100 Years Of Chauri Chaura: PM Modi To Kickstart Centenary Celebrations, Grand Event To Unfold In Uttar Pradesh

PM Narendra Modi will launch the 'Chauri Chaura' centenary celebrations via video conferencing. All districts of the state are recording a video singing Vande Mataram in a salute posture on February 3-4 to pay homage to the martyrs of the Chauri Chauri incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

It has been 100 years since the 'Chauri Chaura' incident took place on 4 February 1922 at Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh. To mark the centrury, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the "Chauri Chaura" centenary celebrations at Chauri Chaura in Uttar Pradesh via video conferencing on Thursday.

Prime Minister Modi will also release a postal stamp dedicated to the "Chauri Chaura" centenary during the event." 

A press releases said "The centenary celebrations and various events planned by the state government will begin in all 75 districts of the state from February 4 and will continue till February 4, 2022," it said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will also be present on the occasion as the state has organised a grand event. Singing, Essay writing, debate, poetry recitation, painting, and other competitions will also be organised in schools for the celebrations. In addition, exhibitions, book fairs, and other events will also be organised. Winners will also be awarded at the closing ceremony. 

What happened at Chauri Chaura?

On 5 February 1922, participants of the Non-cooperation movement clashed with police resulting in the deaths of about 22 policemen and 3 civilians at Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur district in the United Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh).

• The Indian National Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi had launched the non-cooperation movement on 1^st August 1920.
• This was supposed to be a peaceful and non-violent movement wherein people would relinquish their government jobs and titles, stop going to government schools and colleges, not serve in the army and also refuse to pay taxes as an extreme measure.
• On 2 February 1922, people were protesting against high meat prices at the marketplace. They were beaten by the police and many of their leaders were arrested and detained at the Chauri Chaura police station.
• In retaliation the protestors attacked the police and set fire to the police station, killing all the policemen inside. At least 22 policemen and three civilians were killed in the incident. 
• Gandhi went on a fast for five days after the incident for his ‘role’ in the event. He withdrew the movement on 12 February officially since he felt that the people were not ready to take up a non-violent movement. He also felt that adequate training was not provided to the people to show restraint in the face of violent attacks.
• A total of 228 people were put on trial in the case and after 8 months 172 people were sentenced to death.
• In 1923, the Allahabad High Court however revised the sentences and upheld the death penalty of 19 of them and the sentences of 110 were commuted to life imprisonments, and the remaining were sentenced to long jail terms.
• As part of the 100-year celebrations, the Uttar Pradesh government has planned to develop the 'Chauri Chaura Shaheed Memorial' as a heritage tourist spot.