Khilafat Movement 1919, Causes, Leaders, Date, Course, UPSC Notes

The Khilafat Movement was a major political movement launched by Indian Muslims after the First World War to defend the position of the Ottoman Sultan as the Caliph (Khalifa) of the Muslim world. It developed into an important anti-British movement and, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, became closely associated with the Non-Cooperation Movement.

The movement emerged against the backdrop of the British government's treatment of the Ottoman Empire after World War I. Indian Muslim leaders feared that the post-war settlement would weaken or abolish the authority of the Caliph.

Khilafat Movement Background

The Khilafat Movement was launched against the backdrop of the socio-economic impacts of the First World War, the draconian Rowlatt Act, the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, and the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms.

• Impacts of the First World War: Post-World War I, Indian commodity prices increased, affecting common people and industries.
  • An increase in import volumes led to a decline in production and factory closures. This led to a rise in inflation.
  • Peasants faced increased rents and taxes, causing alarm in the country's economic situation.
  • Nationalists, disillusioned by the British failure to deliver goods and services at appropriate prices, found their anti-British attitude strengthened.
• Rowlatt Act: Fearing potential revolutionary activities, the British came up with the Rowlatt Act of 1919, which allowed the government to imprison people even without trial.
  • This led to a significant political awakening and anger in India, with Gandhi opposing it through the Rowlatt Satyagraha, resulting in hartals and demonstrations.
• Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: During the protests of Indians against the arrest of Satyapal Singh and Saifuddin Kitchlew, Amritsar witnessed the naked brutality of Imperial power when General Dyer ordered his troops to fire upon the unarmed crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919.
• Government of India Act 1919: To placate the Indian nationalists, especially Congress, the Government of India Act of 1919 was brought to the public. But it further disillusioned nationalists, causing a potential popular uprising against the British Government.

Khilafat Movement (1919-1924) About

The Khilafat Movement was an agitation by Indian Muslims in response to the Allied powers' treatment of the Ottoman Empire after World War 1.

• The Ottoman Sultan was regarded by many Muslims as the Caliph, or religious and political leader of the wider Islamic community. Indian Muslim leaders feared that the post-war settlement would destroy the Ottoman Empire and substantially reduce the authority of the Caliph.
• The Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay in March 1919 to organise the movement. The Ali brothers subsequently became its most prominent leaders.
• The movement acquired a wider nationalist character when Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress supported the Khilafat cause and linked it with the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Khilafat Movement Date

The Khilafat Movement was started by the Ali Brothers (Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar and Maulana Shaukat Ali) in 1919, along with other prominent leaders like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

• March 1919: Khilafat Committee formed in Bombay.
• 1919: Khilafat agitation expanded across India.
• 1920: Treaty of Sèvres intensified Muslim opposition.
• 1920: Congress formally supported the Non-Cooperation programme associated with the Khilafat issue.
• 1921–22: Khilafat and Non-Cooperation became a major mass movement.
• 1922: Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement after Chauri Chaura.
• 1924: Mustafa Kemal's government abolished the Caliphate, effectively ending the central objective of the Khilafat Movement.

Khilafat Movement Leaders

The primary leaders of the Khilafat Movement (1919–1924) were the Ali brothers, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar and Maulana Shaukat Ali. Other prominent leaders include:

• Ali Brothers: Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar and Maulana Shaukat Ali were the principal leaders who organised the movement and mobilised Indian Muslims nationwide.
• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: A leading Islamic scholar and nationalist who used his writings and public influence to build support.
• Hakim Ajmal Khan: A respected physician and political leader who strongly advocated Hindu-Muslim unity.
• Hasrat Mohani: A nationalist leader associated with promoting the boycott of British goods.
• Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari: A prominent doctor and nationalist who played an active role in the All-India Khilafat Committee.
• Mahatma Gandhi: Supported the Khilafat cause and connected it with the Non-Cooperation Movement to strengthen Hindu-Muslim unity.

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Khilafat Movement Causes

Several political, religious and nationalist factors contributed to the emergence of the Khilafat Movement. The primary reason for the Khilafat Movement was to exert pressure on the British government to keep the Ottoman Sultan in power as the Caliph of Islam after the Ottoman Empire collapsed at the end of the war.

• Defeat of the Ottoman Empire: The Ottoman Empire was defeated in the First World War. Indian Muslims feared that the victorious Allied powers would impose severe terms on Turkey.
• Threat to the Caliphate: The Sultan of Turkey was regarded as the Caliph (Khalifa), the spiritual and religious head of Muslims worldwide. Muslims feared British policies would strip him of his power and control over holy Islamic sites.
• The Treaty of Sèvres (1920): This harsh treaty imposed strict terms on Turkey and partitioned its empire, causing deep anger among Muslims in British India who felt it was a direct insult to their faith.
• Anti-imperialism: It also embodied a broader anti-imperialist sentiment. Many Muslims and Hindus in India were disillusioned with British colonial rule and sought to express their discontent by aligning with the cause of the Ottoman Empire.

