KHILAFAT MOVEMENT

Q The Khilafat Movement failed by 1924because of poor leadership.’ Do you agree? Give
reasons to your answer.

Delegation of Muslim leaders under Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar went to British to persuade
them to protect the rights of Turkish Muslims but the British Prime Minister Lloyd George refused to
accept the demand of Khilafat leaders and clearly stated that Turkey would be punished like Austria
and Germany failure of Khilafat movement disappointed the leaders which weakened the movement.
British started a policy of repression against the Muslims of Khilafat movement and arrested
around 30,000 of name which we can the movement as its support declined.
In 1920, 18000 Muslims migrated to Afghanistan a Muslim country when Maulana Abdul
Kalam Azad declared India as Darul Harab (enemy territory) where Islam could not be practiced but
the foreign government did not allow them to enter and so they had to return. Upon their return they
saw their possessions in the hands of others and got busy in their resettlement. Thus, they were
least interested in Khilafat movement which caused the failure of KM as its support decreased.
In 1921 Ali Brothers the Main leaders of Khilafat movement were arrested by the British on the charges of
sedition as a result Khilafat movement failed due to the lack of guidance as the main leadership of the movement
was jailed.
After the Chaura Chauri incident of 1922, where police men were burnt alive by the
protesters of non-cooperation movement Gandhi decided to call off non-cooperation movement as
he said that it had become too violent this was a setback for the Khilafat movement as it lost the
support of the Hindu community.
In 1924 Kamal Ataturk Turkish Nationalist leader not only exit the caliph of Turkey but also
abolish the system of Caliphate which led to the failure of moment as there was no point of
continuing further because its main objective was lost when Muslim decided to start the Khilafat
movement to protect Turkish Empire.
Khilafat movement

Hindus including Gandhi immediately joined the Muslims upon the call of KM as they felt it to be an
opportunity for achieving self-rule. Unfortunately, Hindus were more interested in achieving their aim
of self-rule that protecting the rights of Turkish Muslim. Therefore, both the communities were
divided in their aims of Khilafat movement and this lack of common name led to the failure of Khilafat
movement.

Q Was the Khilafat Movement founded because the Muslims feared the breakup of Turkey after the
First World War? Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer.

During the 1st world war, Turkey was the largest Muslim empire supported Germany against British
allies. Therefore, many Indian Muslims were reluctant to support British during the war as they did
not want to support their fellow Muslims in Turkey. British noticed it and promised the Indian
Muslims that in case of British victory in the war they won’t harm Turkey. Many Muslims supported
the British in the war. However, after the war they dismantled Turkey as a result, Muslims were
angered and felt betrayed. Thus, they launched the Khilafat movement to remind British of their
promise.
Turkey was the largest Muslim empire that extended to areas such as Jerusalem, Mecca and
Madina. When British captured Turkey in WW1 Indian Muslims feared that they might harm the holy places.
So, in order to protect the religious places, the Muslims launched the Khilafat movement.
The sultan of Turkey was a figure of immense religious importance to the Muslims all over the world. When the
British decided to depose the Turkish Caliph and finish the system of Caliphate. Thus, Muslims were outraged and
they launched the KM to protect the Caliph and their Caliphate.
Since the LP of 1916 Muslims and the Hindus were striving for self-rule and when Muslims
formed the Khilafat Movement Hindus including Gandhi joined them and the Muslims also welcomed
the Hindus which meant that another common aim of KM was to ask British for more concessions.
There was deep seated resentment between British and Muslims e.g. British treated Muslims
unfairly in Bengal. This worried the Indian Muslims that they would also not be given their rights like
Bengal and so they launched the KM to protect their rights and also to get fair treatment for
themselves.
Although many Muslims supported the British in the WW1 but still there were many who
 dissented to support the British as they were not interested in fighting their fellow Muslims in
Turkey. This meant these Muslims did not like British policies regarding Turkish Empire and it was
the same hatred that took the shape of KM later on after the war.
Many Muslim leader like Maulvi Fazal ul Haq (leader of Muslim League) believe that collapse of Turkish Empire
would have an adverse effect on the importance of Indian Muslims and British might treat them with disrespect as
a result they formed the Khilafat movement to protect the prestige of Muslims as they were the second largest
community of India.
After World War 1 British punished Germany and its allies through different treaties for example
Germany was punished through Treaty of Versailles, Austria was also punished even the British
Prime Minister Lloyd George clearly stated that Turkey would also be punished like Austria and
Germany this worried the Indian Muslims and as a result lost the Khilafat movement to oppose the
British plan.
In 1919 the British started a policy of repression against Indians for example through the
Rowlatt Act which stated that any Indian could be arrested without warrant etc. This created a rift
between the Indians and the British as a result for the Hindu and Muslims were first to launch
Khilafat movement to reverse such Indian laws.