The Khilafat Movement, a political campaign for the protection of the Ottoman Empire and the Caliphate, played a significant role in creating Indian History in terms of Indian Independence. The Khilafat Movement began after World War I, in the 1920s when talks discussing the possibility of a partitioned Ottoman Empire began. Muslims felt that a partitioned Empire would diminish the “Ottoman emperor’s status as the Caliph1” However, after the Treaty of Sevres in August 1920, the terms of which declared a partitioned Ottoman Empire2, and the Ataturk’s abolition of the position of the caliphate, a world wide Sunni Muslim movement began. The loudest of these movements took place in India where Muslims began a non-cooperation movement against the terms of the treaty with Turkey.
Maulana Mohammad Ali Jouhar, a prominent Muslim cleric and journalist preached resistance to the British and called for support for the caliphate- because of this he was put in prison for four years. Jouhar and his brother, Maulana Shaukat Ali, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, Hasrat Mohani, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Dr. Hakim Ajmal Khan formed the All India Khilafat Committee (AIKC). The aim of this committee was to bring unity among Muslims in India and to use the members’ influence as national leaders, to protect the caliphate. In 1920, the AIKC published the Khilafat Manifesto- calling for Muslim Unity and the Indian Muslim community’s support in holding the British accountable for the protection of the caliphate. Also in 1920, the AIKC formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress. Gandhi, on behalf of the Congress promised to fight for the Khilafat cause, and the Khilafat leaders, in return promised to fight for Swaraj. The Khilafatists soon became a major part of the Gandhi-led non-cooperation and peaceful civil disobedience movements. Because of the Khilafatists’ alliance, the Congress was able to make sure that no conflicts arose between the Hindus and the Muslims- followers of both religions were united in their joint struggle. As the alliance between the Khilafatists and the Congress became stronger, the leaders of both groups “grew personally close” to each other. In terms of achievements, Khilafat leaders- “Dr. Ansari, Maulana Azad and Hakim Ajmal Khan founded the Jamia Millia Islamia [towards the end of] 1920 to promote independent education and social rejuvenation for Muslims”3 Campaigns of huge protests, acts of civil disobedience and non-cooperation were held in the early days and for a while it seemed like the campaigns were successful, however, the differences between the Hindus and the Muslims soon began to pose problems and the Congress-Khilafat bond became weaker. Political parties such as the Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha, that represented different religions, were against the Khilafat campaign and the alliance between the Congress and the Khilafatists. Jinnah of the Muslim League termed the Khilafat movement as a “religious frenzy” while members of the Hindu community saw the movement as “Islamic fundamentalism based on a pan- Islamic agenda.”
Muslim leaders urged Indian Muslims to emigrate to Afghanistan because India was a ‘Dar al-Harb’ – a land without a Muslim majority and without Muslim rule. Afghanistan was, however, in the eyes of the Muslim leaders a ‘Dar al-Islam’- a land with a Muslim majority and Muslim rule. In the same year (1920), 18,000 Muslims from the Sindh region made the journey to Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, Indian refugees were not granted shelter, and were deported back to British India. These deported Indians were harassed by the Hindus when they returned. In the southern part of India, the Malabar region was home to many Muslims- most of whom were peasants. On their return from Afghanistan, Muslims found that Hindu landlords had confiscated their land and “refused to return their property.” This dispute led to the Moplah Rebellion. During the rebellion, Hindus and British authorities were attacked by armed Muslims and soon the Hindus and British retaliated- many thousands were killed on both sides. The peace that Gandhi and other Khilafatists had achieved between the two religious communities was destroyed. What angered the Muslims even more was that the Congress supported the Hindu landlords and the British in their effort to crush the rebellion with violence. Because of the Congress’ bias, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jouhar and his brother, Maulana Shaukat Ali removed themselves from the Congress and Gandhi’s company. The Ali brothers felt that Gandhi’s non-violent stand would not lead to much change, and broke all ties with him after 1922. As the months progressed, the Khilafat movement weakened after much talks, and little progress. The leaders were unsure of their loyalty- some wanted to make the Congress their priority, others the Muslim League, and still others the Khilafat cause. With so much division between the leaders, the Khilafat Movement was crushed when Mustafa Kemal, the Turkish revolutionary overthrew the Ottoman rule and established a secular, republic government that was sympathized with the west. There was nothing the Khilafatists could do, and so they had to abandon their movement.
With a dissolved AIKC, the leader chose to either maintain loyalty to the Muslim League or the Congress. The Ali brothers joined the Muslim League and Dr. Ansari, Maulana Azad and Hakim Ajmal Khan joined the Congress. All these former Khilafat leaders soon became advocates for their parties, and in the future were labelled ‘freedom fighters’.
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