Khilafat Movement in India: Year, Causes, Course, Significance & Notes for UPSC!

The Khilafat Movement (1919–1924) was a pan-Islamic protest in India against the weakening of the Ottoman Caliphate after World War I. Led by the Ali brothers, Abul Kalam Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and supported by Mahatma Gandhi, it aimed to protect the Caliph and unite Hindus and Muslims against British rule.

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What is Khilafat Movement?

The Khilafat Movement was a political campaign launched by Indian Muslims in British India from 1919 to 1922. It aimed to protest against British policies towards Turkey and the dismantling of the Ottoman Empire after World War I. The movement sought to address the grievances of Turkey and promote Hindu-Muslim unity. The movement ended in 1922 after the conclusion of the non-cooperation movement.

Background of the Khilafat Movement in India

• The Khilafat Movement began amid economic distress and political repression caused by World War I and British colonial policies.
• After World War I, prices of essential commodities rose sharply, industries faced closures, peasants paid higher rents and taxes, and inflation created widespread hardship.
• The Rowlatt Act of 1919 allowed the British to imprison Indians without trial, triggering anger and political awakening. Mahatma Gandhi opposed it through the Rowlatt Satyagraha, which led to nationwide hartals and demonstrations.
• On April 13, 1919, the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre occurred when General Dyer ordered firing on an unarmed crowd in Amritsar, killing hundreds. The Hunter Commission’s lenient report angered Indian nationalists further.
• The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (Government of India Act, 1919) were introduced to pacify Indians but offered very limited concessions, leading to disappointment and a stronger anti-British sentiment.

There were several causes behind the rise of the Khilafat Movement:

• The primary cause was the fear of the end of the Ottoman Caliphate (Khilafat) after World War I.
• The Caliph (Khalifa) was the spiritual and political head of Muslims worldwide, and losing the Caliphate meant a threat to Islamic unity.
• Indian Muslims were concerned about the fate of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, which were under Ottoman control.
• They feared non-Muslim powers would control these sacred sites if the Ottoman Empire was dissolved.
• Mahatma Gandhi supported the movement, linking the Khilafat issue with India’s freedom struggle and creating Hindu-Muslim unity against British rule.
• The Jihad call by the Ottoman Caliph against Christian nations appealed to the religious sentiments of Indian Muslims.
• Feelings of betrayal by the British after World War I and strong speeches by Muslim leaders further intensified the movement.

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Rise and Spread of the Khilafat Movement in India

The movement started in Gujarat under Maulana Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali. They held public meetings to spread awareness about threats to Khilafat. Their speeches appealed to Muslims' religious sentiments and aroused anger against the British. Many Muslims joined.

• The Ali brothers traveled extensively to Delhi, Lucknow, Allahabad, and Bombay. Their speeches focused on pan-Islamic unity and the religious duty to protect Khilafat. This resonated with Muslims and attracted more supporters.
• Gandhi linked Khilafat with India's freedom struggle. He declared non-cooperation as the means to fight for both. His participation galvanized the movement and attracted Indians of all religions.
• Gandhi organized a Khilafat delegation to demand Muslim rights from the British. This increased the movement's prominence and forced the British to take notice. Gandhi's civil disobedience and non-cooperation provided Muslims with a structure to participate in protests.
• The Khilafat Committee expanded the movement's reach. It established branches across India to mobilize Muslims at the grassroots. It organized strikes, hartals, and protests involving lakhs of people. This brought international attention to Khilafat.
• The use of effective nonviolent tactics like hartals and picketing helped spread rapidly. Gandhi's slogan of non-violence appealed to Indian Muslims and made the movement acceptable to wider Indian society. This helped overcome initial suspicions and attract more supporters.
• The Ali brothers' speeches, Gandhi's support, the Khilafat Committee's organization, and the use of nonviolent protest helped attract lakhs of supporters. Despite internal challenges, the movement shook the British and highlighted Hindu-Muslim unity in India's freedom struggle.
• In short, the Khilafat movement spread across India with committed leadership, Gandhi's support, organizational structure, appeals to religious sentiments, and the use of nonviolent protest. It mobilized lakhs of Indian Muslims and posed a significant challenge to the British. Though short-lived, it exemplified the potential for Hindu-Muslim unity in India's independence movement. With simple yet effective strategies, the movement spread its message widely and rapidly during its short lifespan.