Course of the Khilafat Movement

In order to put pressure on the British government, to address the injustices of the Punjab wrongs and to defend Khalifa’s temporal powers, the Khilafat movement was established in 1919 under the leadership of Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali (commonly referred to as the Ali brothers), Abul Kalam Azad, Hasrat Mohani, and others.

• Khilafat Committee: A Khilafat Committee was established in Bombay at the start of 1919. Muslim businessmen took the lead, but their efforts were limited to Khalifa-supporting meetings, petitions, and delegations.
  • However, a militant trend within the movement soon started to emerge. A moderate approach did not satisfy the militant trend's leaders. Instead, they advocated for the start of a national movement.
• Delhi Khilafat Conference:  The conference presided over by Gandhi advocated, for the first time, at the All India Khilafat Conference in Delhi (22-23 November 1919) non-cooperation with the British Government in India.
  • Hasrat Mohani called for a boycott of British goods during this conference.
• Non-cooperation with the Government: The Khilafat leadership made it very clear that they would cease all cooperation with the government if the terms of the post-war peace were unfavourable to Muslims.
  • Shaukat Ali alerted the British in April 1920 that if they didn't succeed in appeasing the Indian Muslims, "we would start a joint Hindu-Muslim movement of non-cooperation."
  • In addition, Shaukat Ali placed emphasis on the fact that Mahatma Gandhi, who is respected by both Muslims and Hindus, would serve as the movement's leader.
• Gandhi and the issue of Hindu-Muslim unity: The Khilafat issue was not directly linked with politics in India, but the Khilafat leaders were eager to enlist the support of Hindus.
  • Gandhi saw this as a chance to unite Hindus and Muslims in opposition to the British.
  • Until May 1920, Gandhi adopted a moderate stance despite his support for the Khilafat issue and his role as the head of the All India Khilafat Committee.
  • However, the publication of the terms of the “Treaty of Sevres” and the Publication of the “Hunter Committee Report” on the 'Jallianwala Bagh Massacre' in May 1920 made Indians angry and led Gandhi to openly take the Khilafat issue.
• Programme of non-cooperation: From June 1–3, 1920, the Central Khilafat Committee met in Allahabad. Several leaders from the Congress and Khilafat were present at the meeting. A programme of non-cooperation with the government was announced at this meeting. This was to include:
  • boycott of titles conferred by the Government,
  • boycott of civil services, army and police, that is, all government jobs
  • non-payment of taxes to the Government.
• Support from Congress:
  • Despite Gandhi’s support on the Khilafat issue, the Congress was divided initially.
  • Later, Congress felt that it was an excellent chance to unite Muslims and Hindus and strengthen Muslim involvement in further national movements.
  • In turn, the Muslim League decided to fully support the Congress and its political agitation in full potential.
• Merger with Non-cooperation Movement: The Khilafat Movement eventually merged with Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement.

Khilafat Movement Role in India

Though the Khilafat Movement was merged and subsumed under the larger movement, the Non-cooperation Movement and the issue of Khilafat itself were diluted due to the political reforms of Mustafa Kamal Pasha in Turkey. It still holds importance on a number of fronts.

• Urban Muslims were attracted to the Indian national movement.
• Hindu-Muslim unity was strengthened, and this was reflected in the extent of participation in the Non-cooperation Movement.
• Nationalist sentiments politicised every segment of the population, including women, traders, urban poor, students, peasants, artisans, and peasants.
• Congress, especially Gandhi, attracted many liberal Muslim leaders to the secular nature of the Indian freedom movement.

Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movement

The Khilafat Movement and Non-Cooperation Movement became closely intertwined from 1920. Gandhi believed that the Khilafat issue could help unite Hindus and Muslims in a common struggle against colonial rule. The Congress therefore supported non-cooperation over the Khilafat question as well as the demand for Swaraj. The combined movement involved:

• Boycott of government educational institutions
• Boycott of courts
• Boycott of legislative councils
• Boycott of foreign goods
• Surrender of titles
• Promotion of khadi
• Mass mobilisation through peaceful protest

Khilafat Movement End

The Khilafat Movement officially ended in March 1924 when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk abolished the Ottoman Caliphate in Turkey. Key causes for the decline of the Khilafat Movement include:

• Withdrawal of Non-Cooperation: Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922 after the Chauri Chaura incident, where protesters killed policemen after setting a police station on fire. This was a major setback to the combined movement.
• Abolition of Ottoman Sultanate: Mustafa Kemal's nationalist government in Turkey abolished the Ottoman Sultanate in 1922.
• Abolition of the Caliphate: The decisive development came in 1924, when the Turkish Republic abolished the Caliphate. This removed the central issue around which the Indian Khilafat agitation had been organised.