Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, the Congress launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920. Briefly describe the following :

(a) The Programme of the Movement

(b) The Chauri Chaura incident and its consequences

(a) The Methods and Programme of the Non-Cooperation Movement are given below:

1. Gandhiji, Ali Brothers and other leaders toured the country. They roused the people's enthusiasm, and laid stress on Hindu-Muslim unity.
2. Many educated Indians along with Mahatma Gandhi returned degrees, titles, awards and honours.
3. National Colleges like the Jamia Millia Islamia and the Kashi, Bihar and Gujarat Vidyapeeths were set up.
4. Common people, women, peasants, students, and workers, all participated on a large scale.
5. Strikes were observed. The people of the rural areas refused to pay taxes and obey Government orders.
6. Khadi became a symbol of freedom. Takli and Charkha appeared in every house by July, 1921.

(b) About 3,000 peasants organised a procession at Chauri Chaura, a village in the Gorakhpur district of UP. The police opened fire on this procession. The angry crowd attacked and burnt the police station, killing 22 policemen. This incident, which took place on February 4, 1922, shocked Gandhiji so much that he at once suspended the movement. Gandhiji could hardly tolerate that his followers should indulge in violence.