The Khilafat Movement (1919-1924) - Part 1

The All India Khilafat Conference

The All India Khilafat Conference, held in November 1919, was a significant event in the Indian freedom struggle. It was organized to address the concerns of Indian Muslims regarding the fate of the Ottoman Caliphate after World War I. The Ottoman Caliphate, which was the spiritual and political leadership of the Islamic world, was under threat from the victorious Allies, including the British.

The leading figures at the conference were two prominent Muslim leaders, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar and Maulana Shaukat Ali, and a senior member of the Indian National Congress, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad. The conference aimed to persuade the British government to honor their promises of safeguarding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Turkish Empire, particularly the Caliphate.

What makes this event unique is that it witnessed a coming together of Hindus and Muslims under the common banner of the Khilafat Movement. Mahatma Gandhi, who had risen as a prominent leader within the Indian National Congress due to his successful leadership during the nonviolent civil disobedience campaigns in South Africa and India, also attended the conference.

Gandhi's presence at the Khilafat Conference symbolized the unity of Hindus and Muslims in their opposition to British colonial rule. It emphasized that the Khilafat Movement was not just a religious issue but a broader movement against British imperialism. This event highlighted the notion of religious unity and secularism in the fight for India's independence.

As a result of the conference, a resolution was passed to send a delegation to Britain to make the British government aware of the strength of Muslim support for the Caliphate. Additionally, the conference adopted resolutions supporting the boycott of British goods and advocating for a policy of non-cooperation with the British authorities. These resolutions marked the beginning of the non-cooperation movement in India, which would gain momentum in the subsequent years as a form of peaceful resistance against British rule.

Satyagraha

To promote the Khilafat cause and to express solidarity with the Muslims, Gandhi launched a nonviolent non-cooperation campaign, which was deeply rooted in the principles of Satyagraha. As part of this campaign:

1. Boycott of British Goods: Gandhi urged Indians to boycott British goods as a means to exert economic pressure on the British government and demonstrate their resistance to British policies.

2. Non-Cooperation with British Institutions: He advocated for the withdrawal of cooperation from British institutions, including educational institutions, law courts, and the civil services.

3. Peaceful Protests: Satyagrahis engaged in peaceful protests, demonstrations, and strikes to raise awareness about the Khilafat issue and demand justice for the Indian Muslims.

4. Self-Sacrifice: Satyagrahis willingly endured arrests, imprisonment, and other forms of suffering without resorting to violence or retaliation.

Gandhi's call for nonviolent resistance and non-cooperation garnered significant support from various sections of Indian society. Millions of people, including Hindus and Muslims, actively participated in the Khilafat Movement under the banner of Satyagraha.

Gandhi's advocacy of Satyagraha during the Khilafat Movement laid the groundwork for future nonviolent movements that ultimately led to India's independence in 1947.

The Second Khilafat Conference

The Second Khilafat Conference, held in Amritsar in December 1919, was a significant gathering during the Khilafat Movement in India. During this time, both the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League were also holding meetings in Amritsar. The conference aimed to bring together various organizations to jointly oppose the British plans to dismember the Turkish Empire after World War I.

At the conference, it was decided that all these organizations would work together to support the cause of the Ottoman Caliphate and to prevent punitive measures against Turkey by the British government. Mahatma Gandhi, who had emerged as a prominent leader in the Indian freedom struggle, was entrusted with the responsibility to lead the efforts to persuade the British to reconsider their actions toward Turkey.

Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar, a prominent Muslim leader and advocate for the Khilafat cause, had previously traveled to Britain in an attempt to influence the British government's stance on Turkey. However, his efforts had not succeeded in convincing them to grant Turkey a fair treatment. When he emphasized that Turkey deserved justice, the British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, reportedly replied with the statement: "Austria has had justice; Germany has had justice – pretty terrible justice – why should Turkey escape?"

This response reflected the prevailing attitude of the victorious Allied powers toward the defeated Central Powers after World War I. Many nations were seeking retribution for the damages and losses they had suffered during the war, and Turkey was not exempt from this punitive approach.

The Khilafat Delegations

In January 1920, a deputation from the Khilafat Movement met with the Viceroy of India to express their concerns and demand that Turkey be treated fairly in the aftermath of the war. They sought to persuade the British authorities to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire, especially with regards to the Caliphate, which held significant spiritual and symbolic importance for Muslims worldwide.

