International Multidisciplinary e –Journal. Author: Dr. Manas Kumar Das. (62-69)
Non-Cooperation Movement in Odisha
Dr. Manas Kumar Das
Lecturer in History
KIIT School of Science
KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Introduction
The Non-Cooperation movement was a significant landmark in the history of freedom
movement in India. It was the first mass movement which had stirred the British authorities
in India. Until the outbreak of the First World War, Gandhiji had complete faith in the justice
and honesty of the English Government.1 Therefore, he made an appeal to the people of India
for cooperation during the First World war but just after the end of this war some events like
Rowlatt Act, Jalianawala Bagh Massacre and Khilafat movement etc. occurred in the political
sphere of India which made Mahatma Gandhi to doubt about the integrity of the British
Government and he declared a non-violent movement against it.2 India's struggle for freedom
had its impact on Odisha, The people of Odisha also actively took part in the Non-cooperation Movement. Their enthusiasm was profound. They plunged into the freedom
struggle with enthusiasm and daringness. The participation of Gopabandhu Das in the Indian
National Congress inspired the people of Odisha to join in the movement. Gandhiji's visit to
Odisha in 1921 galvanized the congressional movement. The Non-Cooperation Movement
assured the attention of millions of people in Odisha. From this time onwards, participation of
the people of Odisha in freedom struggle of India became vigorous.
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International Multidisciplinary e –Journal. Author: Dr. Manas Kumar Das. (62-69)
Gopabandhu Das and Non-Cooperation movement in Odisha
It is pertinent to note that in the Calcutta session of 1920, Gandhiji’s proposal on NonCo-operation was accepted by and large. In the Nagpur session of the National Congress too
it received over-whelming support3. In the Calcutta session of Indian National Congress,
Gopabandhu Das had participated. After his return from the Calcutta session, Gopabandhu
dreamt of spreading the message of Non-Co-operation throughout Odisha in order to make
the movement successful. The Nagpur session of the Indian National Congress, held in
December 1920, finally passed the Non-Cooperation resolution.4 it was attended by a number
of delegates like Gopabandhu Das, Mukunda Prasad Das, Niranjan Pattnaik and Harekrushna
Mahatab. This session of the congress decided to form the Provincial Congress Committee on
linguistic basis. As a result a separate Provincial Congress was formed for Odisha although
Odisha was not a separate province at that time. So, the first Pradesh Congress Committee
was set up in Odisha under his presidentship and Bhagirathi Mohapatra was selected as the
Secretatary.5 In 1921 Dr. Ekram Rasool was elected as its Vice-President who had formed a
Khilafat Committee with regard to Khilafat movement in Odisha.6 As per the Non-cooperation Movement's proposal, the Odisha Pradesh Congress took up the programmes of the
Non-Cooperation movement of India. This movement was a bit of difference from the other
movements which had so far emerged in India. It had a two-fold programme;
(1) First part dealt with the boycott of the foreign goods and
(2) The second part contained the solution of the problems which emanated from the boycott.
The Non-cooperation movement had the following programmes:
(1) The first part includes :
Surrender of all titles, Honours and government posts.
Boycott of all functions organized by the British government.
Boycott of Government schools and colleges by the students and teachers.
Boycott of courts by lawyers and judges.
Boycott of foreign liquor
Boycott of all foreign articles etc.
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International Multidisciplinary e –Journal. Author: Dr. Manas Kumar Das. (62-69)
(2) The second part includes:
Establishment of National Schools.
Formation of Nyaya Panchayats.
Development of small scale industries
Use of Swadeshi goods.
Development of Communal amity.
End of untouchability and caste system
Adoption of non-violence throughout the country etc.
In this connection, Gopabandhu asked the people of Odisha to spread the message of
Mahatma Gandhi Non-Co-operation to every nook and corner of Odisha.7 He nominated
several leaders like Bhagirathi Mohapatra for Cuttack Sadar, Krupasindhu Mishra for Puri
district, Harekrushna Mahatab for Balasore, Niranjan Pattanayak for Ganjam, Nilakantha Das
for Sambalpur, to carry out the Non-co-operation Movement programmes in their respective
areas.8
Visit of Mahatma Gandhi to Odisha
Gandhiji visited Odisha in 1921 in order to make the Non-co-operation movement
popular in Odisha. He reached Cuttack On 23 March 1921 and on the sandy bed of the
Kathjuri.river addressed a huge mass.9 He visited different places like Bhadrak, Puri and
Berhampur and addressed thousands of people and created an unfathomable enthusiasm in
them. Here, Gandhiji laid stress on the use of Khadi, the significance of the spinning wheel
and the use of Swadeshi goods. The people of Odisha contributed openhandedly to the Tilak
Swaraj Fund. Even women who were confined to the four walls of the house came forward
and gave away their ornaments. They blew conches and beat other instruments to welcome
Gandhiji amidst the cries of 'Gandhiji Ki Jai'. This impulsive enthusiasm gave a boost to the
Non co-operation Movement in Odisha and Gandhiji as well.10
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International Multidisciplinary e –Journal. Author: Dr. Manas Kumar Das. (62-69)
Programmes Non-Cooperation carried out in Odisha
The two-fold programmes declared by the Indian National Congress for the NonCooperation movement were fully adopted in Odisha by the general mass as well as the
members of the Odisha Pradesh Committee which are given bellow:
Boycott of educational institutions
This was started with the students boycotting British run educational institutions
under the leadership of Jagannath Misra, Laxmi Narayan Misra and Nrusingh Guru of the
Sambalpur district school. Many students left study and joined the Non-co-operation
Movement with great enthusiasm. After this, the students from the Cuttack, Puri and Balasore
districts left school and jumped into the fray. 11 Students of Ravenshaw College also gave up
classes. Distinguished leaders of later years like Harekrushana Mahatab, Naba Krishna
Choudhury, Nityananda Kanungo, Jadumani Mangaraj also gave up studies and joined this
movement. Not only this, Odisha set up national schools.
