"In view of the fact that on the Khilafat question both the Indian and
Imperial Governments have signally failed in their duty towards the
Musalmans of India, and the Prime Minister has deliberately broken his
pledged word given to them, and that it is the duty of every non-Moslem
Indian in every legitimate manner to assist his Musalman brother in his
attempt to remove the religious calamity that has over taken him:--
"And in view of the fact that in the matter of the events of the April
1919 both the said Governments have grossly neglected or failed to
protect the innocent people of the Punjab and punish officers guilty of
unsoldierly and barbarous behaviour towards them and have exonerated
Sir Michael O'Dwyer who proved himself directly or indirectly
responsible for the most official crimes and callous to the sufferings
of the people placed under his administration, and that the debate in
the House of Lords betrayed a woeful lack of sympathy with the people
of India and showed virtual support of the systematic terrorism and
frightfulness adopted in the Punjab and that the latest Viceregal
pronouncement is proof of entire absence of repentance in the matters
of the Khilafat and the Punjab.
"This Congress is of opinion that there can be no contentment in India
without redress of the two afore-mentioned wrongs, and that the only
effectual means to vindicate national honour and to prevent a
repetition of similar wrongs in future is the establishment of
Swarajya. This Congress is further of opinion that there is no course
left open for the people of India but to approve of and adopt the
policy of progressive non-violent non-co-operation until the said
wrongs are righted and Swarajya is established.
"And inasmuch as a beginning should be made by the classes who have
hitherto moulded and represented opinion and inasmuch as Government
consolidates its power through titles and honours bestowed on the
people, through schools controlled by it, its law courts and its
legislative councils, and inasmuch as it is desirable in the
prosecution of the movement to take the minimum risk and to call for
the least sacrifice compatible with the attainment of the desired
object, this Congress earnestly advises:--
(_a_) surrender of titles and honorary offices and resignation from
nominated seats in local bodies;
(_b_) refusal to attend Government Levees, Durbars and other official
and semi-official functions held by Government officials or in their
honour;
(_c_) gradual withdrawal of children from Schools and colleges owned,
aided or controlled by Government and in place of such schools and
colleges in the establishment of National Schools and Colleges in the
various Provinces;
(_d_) gradual boycott of British Courts by lawyers and litigants and
establishment of private arbitration courts by their aid for the
settlement of private disputes;
(_e_) refusal on the part of the military, clerical and labouring
classes to offer themselves as recruits for service in Mesopotamia;
(_f_) withdrawal by candidates of their candidature for election to the
Reformed Councils and refusal on the part of the voters for any
candidate who may despite the Congress advice offer himself for
election; and
(_g_) the boycott of foreign goods.
"And inasmuch as non-co-operation has been conceived of as a measure of
discipline and self-sacrifice without which no nation can make real
progress, and inasmuch as an opportunity should be given in the very
first stage of non-co-operation to every man, woman and child, for such
discipline and self-sacrifice, this Congress advises adoption of
Swadeshi in piece goods on a vast scale, and inasmuch as the existing
mills of India with indigenous capital and control do not manufacture
sufficient yarn and sufficient cloth for the requirements of the
nation, and are not likely to do so for a long time to come this
Congress advises immediate stimulation of further manufacture on a
large scale by means of reviving hand-spinning in every home and hand
weaving on the part of the millions of weavers who have abandoned their
ancient and honourable calling for want of encouragement."
The Khilafat question first, the Punjab wrongs next are given as the two
grounds for discarding the Reform Scheme and demanding Swarajya or
immediate Home Rule for the prevention of similar wrongs in future. For
the attainment of such Swarajya or immediate Home Rule a policy of what
is called non-violent non-co-operation is advocated and as a beginning
the people are advised to take certain steps which are therein referred
to. Though discarding the Montagu Chelmsford Reform Scheme of Home Rule
by certain stages, Mr. Gandhi says he is working for immediate Home Rule
in accordance with the Resolution, to me it seems clear what he is
really aiming at is not Home Rule of any kind or form _i.e._
Parliamentary Government with absolute powers, but Swarajya or Home
Rule, as he himself has outlined it in his Indian Home Rule, the purport
of which I have briefly given above, _i.e._ anarchy and soul force. I
shall now attempt to show that there were no adequate reasons to discard
the Reform Scheme of Home Rule for a scheme of immediate Home Rule and
that the steps proposed to be taken are not calculated to attain Home
Rule of any kind or form but are steps intended for Gandhi Swarajya
which means anarchy or soul force.
In considering these questions the object of this movement must not be
lost sight of. In Mr. Gandhi's own words "Non-co-operation though a
religious and strictly moral movement deliberately aims at the overthrow
of the Government." Prima facie therefore all steps taken in pursuance
of this resolution are intended for this purpose.
I propose first of all to take up the Khilafat question which stands
first in the Resolution.