Khilafat Movement
In the late 19th century, Jamaluddin Afghani traveled to India as an emissary for Sultan Abdul Hamid II. The Ottoman sultan held the title of caliph, serving as the nominal supreme religious and political leader for all Sunni Muslims worldwide. This authority remained largely symbolic despite its global reach. Indian Muslims felt a deep religious passion when hearing about the plight of their spiritual leader. The Young Turk Revolution later shifted real power away from Mehmed V toward nationalist reformers. A large number of Muslim religious leaders began working to spread awareness on behalf of the caliphate. Maulana Mehmud Hasan attempted to organize a national war of independence with support from the Ottoman Empire.
Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar spent four years in prison for advocating resistance to the colonial government. He joined his brother Maulana Shaukat Ali to form the All India Khilafat Committee. Other founders included Hakim Ajmal Khan, Abul Kalam Azad, and Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari. The organization operated from Lucknow at Hathe Shaukat Ali, the compound of Landlord Shaukat Ali Siddiqui. In 1920, they published the Khilafat Manifesto calling upon British authorities to protect the caliphate. The committee aimed to build political unity among Muslims while holding the British accountable. A separate Khilafat Committee existed in Bengal under Mohmmad Akram Khan and Chittaranjan Das.
The Treaty of Sèvres signed in 1920 severed territories like Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq from the empire. European powers had promised to protect the Ottoman sultan's status as caliph before this agreement. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk led the Turkish national movement during the War of Independence from 1919 to 1923. He abolished the Treaty of Sèvres with the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. Atatürk later abolished the position of the caliphate entirely in 1924 through his reforms. Ahmed Sharif as-Senussi declined an offer to become caliph if he resided outside Turkey. Hussein bin Ali claimed the title but lost his kingdom to Ibn Saud in 1925.
Mahatma Gandhi formed an alliance with Khilafat leaders in 1920 to fight for both Swaraj and the caliphate. The campaign began with boycotts of legislative councils, government schools, colleges, and foreign goods. Massive protests and strikes spread across India while Hindus and Muslims joined forces peacefully. Gandhi, the Ali brothers, and others were swiftly arrested by the colonial government. A Punjab Khilafat deputation led by Moulana Manzoor Ahmed took a leading role throughout India. People from villages such as Aujla Khurd became main contributors to the cause. Some participants engaged in protest emigration from North-West Frontier Province to Afghanistan under Amanullah Khan.
The movement marked the first time a major number of Sindhi pirs united on a common platform against British policy. Their involvement threatened to undermine the position of British colonial rule in Sindh significantly. Pan-Islamic sentiment rose during the years leading up to 1919 affecting many religious leaders. Support for broader Islamic concerns was directly associated with the gradual erosion of barriers isolating Sindh region. Despite significant influence from the pirs, the system of control reduced threats to manageable proportions. The concerns appealed strongly to a major section of the province's religious leadership.
Syed Ata Ullah Shah Bukhari created Majlis-e-Ahrar-e-Islam with support from Chaudhry Afzal Haq. Leaders like Dr. Ansari and Maulana Azad remained strong supporters of Gandhi and the Congress. The Ali brothers eventually joined the Muslim League instead. The movement weakened as Muslims divided between working for the Congress, the Khilafat cause, and the Muslim League. Gail Minault noted that the leadership fragmented along different political lines. The non-cooperation movement ended in 1922 after the Chauri Chaura incident occurred.
The period from 1919 to 1922 is widely seen as the heyday of Hindu-Muslim unity. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk thanked the Congress for its sympathy regarding the crumbling Ottoman Empire. Muhammad Ali Jinnah left the Congress after his caution against entangling secular independence with religious elements went unheeded. He later became a key leader of the Pakistan Movement. Critics argue that religious rhetoric concealed a weak agenda rather than true nationalism. Omair Anas wrote for Daily Sabah noting it is impossible to recall Turkey's anti-colonial struggle without mentioning Gandhi's support.
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Common questions
Who founded the All India Khilafat Committee and when did it operate?
Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar joined his brother Maulana Shaukat Ali to form the All India Khilafat Committee in 1920. Other founders included Hakim Ajmal Khan, Abul Kalam Azad, and Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari. The organization operated from Lucknow at Hathe Shaukat Ali until the movement ended in 1922.
What events caused the Khilafat Movement to end in 1922?
The non-cooperation movement ended in 1922 after the Chauri Chaura incident occurred. This event led to the arrest of Gandhi, the Ali brothers, and other leaders by the colonial government. The movement weakened as Muslims divided between working for the Congress, the Khilafat cause, and the Muslim League.
How did Mahatma Gandhi support the Khilafat Movement during 1920?
Mahatma Gandhi formed an alliance with Khilafat leaders in 1920 to fight for both Swaraj and the caliphate. The campaign began with boycotts of legislative councils, government schools, colleges, and foreign goods. Massive protests and strikes spread across India while Hindus and Muslims joined forces peacefully.
When did Mustafa Kemal Atatürk abolish the position of the caliphate?
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk abolished the position of the caliphate entirely in 1924 through his reforms. He had previously led the Turkish national movement during the War of Independence from 1919 to 1923. Atatürk also abolished the Treaty of Sèvres with the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923.
Why were Sindhi pirs significant to the Khilafat Movement in Sindh?
The movement marked the first time a major number of Sindhi pirs united on a common platform against British policy. Their involvement threatened to undermine the position of British colonial rule in Sindh significantly. Pan-Islamic sentiment rose during the years leading up to 1919 affecting many religious leaders.