Khilafat Movement

The Khilafat Movement (1919–1924) was a significant pan-Islamic political protest campaign launched by Muslims in British India to influence the British government and to protect the Ottoman Empire during the aftermath of World War I. The position of the Ottoman Sultan as the Khalifa (Caliph) was considered the spiritual and temporal head of the Sunni Muslim community globally. Following the defeat of the Central Powers, the Treaty of Sèvres (1920) dismembered the Ottoman Empire, severely reducing the Caliph’s territories and authority. This created widespread resentment among Indian Muslims, who viewed it as a direct threat to their religious identity and holy places (Jazirat-ul-Arab).

Key Leaders and the Khilafat Committee

The movement was organized under the leadership of the Central Khilafat Committee, formed in Bombay in March 1919.

Prominent Leaders of the Movement

• The Ali Brothers: Maulana Mohammad Ali and Maulana Shaukat Ali.
• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: Prominent theologian and scholar who used his journal Al-Hilal to propagate anti-British and pro-Khilafat views.
• Hakim Ajmal Khan: Renowned physician and politician who helped forge Hindu-Muslim unity.
• Hasrat Mohani: Noted poet and freedom fighter who was among the first to demand complete independence (Poorna Swaraj).

Convergence with Mahatma Gandhi and the Non-Cooperation Movement

Mahatma Gandhi saw the Khilafat agitation as a golden opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims in a combined national struggle against British rule, famously stating that such an opportunity would not arise “in a hundred years.”

Timeline of Integration

• November 1919: Gandhi was elected President of the All-India Khilafat Conference in Delhi, where he advocated for non-cooperation with the British government.
• June 1920: The Khilafat Conference at Allahabad formally adopted the program of non-cooperation and invited Gandhi to lead it.
• August 1, 1920: The Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement was officially launched, coinciding with the demise of Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
• September 1920: At a special session in Calcutta, the Indian National Congress (INC) approved the Non-Cooperation program until the Punjab wrongs (Jallianwala Bagh massacre) and Khilafat grievances were redressed.

Methods of Protest under the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Alliance

• Boycott of government educational institutions, law courts, and legislative councils.
• Surrender of titles, honors, and honorary posts bestowed by the British government.
• Boycott of foreign cloth and promotion of indigenous Khadi and handspinning.
• Refusal to clear government taxes and revenues in later stages.

The Sudden Halt: Chauri Chaura and the Collapse of the Movement

The combined Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement achieved unprecedented mass mobilization but faced a sudden termination due to internal and external geopolitical shifts.

The Chauri Chaura Incident (February 5, 1922)

A violent clash occurred at Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur district of the United Provinces, where a mob set fire to a police station, killing 22 policemen. Distressed by the violation of his core principle of non-violence (Ahimsa), Mahatma Gandhi unilaterally suspended the Non-Cooperation Movement on February 12, 1922, through the Bardoli Resolution.

The Geopolitical Demise of Khilafat

The Khilafat movement lost its foundational relevance due to internal developments within Turkey. In 1922, the nationalist leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk led the Turkish War of Independence, stripped the Sultan of political power, and established a secular republic. In March 1924, Atatürk officially abolished the institution of the Caliphate and exiled the last Caliph, rendering the Indian Khilafat agitation obsolete.

The Rise of the Swarajists and Post-Khilafat Politics

The suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement led to a strategic rift within the Indian National Congress regarding the future course of action, resulting in the formation of the Swaraj Party.

The Internal Schism: Pro-Changers vs. No-Changers

Key Achievements and Dynamics of the Swarajists

• Electoral Success (1923): The Swaraj Party won 42 out of 101 elected seats in the Central Legislative Assembly and secured a clear majority in the Central Provinces.
• Legislative Obstruction: They consistently outvoted the government on budget proposals, forced the introduction of resolutions demanding self-government, and successfully blocked several repressive legislations.
• Historic Milestone (1925): Vithalbhai Patel was elected as the first Indian Speaker (President) of the Central Legislative Assembly, representing a major constitutional victory.
• The Decline: The party suffered a severe blow following the death of C.R. Das in June 1925. Internal divisions grew between the mainstream Swarajists and the “Responsivists” (including Lala Lajpat Rai and Madan Mohan Malaviya), who favored cooperation with the government to protect Hindu interests.

Historical Evaluation and Impact for Prelims

Major Outcomes and Legacy

• Unprecedented Communal Harmony: The Khilafat phase witnessed the highest level of Hindu-Muslim political unity observed during the Indian national movement. Anti-British sentiment bridged urban and rural divides across both communities.
• Mass Mobilization of Muslims: The movement brought the Muslim masses, peasantry, and the Ulema (religious scholars) into the mainstream nationalist fold, shifting politics away from the elite constitutionalism of the early Muslim League.
• Subsequent Communal Polarization: The sudden withdrawal of the movement, combined with the outbreak of localized agrarian-communal riots like the Moplah Rebellion (1921) in Malabar, created a political vacuum. This vacuum was subsequently filled by communal organizations like the Hindu Mahasabha and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on one side, and the revival of communal Muslim politics on the other.