Khilafat Movement (summary)

Khilafat Movement

During the World War I Turkey fought against Britain as an ally of Germany. So, after Turkey’s defeat, the abolition of Khilafat was proposed. The proposal wounded the feelings of Indian Muslims. They organized a protest movement under the leadership of Khilafat leaders.

The Khilafat movement: A deputation was given by the Khilafatists to the Viceroy whose reply was disappointing. Another deputation met Lloyd George in London experienced the same disappointment.

Launching the movement: The ‘Khilafat Day’ was observed on 17 October 1919. Soon, the movement on an all-India scale was launched on an imposing scale. The Central Khilafat Committee organized an all-India general strike on 1 August 1920. The movement gathered momentum as many Pirs and Mullahs supported it.

Gandhiji returned to the Viceroy the award of Kaisar-e-Hind which had been awarded by the British government for his war service. At the special session of the Congress held in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in September 1920, a resolution in favor of non-cooperation was passed.

The end of the movement: In September 1921, the Ali brothers was arrested. Gandhiji suspended the non-cooperation movement after the Chauri Chaura incident. He was arrested in 1922. A few months after his arrest, the Caliph or the Sultan of Turkey was deposed of his power due to a revolution led by Mustafa Kemal Pasha.

Later on, Turkey moved towards becoming a secular state and the Khilafat issue lost its importance.