**Spread of Non-Cooperation Movement in the Countryside**

The Non-Cooperation Movement was a significant phase in India's struggle for independence from British colonial rule. It aimed to unite people across the country in a peaceful protest against British rule and to withdraw support from the colonial government. The movement gained momentum in the countryside due to various factors, which are discussed below.

**1. Impact of the Khilafat Movement:**
The Khilafat Movement, which sought to support the caliphate of the Ottoman Empire, had a significant influence on the spread of the Non-Cooperation Movement in the countryside. The Muslim community, especially in rural areas, was deeply moved by the cause and joined hands with Mahatma Gandhi's call for non-cooperation.

**2. Discontent among Peasants:**
The rural population, mainly consisting of peasants, faced numerous hardships under British rule. They were burdened with high land revenue, exploitative zamindari system, and unfair taxation. These factors led to widespread discontent among peasants who saw the Non-Cooperation Movement as an opportunity to protest against these injustices.

**3. Boycott of Foreign Goods:**
One of the central aspects of the Non-Cooperation Movement was the boycott of foreign goods. In the countryside, where people were self-sufficient to a large extent, the boycott movement gained significant traction. Villagers stopped purchasing British-manufactured textiles, salt, and other foreign goods, which had a direct impact on the colonial economy.

**4. Influence of Local Leaders:**
The countryside had several influential local leaders who played a crucial role in mobilizing the rural population for the Non-Cooperation Movement. These leaders, often respected members of the community, used their influence to spread the message of non-cooperation, organize meetings, and encourage participation in protests and boycotts.

**5. Spread of Nationalist Literature:**
Nationalist literature played a vital role in disseminating the ideals of the Non-Cooperation Movement in the countryside. Pamphlets, newspapers, and books that highlighted the need for independence, self-reliance, and non-cooperation with the British were widely distributed. Villagers, eager to educate themselves about the movement, eagerly consumed this literature, which further fueled their enthusiasm for non-cooperation.

**6. Symbolic Acts of Resistance:**
In the countryside, people engaged in various symbolic acts of resistance. They discarded their Western-style clothing, embraced khadi (hand-spun and hand-woven cloth), and burned British-made goods publicly. These acts not only displayed their non-cooperation but also served as a powerful form of protest against colonial rule.

In conclusion, the Non-Cooperation Movement spread effectively in the countryside due to the impact of the Khilafat Movement, the discontent among peasants, the boycott of foreign goods, the influence of local leaders, the spread of nationalist literature, and the engagement in symbolic acts of resistance. These factors combined to create a strong wave of non-cooperation in rural areas, making the movement truly widespread and inclusive.

During the civil disobedience movement in the countryside rich peasant communities like the Patidars of Gujarat and Jats of Uttar Pradesh were active participants. They joined this agitation because of following reasons

Being producers of commercial crops they were hard hit by trade depression and falling prices. As demand for commercial crops declined and their cash income disappeared they found it impossible to pay the government's revenue demand .

The peasants demanded a reduction in revenue but the government refused to do so. This led to widespread resentment as rich landlords became eager participants in boycott programs and refused to pay revenue. For them the fight for swaraj was a struggle against high revenue.

But the rich peasant communities were deeply disappointed when the movement was called of in 1931 without revenue rates being revised. So when the movement was relaunched in 1932 most of them didn't participate.