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The Khilafat Movement officially started in 1919 to:

• Defend the Khalifa’s powers,
• Protest the Punjab wrongs, and
• Pressurize the British Government.

It was led by Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali (Ali Brothers), along with Abul Kalam Azad and Hasrat Mohani.

Formation of the Khilafat Committee (1919)

• A Khilafat Committee was set up in Bombay in early 1919.
• Muslim businessmen led initial efforts, organizing meetings, petitions, and delegations in support of the Khalifa.
• Soon, a militant trend emerged, as many leaders felt moderate approaches were ineffective.

Delhi Khilafat Conference (Nov 1919)

• The All India Khilafat Conference was held on 22–23 November 1919 in Delhi, presided over by Mahatma Gandhi.
• For the first time, the conference advocated non-cooperation with the British.
• Hasrat Mohani even called for a boycott of British goods.

Non-Cooperation Warning to the British

• The Khilafat leaders warned the British that they would stop cooperating with the government if post-war peace terms harmed Muslim interests.
• In April 1920, Shaukat Ali threatened that a joint Hindu-Muslim non-cooperation movement would begin if Muslims were not appeased.
• He emphasized Gandhi’s leadership, which both communities respected.

Gandhi’s Role in Hindu-Muslim Unity

• Initially, Gandhi supported the Khilafat issue cautiously and led the All India Khilafat Committee.
• The Treaty of Sevres and Hunter Committee Report on Jallianwala Bagh (May 1920) angered Indians, prompting Gandhi to actively take up the Khilafat cause.

Program of Non-Cooperation (June 1920)

• In Allahabad (June 1–3, 1920), the Central Khilafat Committee announced a non-cooperation program, which included:
  • Boycott of British titles and honors
  • Resignation from government services (civil, police, army)
  • Non-payment of taxes

Support from Congress and Muslim League

• Initially, Congress was divided on the issue.
• Later, Congress realized the potential for Hindu-Muslim unity, while the Muslim League pledged full support to Congress movements.

Merger with the Non-Cooperation Movement

• Eventually, the Khilafat Movement merged with Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22).
• This strengthened the freedom struggle and brought Hindus and Muslims together under one national cause.

Important Leaders of the Khilafat Movement 

The Khilafat Movement started in India in 1919 after the defeat of the Turkish Sultan in World War 1. The movement aimed to save the institution of the Islamic Caliphate and protect the religious rights of Indian Muslims. Several men and women leaders played essential roles in the movement.

• Though the Khilafat Movement was merged and subsumed under the larger movement, the Non-cooperation Movement and the issue of Khilafat itself were diluted due to the political reforms of Mustafa Kamal Pasha in Turkey. It still holds importance on a number of fronts.
• Urban Muslims were attracted to the Indian national movement.
• Hindu-Muslim unity was strengthened, and this was reflected in the extent of participation in the Non-cooperation Movement.
• Nationalist sentiments politicized every segment of the population, including women, traders, urban poor, students, peasants, artisans, and peasants.
• Congress, especially Gandhi, attracted many liberal Muslim leaders to the secular nature of the Indian freedom movement.
• Maulana Shaukat Ali's wife, Begum Shaista Ikramullah, was an active member of the movement, especially championing the cause of Muslim women. She made speeches to encourage Muslim women to participate in protests. She argued that women also had religious rights and religious rights to protect by joining the movement.
• Noor Jehan, a prominent singer and movie actress from Lahore, joined the movement to raise awareness through her cultural influence. She made patriotic songs to generate pro-Khilafat and anti-British sentiments among the masses.
• Ashraf Jahan from Delhi became famous as the "Mirrawa of Khilafat." She traveled across towns to give speeches and encouraged women to actively take part by joining protest marches and rallies.
• Abdul Bari, a scholar and educationist from Bihar, used his goodwill to mobilize Muslim students and teachers to participate in the demonstrations. He played a leading role in organizing meetings and protest marches in Bihar.
• Zahoor Ahmad, from Punjab, led the Khilafat delegation that went to London in 1921 to meet British leaders. He forcefully argued the case of Khilafat and Indian Muslims with British officials to press for their demands.

