The Chauri Chaura Incident

The Chauri Chaura incident was a significant event that took place on 5th February 1922 in the village of Chauri Chaura, located in the Gorakhpur district of the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh) in India. It was a crucial milestone in the Indian independence movement and had far-reaching consequences.

1. Protest against the Salt Tax
The first statement, which states that the people in the village of Chauri Chaura were protesting against the salt tax, is incorrect. The Chauri Chaura incident was not specifically related to the salt tax. Instead, it was a part of the larger non-cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi.

Under the non-cooperation movement, Indians were encouraged to boycott British institutions, including schools, courts, and government offices. The movement aimed to peacefully resist British rule and achieve independence for India. The incident at Chauri Chaura was an unfortunate deviation from the non-violent principles of the movement.

2. Incident of Violence in Chauri Chaura
The second statement, which mentions that the incident of violence happened in the village of Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur district of the United Provinces, is correct. On 5th February 1922, a group of protesters participating in the non-cooperation movement clashed with the police at the Chauri Chaura police station.

The protesters were initially peaceful, but the situation quickly escalated when the police opened fire on the crowd. In response, the protesters attacked and set fire to the police station, resulting in the death of 22 policemen. This act of violence marked a turning point in the non-cooperation movement.

Consequences and Impact
The Chauri Chaura incident had significant consequences for the Indian independence movement and the strategy of non-violent resistance. Mahatma Gandhi, who was leading the non-cooperation movement, was deeply disturbed by the incident. He believed that the movement had lost its non-violent character and called off the movement as a result.

The incident also led to a shift in the political landscape of India. The British government cracked down heavily on the protesters, resulting in the arrest of over 2000 people and the subsequent trials and imprisonment of many of them. It also led to a reevaluation of the tactics and strategies employed by the Indian National Congress and other nationalist organizations.

In conclusion, the correct statement regarding the Chauri Chaura incident is statement 2, which states that the incident of violence occurred in the village of Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur district of the United Provinces. The first statement, which mentions the protest against the salt tax, is incorrect.