Opening of Satyabadi Bakula Bana VidyaJaya and national schools
Under the leadership of Gopabandhu Das the 'Satyabadi Bakula Bana Vidyalaya'
was established at Sakshigopal near Puri. National schools were then set up at Cuttack,
Chakradharpur, Berhampur, Balasore, Basta, Soro, Parlakhemundi. On the other hand, the
'Utkal Swaraj Sikhsha Parishad' was established at Cuttack.
Establishment of different Ashrams
In order to give training to workers to participate in the Non-co-operation movement
and for giving them shelter, different Ashrams were set up at different places of Odisha. The
earliest of its kind was the Swaraj Ashram at Cuttack. Gopabandhu Chowdhury took the
initiative in establishing the Alaka Ashram at Jagatsinghpur. Karunakar Panigrahi and
Harekrushna Mahatab set up the Swaraj Mandir at Balasore. 12 In a similar vein several other
Ashrams were set up at Bhadrak, Soro, Puri and Sakshigopal. To coordinate the activities of
students participating in the movement, the Swaraj Sevak Sangh was established at Cuttack
and other places of Odisha.
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International Multidisciplinary e –Journal. Author: Dr. Manas Kumar Das. (62-69)
Resignation British Government servants from service
As per the programme of the Non-Cooperation movement, the Government servants
gave up their titles and resigned from their posts. In this regard, Gopabandhu Chowdhury
spearheaded the move by resigning from the post of Deputy Magistrate of Baragarh. Purna
Chandra Das and Raghunath Misra resigned from government schools and gave up
teachership. Kshetra Mohan Mohanty and Hari Charan Mohanty gave up their clerical posts.
Pandit Lingraj Mishra, Professor of Sanskrit in Muzafarpur Government College, resigned
from his post. From the Calcutta University Pandit Nilakantha Dash resigned from the post of
Professor of Odia. In Balasore, Surendra Nath Das left his post as Sub-inspector and in
Bhadrak, Mohammed Hanif resigned from the post of Excise Sub-inspector. In this manner
different people from different parts of Odisha gave up government service and received
much adoration from the people of odisha.
Boycott of foreign goods by the people of Odisha
Following the programmes of the Non-Cooperation movement, the people of Odisha
were determined to boycott foreign goods. In this context, the Cloth merchants of Cuttack,
Puri, Balasore and Sambalpur were instigated by the Non-co-operation not to import foreign
textiles. On 6 August 1921 foreign clothes were set fire at Puri. On 11 and 14 August huge
bundles of foreign textiles were gathered and a bonfire was made in different parts of Odisha.
The Odia workers working in the Calcutta cloth mill refused to carry foreign clothes to the
shops. A protest march was staged to the Odisha during the visit of the Prince of Wales to
Bombay. Foreign liquor was boycotted in Odisha. People took a vow not to accept anything
that was manufactured in foreign countries particularly in England.
Boycott of Courts by judicial persons
Another method of Non-Cooperation adopted in Odisha was the boycott of courts. As
a matter of fact, Gopabandhu Das had given up legal practice. In Cuttack Bhagirathi
Mohapatra and in Sambalpur Achyutananda Purohit and Mahendranath Verma gave up legal
practice and joined the Non-co-operation movement in Odisha. At Srijang in Balasore, Gour
Mohan Das and Banchhanidhi Mohanty in Bhadrakh, set up private legal chambers to
provide legal advice to the local people of Odisha.13 In Tirtol and Puri too many private legal
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International Multidisciplinary e –Journal. Author: Dr. Manas Kumar Das. (62-69)
cells were set up to help people in legal matters in the respective regions. This resulted in a
wonderful boost to Non-co- operation movement in Odisha.
