"India was granted independence in 1947 because of Gandhi's policy of non-cooperation." How far do you agree with this statement?

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“India was granted independence in 1947 because of Gandhi’s policy of non-cooperation.”  How far do you agree with this statement?

        In 1947 India was granted with its independence from the British Empire that had ruled over India since the 19th century. The campaign for independence began with the formation of the Indian National Congress party in 1885, the congress was a party for Indians to play a part in the running of the country. However, in 1914 World War 1 broke out and Indian people supported Britain and the Empire, sending food, materials and money. In exchange for their support during the war Congress demanded the British fix a date for India to become self-governing.  This was agreed by the British but no date was actually set. In 1920 Gandhi persuaded Congress to vote for the first time for self-rule (self-government and self-control).  

Gandhi changed Congress by making it appeal to a wider population instead of just the wealthy.  He also started most of the major campaigns against the British.  Perhaps the most famous of these were the protests against the British control of salt and cloth imports from England that that led to them making their own cotton and salt. Gandhi’s policy of non-cooperation (civil disobedience) and peaceful protest was the major strength of his protest movement and popularity.  It contrasted with those who previously wanted a violent uprising against the British.

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I think that if there had been violent protest against the British the government would have argued that their troops act in self-defence against armed rebels.  However, in the Amritsar massacre the contrast of unarmed people being brutally massacred showed the world how wrong the British were. A large unarmed crowd had gathered in an open space enclosed by walls.  Along came 50 soldiers and without ordering the crowd to leave fired upon the innocent men, women and children. After about six minutes 300 lay dead and another 1,000 injured. There was no escape for the crowd and the British ...

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