KEY QUESTION 7:

KHILAFAT MOVEMENT

Sir Saad – The Learning Tree

WHAT DO WE WANT TO COVER?
 BACKGROUND & WORLD WAR I

• Two main Groups (Allies and Central Powers)

• Allies: Britain, France, Russia, Italy and the United States

• Central Powers: Germany, Austria, Hungary, Ottoman

Empire and Bulgaria
 TREATY OF VERSAILLES

• June 28, 1919 (Paris)

• Signed between the victorious Allies and Germany
• Reduced armed forces for Germany
• Colonies taken away and split (Creation of Poland)
• Germany had to pay huge sum of money to Allies
 REASONS FOR FORMATION
• Muslims fighting against Turkish Muslims in the British army
• Fear of similar treatment with Turkey as with Germany (Treaty
of Versailles)
• The movement was formed to save the Sultan and Holy Places
in Turkey. (The Khalifa was the head of Islamic Community)
• The Muslims wanted to ensure the control of Holy Places does
not go to non Muslims.
• The Muslims of India wanted to protect the Muslims at an
international level.
• Unity with the Hindus (Indian National Congress)
 ESTABLISHMENT & DEVELOPMENT
• The All India Khilafat Conference
1. Dehli – November 1919
2. Main leaders: Muslim Leaders – Maulana Shaukat Ali and Maulana Johar Ali /
Senior member of Congress, Abul Kalam Azad
3. Agreed to send a delegation to British (to persuade British to maintain their
promise of not mistreating Turkey)
4. Attended by Mahatma Ghandi too (unity against British) – wanted Swaraj (self
rule) and encouraged non cooperation (Satyagraya)
ESTABLISHMENT & DEVELOPMENT
• The Second Khilafat Conference
1. Amritsar – December 1919
2. Muslim League & Indian National Congress also had a meeting
3. Gandhi promised his support and take lead to persuade British to not mistreat
Turkey
4. British Prime Minister Loyed George did not show positive response to Indians
(Maulana Mohammad Ali had made a recent visit)
 ESTABLISHMENT & DEVELOPMENT
• Khilafat Delegations (Sent to England)
Delegations were sent to U.K and other European countries to persuade the
western powers not to treat Turkey in the same way as Germany and Austria:
I. January 1920
II. February 1920

However,Treaty of Sevres was announced.

 ESTABLISHMENT & DEVELOPMENT
• Treaty of Sevres:
1. While the delegation was in England (Feb 1920), British announced the Treaty of
Sevres (From August 2020)
2. Ottoman Empire was to be split
3. Arabia was made independent
4. Parts of Turkey were to be given under control of League of Nations
 ESTABLISHMENT & DEVELOPMENT
Non Cooperation movement
1. 22 June 1920 – Muslims sent a warning message to the Viceroy (non cooperation
to begin from August 1 1920)
2. Support by Ghandi
3. Boycott of jobs/schools/goods/court/armed forces etc
4. Anti British Rioting / strikes and demonstrations
5. Arrests by British
 REASONS LEADING TO FAILURE OF
KHILAFAT MOVEMENT
Hijrat Movement:
1. India was declared as Dar Ul Harb (land under ownership of foreign invaders and
not fit for Muslims to practice Islam) by Abul Kalam Azad (senior congress
member)
2. August 1920 ,18000 Muslims
3. Hijrat to Afghanistan, leaving behind their jobs and properties.
4. They were misguided that they will be given fertile land by Afghani government
for farming
5. They were not given entry in Afghanistan
6. On return, they had no jobs, houses and no money to support the Khilafat
Movement.
 REASONS LEADING TO FAILURE OF
KHILAFAT MOVEMENT
Arrest of leaders:
1. July 8, 1921 – Leaders of the movement met for the 3rd and final
time
2. The resolutions (of non cooperation) offended the British
3. The Government arrested all important leaders of the movement
which left the Muslims leaderless
4. Including Ali brothers and Ghandi
 REASONS LEADING TO FAILURE OF
KHILAFAT MOVEMENT
Moplah Rebellion:
1. Moplahs were Muslims peasants from South India who protested
against the British and their Hindu Landlords.
2. August1921, At Tirur10,000 Moplahs set a police station on fire and
took arms and ammunition. British sent troops and 4000 Moplahs
were Killed
3. February 1922, Village of Chauri Chaura, 22 police men were killed
when they fired on a political possession.
4. Gandhi was very upset and he withdrew Hindu support from the
Khilafat Movement
 REASONS LEADING TO FAILURE OF
KHILAFAT MOVEMENT
Indian Concern to Save the Khalifa:
Indian concern to save the Khalifa was more than the concern of the
Turkish Muslims / Western Powers
 REASONS LEADING TO FAILURE OF
KHILAFAT MOVEMENT
Difference of Views and Objectives:
• Muslims were protesting to save the system of Khilafat
• Hindus were only a part of the movement to gain Muslim support
for the non cooperation, they wanted Swaraj (self rule)
• Jinnah spoke against the policy
• Once the movement got into difficulty Gandhi had withdrew his
support
 REASONS LEADING TO FAILURE OF
KHILAFAT MOVEMENT
Turkey - a Republic:
• In 1922, sultan was deprived of his political powers
• In 1924, Kamal Ataturk abolished the Khilafat and exiled the Khalifa.
• When Turks abolished the Khalifa themselves, there was no point of
a Khilafat Movement.
 CONSEQUENCES/IMPACT
Positives:
Hindus and Muslims Unity
Muslims realized their political powers
Muslim press became active

Negatives:
Hijrat: Weakened the Muslims Physically / Financially / Morally
Economic Misery due to non cooperation
Communal Rioting / Hostility between Hindus and Muslims