were apprehensive of the spread of militant activities, and worried about prolonged disruption of business, as well as of the growing influence of socialism amongst the younger members of the Congress. The industrial working classes did not participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement in large numbers, except in the Nagpur region. As the industrialists came closer to the Congress, workers stayed aloof. But in spite of that, some workers did participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement, selectively adopting some of the ideas of the Gandhian programme, like boycott of foreign goods, as part of their own movements against low wages and poor working conditions.
There were strikes by railway workers in and dockworkers in . In thousands of workers in Chotanagpur tin mines wore Gandhi caps and participated in protest rallies and boycott campaigns. But the Congress was reluctant to include workers’ demands as part of its programme of struggle. It felt that this would alienate industrialists and divide the anti- imperial forces.
Another important feature of the Civil Disobedience Movement was the large-scale participation of women. During Gandhiji’s salt march, thousands of women came out of their homes to listen to him. They participated in protest marches, manufactured salt, and Some important dates - Distressed UP peasants organised by Baba Ramchandra. April Gandhian hartal against Rowlatt Act; Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
January Non-Cooperation and Khilafat movement launched. February Chauri Chaura; Gandhiji withdraws Non- Cooperation movement. May Alluri Sitarama Raju arrested ending a two-year armed tribal struggle. December Lahore Congress; Congress adopts the demand for ‘Purna Swaraj’.
Ambedkar establishes Depressed Classes Association. March Gandhiji begins Civil Disobedience Movement by breaking salt law at Dandi. March Gandhiji ends Civil Disobedience Movement. December Second Round Table Conference.
Civil Disobedience re-launched. picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops. Many went to jail. In urban areas these women were from high-caste families; in rural areas they came from rich peasant households.
Moved by Gandhiji’s call, they began to see service to the nation as a sacred duty of women. Yet, this increased public