Boycott of foreign liquor
The other aim of Non-co-operation in Odisha was prohibition boycott of foreign
liquor. The non-co-operators advised drunkards to refrain from drinking. Rallies, picketing
and demonstrations were staged in front of foreign liquor shops and a total ban was clamped
on the sale of foreign liquor. This deprived the British government of a major source of
revenue. Besides liquor traders of Odisha were advised not to import liquor. Even breweries
manufacturing country-made liquor were advised to close down their shops in different parts
of Odisha. People were made aware of the evil effects of drinking.14 In fact, the boycott
programme as a whole was quite successful in Odisha.
Tenant’s rising against the Zamindari of Kanika
Closely associated with the Non-co-operation movement, the peasants of Kanika rebelled
against Zamindar of Kanika in 1922. Students left the 'Raja Rajendra Narain High School'
and incited farmers to join them. In fear the king of Kanika appealed to the British for help.15
since a court peon and two peons in the royal service were manhandled by the people, the
police arrested five persons. When the irritated mob tried to rescue them. The police
superintendent Srikrishna Mohapatra ordered firing upon the people. As a result at Patapur
two persons Basu Sethi. and Bishuni Madhual were killed and many others were injured. The
'Samaj’ and 'Utkal Dipika' regularly published about the atrocities at Kanika. The leaders of
the movement were prohibited into Kanika. As Gopabandhu Das and Bhagirathi Mohapatra
refused to obey, they were arrested and sent to the Hazaribagh Jail. The tenant’s rising at
Kanika bears testimony to the oppression of the British during the last phase of the Non-cooperation movement in Orissa .
Repressive measures taken by the British Government
In order to suppress the Non-Cooperation movement, the British government took
many repressive measures in Odisha. Gopabandhu Das was sentenced to jail for a month for
publishing an article in the daily 'Samaj'.16 However, Justice Suresh Chandra Bose found him
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International Multidisciplinary e –Journal. Author: Dr. Manas Kumar Das. (62-69)
without any guilt and acquitted him. The impacts of the suspension of the movement by
Gandhiji after the Chauri Chaura incident in 5th February, were felt in Odisha. So, Congress
leaders in Odisha had to suspended the movement in Odisha. The British, encouraged by this
act, emerged with double vigour and arrested Harekrushna Mahatab, Mathura Mohan Behera,
Kamruddin Haque, Banchhanidhi Mohanty, Balram Das, Daitari Sahu and other leaders on
some alleged reasons or the other. For having printed the 'Swaraj Sangeet' the Misra Press
of Sambalpur was fined Rupees 25. Several cases of burning were witnessed at Puri,
Balasore, Kendrapara and Cuttack of Odisha. The police in many cases had to resort to lathi
charge to suppress the non-co-operators in Odisha.
Outcome of the Non-Co-operation movement in Odisha
The results of the Non-co-operation movement in Odisha were far-reaching. The NonCooperation movement expanded the horizon of the Khadi and 'Charkha' movement in
Odisha. There was a confused acceptance to the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi in Odisha as
the Non-Cooperation movement was stopped abruptly.17 Leaders like Gopabandhu Das,
Ekram Rasool, Gopabandhu Chowdhury, Harekrushna Mahatab became extremely popular in
Odisha by this movement. The fuel to the peasant agitation in Kanika was provided by the
Non-co-operation movement in Odisha.18 this movement ignited the fire of revolt in the
hearts of Odias against the British and it prepared the people of Odisha for a greater and
nobler struggle in future.
Conclusion
Thus, the Non-co-operation movement was another milestone in history of India's
freedom struggle. It created an overwhelming awareness among the people of Odisha. The
extensive lecture tours of Gopabandhu Das and his associates made the people acquainted
with the Congress programme and roused their political awareness. In the field of boycott of
every aspects of British and manufacturing of Swadeshi goods and their distribution, the
Non-cooperation movement in Odisha was successful to a great extent. The visit of Gandhiji
to Odisha at this opportune moment helped Odisha in merging with the national main stream.
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Reference:
1. Chandra, B., India’s Struggle for Independence , New Delhi,1989.pp184-196
2.
Chand, T., History of Freedom Movement in India, New Delhi, 1972, p. 189.
3. Acharya, S.R., British Policy towards the Indian states, 1905-1939, London,1982, p.
45.
4. Das, S.N., Odisha Swadhinata Sangram Itihasa,Puri,1957,p.37.
5. Pradhan, A.C., History of Odisha,Bhubaneswar,2006, pp.304-310.
6. Ibid,p.305
7. Ibid,p.306.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid,p.307.
10. Ibid,p.308.
11. Samal, J.K., History of Modern Odisha, Calcutta,1989, pp.66-87.
12. Tripathy, S., Role of women in the History of Modern Odisha, 1900-1947, Cuttack,
1988.,p.45.
13. Panda, H., History of Odisha, Cuttack,2008.pp.282-84
14. Ibid,p.283.
15. Ibid,p.284.
16. Pattanayak, S., Odisare Swadhinata Andolana ltihas (Oriya),Cuttack, 1972.pp.2-23.
17. Ibid,p.4.
18. Ibid,p.13.
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