the Non-Cooperation programme with full discipline and non-violence, Swaraj could be attained within one year. Chittaranjan Das and several other leaders expressed skepticism regarding this time-bound prediction, but bowed to party discipline once the vote passed.

Impact and Aftermath

The Calcutta session provided the initial mandate for Gandhi’s non-violent mass movement. Although leaders like C.R. Das originally resisted the boycott of legislative councils, they abided by the majority vote and refrained from contesting the November 1920 elections. The decisions taken at Calcutta were subsequently ratified and expanded at the regular annual session of the Congress held at Nagpur in December 1920 under the presidency of C. Vijayaraghavachariar. At Nagpur, C.R. Das himself moved the main resolution on Non-Cooperation, demonstrating complete organizational alignment behind Mahatma Gandhi.

Facts for Quick Revision

• The Calcutta Session of September 1920 was a Special Session of the Indian National Congress.
• Lala Lajpat Rai served as the President of this special convention.
• Mahatma Gandhi moved the historic Non-Cooperation resolution during this session.
• The primary grievances addressed were the Punjab wrongs (Jallianwala Bagh massacre), the Khilafat issue, and the demand for Swaraj.
• Motilal Nehru and the Ali Brothers were key backers of Gandhi’s resolution.
• Chittaranjan Das, Annie Besant, Madan Mohan Malaviya, and Bipin Chandra Pal initially opposed the resolution.
• Annie Besant left active participation in the Congress due to her fundamental opposition to non-cooperation methods.
• The session called for boycotting foreign goods, government schools, law courts, legislative councils, and official honors.
• Mahatma Gandhi promised the attainment of Swaraj within one year if the non-cooperation program succeeded completely.
• The resolution passed at Calcutta was ratified at the Nagpur Annual Session in December 1920.