The first mass movement started by Mahatma Gandhi was

The correct answer is the Non-cooperation movement.

Key Points

• The Non-Cooperation Movement was the "first mass movement" organized under Gandhiji's leadership.
• The call for a non-cooperation movement by Gandhi in 1920-21 saw women come out to participate in the movement. Women took to streets picketing liquor shops, and holding dharnas), Urmila Debi, and Suniti Debi, were well-known women organisers during the Non-Cooperation Movement.
• Proposal for the "Non-Cooperation Movement" was passed in the Calcutta session of Congress on 4 September 1920.

Important Points

Non-cooperation Movement:

• The Non-cooperation movement by Gandhiji was followed from September 1920 to February 1922. 
• Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in Amritsar in 1919 was one of the major reasons for the start of the Non-cooperation movement.
• The Chauri Chaura incident occurred at Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur district (Uttar Pradesh) on  4 February 1922, when a large group of protesters, participating in the Non-cooperation movement, clashed with police, who opened fire.
• As the incident turned violent Mahatma Gandhi called off the ‘Non-cooperation Movement’ on 12 February 1922, as a direct result of this incident.
• Lord Edwin Montagu (1917-22) was the Secretary of state for India during the launch of the non-cooperation movement.

Additional Information

• Dandi March also is known as the "Salt movement or Dandi Satyagraha".
  • Gandhiji's anti-salt law was dissolved on 6 April 1930 by walking from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi village.
• "Quit India Movement" was launched on 8 August 1942 at the All-India Congress Committee session in Bombay.