Module 6: Home Rule, Khilafat & Non-Cooperation Movements

Subtopic 6.1: The Era of Mass Agitations (1916-1922)

Following Champaran, Bihar actively participated in successive nationwide agitations against British rule:

• The Home Rule Movement: The Home Rule movement in India, which sought self-government within the British Empire, was formally launched on 16 December 1916. Leaders like Mazharul Haque were instrumental in establishing its branch in Bihar.
• The Khilafat Movement: Post-World War I, the Khilafat movement gained immense traction. In Bihar, the prominent nationalist leader Maulana Mazharul Haque played a highly active and cooperative role in organizing and sustaining the Khilafat Movement.
• The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922): During Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement, regional leaders galvanized the masses. The great scholar and nationalist Rahul Sankrityayan was extremely active during the 1920 Non-Cooperation Movement, specifically operating in the Chhapra region of Bihar.
• Tana Bhagat Movement: Concurrently, the Tana Bhagat tribal movement in the Chotanagpur region evolved. Originally a religious reform movement, it became deeply influenced by the programs of the Congress and the principles of Gandhiji, aligning with the national freedom struggle.