Following the meeting with the Viceroy, another delegation was sent to England in February 1920. The purpose of this delegation was to appeal directly to the Western powers, including Britain and France, to reconsider their treatment of Turkey and not subject it to harsh punitive measures similar to those imposed on Germany and Austria after World War I.

However, during the time that the delegation was in England, the terms of the Treaty of Sèvres were announced in August 1920. The treaty aimed to reshape the post-war landscape in the Middle East and significantly curtailed the territorial boundaries and sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire.

Treaty of Sevres

The key provisions of the Treaty of Sèvres included:

1. Independence of Arabia: Arabia was granted independence from the Ottoman Empire.

2. Partition of Ottoman Territories: The remaining territories of the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East were placed under the administration of the League of Nations. Various regions were allocated to Britain and France as mandates, with both countries being non-Muslim states. This allocation included regions like Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.

3. Loss of European Territories: Turkey's possessions in Europe were drastically reduced, and the country's only remaining territory in Europe was a small area around Istanbul (then Constantinople).

The announcement of the Treaty of Sèvres dealt a severe blow to the Khilafat Movement's hopes of preserving the Ottoman Caliphate and ensuring justice for Turkey. The terms of the treaty were perceived as unjust and resulted in widespread discontent among Indian Muslims and the Khilafat Movement supporters.

While the Khilafat Movement's efforts did not prevent the implementation of the Treaty of Sèvres, it played a significant role in galvanizing political activism in India and laying the groundwork for the larger Non-Cooperation Movement that followed. The movement also highlighted the importance of Hindu-Muslim unity in India's struggle for independence and fostered the idea of nonviolent resistance as a potent means of opposing British colonial policies.

The Non-Cooperation Movement

The Non-Cooperation Movement was a significant civil disobedience campaign launched in India in 1920 as a response to the unjust treatment of Turkey in the Treaty of Sèvres and to support the Khilafat Movement's demands. The movement was led by Mahatma Gandhi, who, after returning from his tour to rally support for the Khilafat cause, became a key figure in the broader anti-British protest movement.

The key events and developments of the Non-Cooperation Movement were as follows:

1. On June 22, 1920, Indian Muslims sent a message to the Viceroy of India, warning that if the Treaty of Sèvres was imposed on Turkey, they would begin a policy of non-cooperation in the country from August 1.

2. Mahatma Gandhi played a pivotal role in organizing and leading the Non-Cooperation Movement. He believed that nonviolent civil disobedience and withdrawal of cooperation from British institutions would exert pressure on the colonial administration and advance the cause of Indian independence.

3. The Khilafat Movement's demands and the unfair treatment of Turkey acted as catalysts for turning the movement into a broader anti-British protest. The movement garnered widespread support across the country, with people from various communities joining in.

4. As part of non-cooperation, Indians were urged to boycott British institutions, including schools, law courts, and government offices. The goal was to show nonviolent resistance and refusal to cooperate with the colonial administration.

5. The movement witnessed large-scale demonstrations and strikes that disrupted normal governance and administration. British royal princes' visits to India were met with protests and strikes, embarrassing the colonial authorities.

6. The British administration responded to the growing agitation with a policy of repression, involving widespread arrests of Indian leaders and activists. By the end of 1921, there were more than 30,000 political prisoners in Indian jails.

7. One of the remarkable outcomes of the Non-Cooperation Movement was the temporary setting aside of communal rivalries. Hindus and Muslims participated together in the movement, promoting the idea of unity among different religious communities for a common cause.

However, the Non-Cooperation Movement also faced challenges. In 1922, following the Chauri Chaura incident, where a violent clash between protesters and the police resulted in the death of policemen, Gandhi suspended the movement. He believed that the movement had lost its nonviolent character and needed to be reconsidered.

Although the Non-Cooperation Movement was temporarily suspended, it left a lasting impact on the Indian freedom struggle. It demonstrated the potential of nonviolent resistance as a powerful tool against British colonial rule and paved the way for future movements that eventually led to India's independence in 1947. The movement also emphasized the importance of Hindu-Muslim unity in the fight for freedom and social justice in India.