ABSTRACT
The disturbances began in India against the Rowlatt Acts, the Secretary of State for India was presenting the draft of the new constitution for India to Parliament in London as the first step in redeeming his promise. In 1919, the disturbances continued through much of India, but in London the draft passed through the various stages of legislation. For non-cooperation he suggested four stages: renunciation of titles and boycott of government run educational institutions and courts; then, resignation from all government departments except the army and the police; then, separation from the army and the police; and lastly, refusal to pay taxes. During each phase complete discipline, national unity and adherence to the principle of non-violence were to be maintained. The non-cooperation movement had hardly begun when civil disobedience started on a large scale. For the Congress, noil-cooperation and the boycott of the councils was, no doubt, a political program which could be altered according to need.