The Khilafat movement (1919–22) was a political campaign launched by Indian Muslims in British India over British policy against Turkey and the planned dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire after World War I by Allied forces. The Khilafat Movement had essential consequences for India.

• The Khilafat Movement united Hindus and Muslims. Before this movement, Hindus and Muslims did not cooperate much with each other. Hindus supported the Muslims in this movement. This helped reduce communal tensions for some time.
• It strengthened the Indian National Congress. The movement attracted large numbers of Muslims to Congress for the first time. Prominent Muslim leaders like Maulana Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali joined the Congress during this time. This gave Congress a more pan-India character.
• The movement led to the Moplah rebellion. When the British Government did not support the Khilafat Movement, some Muslims in Kerala revolted violently against the Government. This Moplah rebellion of 1921 was suppressed brutally by the British. It showed the problems of aligning religion with politics.
• It reduced the influence of secular Muslim leaders. The movement encouraged Muslim communalism and sidelined the secular Muslim leaders in Congress. Leaders like Maulana Azad, who wanted Hindu-Muslim unity, lost influence.
• It ended Gandhi's relationship with the Muslim League. Gandhi tried his best to unite the Khilafat leaders with the Muslim League but failed. After this movement, the League emerged as a powerful Muslim communal organization focused on separate electorates and homelands for Muslims.
• It increased communal tensions over time. When the Khilafat Movement failed, Muslims distrusted the Congress. And Hindus blamed Muslims for the movement's failure. This increased mutual suspicion between the communities.
• The movement radicalized young Muslims. The brutal suppression of the Moplah rebellion and the Khilafat Movement's failure led to feelings of helplessness and victimhood among some Muslim youth. This radicalized some and pushed them towards Islamic movements.
• It weakened the concept of Indian nationalism. The movement showed that religion still had a strong pull over Indians, especially Muslims. It proved that Indian nationalism had not fully transcended communal identities.
• Many Muslims felt betrayed. When the movement failed, many Muslims felt that Hindus had let them down. Muslims then focused on securing political safeguards for themselves, which widened the Hindu-Muslim divide.

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Significance of the Khilafat Movement

The Khilafat Movement was a major political and religious campaign by Indian Muslims in the early 20th century to protect the Ottoman Caliphate after World War I. It also united Hindu-Muslim efforts against British rule in India. The Khilafat Movement holds significance in Indian history. 

• It showcased the political consciousness and unity of Indian Muslims in their support for a cause beyond their immediate national interests. 
• It fostered Hindu-Muslim unity and cooperation. It promoted a sense of solidarity against British colonial rule. 
• The movement had an alliance with the Indian National Congress under Mahatma Gandhi's leadership. This demonstrated the convergence of different religious and political groups in the struggle for independence.

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Issues With the Khilafat Movement

The Khilafat issue played a pivotal role in fostering a radical nationalist sentiment among the younger generation of Muslims and traditional scholars critical of British rule. Their discontent stemmed from the mistreatment of Turkey by the British post-World War I. Muslims globally, considering the Sultan of Turkey as their religious head (Khalifa), were deeply upset by Turkey's dismemberment and the removal of the Khalifa from power.

In India, Muslims united in demanding:

• Retention of Khalifa's control over Muslim sacred places.
• Adequate territories for the Khalifa after territorial arrangements.
• In early 1919, the Ali brothers (Shaukat Ali and Muhammad Ali), Maulana Azad, Ajmal Khan, and Hasrat Mohani formed the Khilafat Committee, aiming to compel the British Government to reconsider its stance on Turkey. This laid the foundation for a nationwide agitation.

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