Khilafat Movement - History, Causes, Spread of Movement, Consequences, Issues, & Significance!

The Khilafat movement started in India in 1919. It saw massive protests to support the Ottoman Empire and Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. It spread rapidly across the country with the help of committed leaders and Gandhi's support.

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What was the 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.

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Causes of the Khilafat Movement

There were several reasons for the movement.

• The leading cause was the fear of the disappearance of Khilafat or the Islamic Caliphate. The Caliph was the Khalifa, or the leader of the global Muslim community. After World War 1, the Allies planned to dissolve the Ottoman Empire and Turkey. This worried Indian Muslims as they feared the end of Khilafat. It would impact the pan-Islamic unity and brotherhood.
• Indian Muslims were concerned about the fate of the holy cities of Mecca and Madina. These sites were under the control of the Ottoman Empire. If Turkey lost power, they feared non-Muslims would control the holy cities. This worried the religious sentiments of Indian Muslims.
• Another cause was the feeling of betrayal among Indian Muslims. During the war, India supported the British by sending troops to fight with the Allies. The British had promised to safeguard Islamic interests after the war. However, now they were planning to dissolve the Ottoman Empire. This upset the Indian Muslims and made them feel betrayed.
• The extreme views of leaders like Maulana Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali fueled the movement. They spread the fear that the end of Khilafat would lead to the decline of Islam as a world religion. They positioned the issue as a fight for the freedom and rights of all Muslims. This pushed more Muslims to join the protest movement.
• Gandhi's support gave the movement a major boost. Gandhi saw an opportunity to form a Hindu-Muslim alliance against the British. He linked the Khilafat issue with India's freedom struggle. His participation brought more people into the movement and gave it mass appeal.
• The Jihad declaration by the Ottoman Caliph further intensified the movement. The Caliph called on all Muslims to wage jihad against the Christian nations. This directly appealed to the religious sentiments of Indian Muslims. Many joined the movement with the aim of supporting the jihad.
• In summary, the Khilafat movement started due to the fear of Muslims in India that the end of the Ottoman Empire would negatively impact Islam as a religion. The feelings of betrayal by the British and the extreme views of Muslim leaders further fueled the movement. Gandhi's support and the Jihad call by the Ottoman Caliph turned it into a mass protest that shook the British. 

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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 travelled 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 major 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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Consequences of the Khilafat Movement

The Khilafat Movement had important 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 Muslims to Congress in large numbers 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 transcended communal identities fully.
• 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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Importance of the Khilafat Movement

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.

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 important roles in the movement.

• The Ali brothers- Mohammed Ali and Shaukat Ali, were the inspirational leaders of the movement. They gave powerful speeches and organized rallies to garner support. They travelled across India to spread the message of unity and defiance among Muslims.
• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a notable scholar and speaker. He used his vast knowledge and skills for oratory to garner support from educated Muslims to join the movement. His speeches highlighted the religious significance of Khilafat and appealed to the religious sentiments of Muslims.
• Maulana Hasrat Mohani, from Uttar Pradesh, was an effective voice of moderation in the movement. He emphasized the message of non-violence and unity among different communities in India.
• 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 religion 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 travelled 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.

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Issues With the Khilafat Movement

Despite its initial momentum, the Khilafat Movement faced several challenges. Here are some of the issues that contributed to its failure:

• The British government remained unresponsive to the demands of the Khilafat Movement. They saw it as a religious issue rather than a political one. They were unwilling to make concessions to the Indian Muslims.
• The Khilafat Movement received support from Muslims around the world. Yet, it failed to garner significant international backing. The geopolitical situation and the dismantling of the Ottoman Empire weakened the position of the Khalifa. This made it difficult for the movement to gain substantial global support.
• The Khilafat Movement was not a unified movement. Internal divisions weakened its effectiveness. There were differences among leaders on goals and the extent of cooperation with other political groups. These divisions hindered the movement's ability to present a united front.
• The British authorities responded to the Khilafat Movement with repression and crackdowns. Many leaders and activists were arrested, and the movement faced severe restrictions. The suppression by the colonial government weakened the movement's momentum. 
• The Khilafat Movement faced a significant setback when Mahatma Gandhi decided to shift the focus towards the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920. This shift in strategy divided the attention and resources of the Indian nationalist movement.
• The Khilafat Movement primarily focused on the political issue of the Khalifa. It did not address the broader socio-economic grievances of the Indian Muslim community. This limited scope and narrow focus made it challenging to sustain long-term mass support. 

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Conclusion

The Khilafat Movement saw the emergence of inspiring leaders like the Ali brothers, Maulana Azad, Maulana Hasrat Mohani, and many others, both men and women. Their collective appeals on religious, political, and social grounds were able to unite Muslims across regions in British India behind the cause of Khilafat.

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