Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement

The Khilafat Movement was started in British India after the end of World War 1 (1918). The Ottoman Caliph lost was defeated and lost its power to rule the area presently known as Turkey. The Khilafat movement was pan-Islamic and was not directly related to Indian politics. The All-India Khilafat Committee was established to launch and execute this movement. It was not only supported by Muslims but also Hindus under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and was the 1st national movement of Gandhiji. The Non-cooperation movement reached its zenith after Mahatma Gandhi came and it started in 1920 after a joint conference between the Congress and the Muslim League.

The result of World War I was a disaster for Turkey because the Caliphate lost its power and had to sign the Treaty of Sevres which was very insulting. This was the immediate cause for the Khilafat Movement but there were other causes as well. The year 1919 was a year of dissatisfaction for all sections of India because of the rise in prices of commodities post the war, decline in industries, increase in rents and taxes, etc.

The Rowlatt Act and the imposition of martial law followed by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Punjab were brutal and Indians could no longer trust the Britishers. The Montague-Chelmsford reforms did not satisfy the Indian demands for self-governance. reasons brought together the masses and thus a national mass movement started called the Non Cooperation Movement.

The Khilafat Movement was started by Ali brothers, Shaukat Ali and Muhammad Ali to protect the institution of Caliphate in Turkey. Khalifah means Islamic form of Government where the leadership was with the successor of Prophet Mohammad.

• Turkey was defeated in the First World War after which the victors (Allied Powers comprising of the British) eliminated the Khalifah in Turkey, this created a sense of discontent amongst the Muslims around the world including India.
• Britishers were considered as enemies and now Muslims wanted to undertake internal reform from Dar-al-Harb (land of enemy) to Dar-ul-Islam(land of Islam).
• Two All-India bodies namely, All-India Khilafat Committee and Jamiat-al-ulama-e-Hind were established to efficiently mobilise this movement. It was not a religious movement but rather a show of solidarity with their fellow Muslims in Turkey.
• Parallely, there was unrest in the rest of India against the British rule. During the Lucknow session of Congress in 1916, both Hindus and Muslims were against the provisions of the Rowlatt Act which allowed the government to try people without juries and imprison them without trial also.
• Gandhiji saw an opportunity to start a non-violent mass movement uniting Hindus and Muslims.
• A joint conference of the Congree & the Muslim Leage was held in February 1920.
• The Khilafat committee accepted Gandhi's advice to join the programmeand requested Gandhiji to lead the movement.
• Non-Cooperation Movement was launched on 1st August 1920.

• 1st Phase: (January 1921- March 1921): Boycott of foreign goods and government institutions. Establishing nationalist schools such as Jamia Millia in Aligarh, Gujarat and Bihar Vidyapeeth.
• 2nd Phase: (Post March 1921): The Tilak Swaraj fund was started by Congress which was a success and 50 lakh members enrolled in the party.
• 3rd Phase (July 1921 onwards): Jinnah’s speech asked Muslims to boycott British Army and there were riots when Prince of Wales came to India.
• 4th Phase: There was severe crackdown from the British Government who banned the Congree and Khilafat Committee. Gandhiji demanded i) release of political prisoners and (ii) removal of control over press.

• MEASURES: Non cooperation, not celebrating victory of British in the First World War and boycott of British Goods.
• DEMANDS: To retain the institution of the Caliphate and the holy places of the Muslims in Turkey should remain with the Turkish Government.
• IMPACT: Establish close ties with Middle Eastern region counter-parts and other Islamic nations. It also promoted Hindu-Muslim unity. Idea of Independence (Swaraj) gained mass popularity and Gandhiji emerged as a national leader. The Khilafat movement along with the Non-Cooperation Movement was largely non-violent and became the first mass movement for Indian Independence.
  • The muslims of the urban areas participated in the movement
  • Patriotic sentiments rose amongst women, students, peasants, artisans and urban poor.

1. Violence increased: The Chauri-Chaura incident made Mahatma Gandhi withdraw the Non-cooperation movement. The people in retaliation had set the police station on fire with policemen locked inside. 22 policemen died.
2. The Moplah Revolt: It was a revolt of the Mapilla Muslims in Kerala against the Hindu zamindars and the British. This clash ended the Hindu-Muslim unity.
3. Political Developments in Turkey: The discontinuation of the Caliphate post was a slap on the faces of the Khilafat leaders and the Turkish muslims no longer agitated and slowly the movement died down.

While both the Khilafat and the Non Cooperation movement had their own motivations principally they were against the British Government. This allowed them to be united and double their power, even fostering Hindu-Muslim unity which would go on to be key for India’s independence in 1947. Khilafat movement began in a bid to save the Caliphate, however since the Turkish Muslims themselves lost interest, the movement died down. The Non Cooperation Movement, thought triggered by the Rowlatt Act, was a demand primarily for end of oppressive British practices and self rule. It was the first mass movement and brought Gandhiji to national limelight. It was called off because Gandhiji was principally opposed to violence and the Chauri-Chaura incident pained him. This established his credentials as leader of the Indian people and also highlighted the importance of non violence for Indian Independence movement.

While the Non-Cooperation Movement ended, Gandhi remained committed to non-violence and civil disobedience. He shifted his focus towards promoting constructive programs like Khadi production and Harijan (Dalit) upliftment.