Khilafat Movement Overview

A movement started in 1919 by Indian Muslims to support the Ottoman Caliphate and pressure the British government to protect it.

The vast empire in the Middle East/Eastern Europe historically ruled by the Ottoman dynasty. It was a significant player in World War I.

The system of governance under the control of a religious leader (Caliph) seen as the vicegerent of Allah.

A global war that affected many parts of the world, including the Ottoman Empire, and significantly influenced the Khilafat Movement.

Key figures in the Khilafat Movement in India.

To persuade the British to safeguard the Ottoman Caliphate.

The overthrow of the Caliph in Turkey in 1924.

British and allied powers aimed to divide Turkey after World War I, a result of Turkey's support of Germany in the war.

A treaty that led to the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire, which strengthened the Khilafat Movement.

Maulana Muhammad Ali and Maulana Shaukat Ali, Muslim leaders who spear-headed the Khilafat Movement in South Asia.

The movement ended around 1922 as Turkey gained independence, leading to its demise.

The act of dividing the Ottoman Empire into separate countries after WWI.

Representing the interest of Muslims across the world.

The Khilafat Movement's presence and activities within the South Asian region.

The Ali brothers, key figures in the Khilafat Movement, left the movement after Gandhi suspended the non-cooperation movement following the Chauri Chauri incident. They disagreed with Gandhi's absolute commitment to non-violence.

The Khilafat struggle faced internal divisions. Muslims were divided between supporting the Congress, the Khilafat cause, and the Muslim League.

Major figures in the movement included Maulana Muhammad Ali, Shaukat Ali, Dr. Ansari, Maulana Azad, and Hakim Ajmal Khan.

The Ottoman rule was overthrown by Mustafa Kemal's forces, establishing a pro-Western, secular republic in Turkey. Kemal abolished the Caliphate, ending the Ottoman Empire.

The Khilafat Movement aimed to preserve the Ottoman Caliphate and ensure that control of holy places remained in Muslim hands.

The Khilafat leadership fragmented into different political groups. Some joined the Muslim League, while others continued to support Gandhi and the Congress.

After the Ottoman Empire's collapse, a Khilafat Conference was held in Jerusalem to discuss the future of the Caliphate.

People from various parts of India, including villages like Aujla Khurd, contributed to the Khilafat cause.

The Khilafat Movement failed to achieve its goal of restoring the Caliphate. The Ottoman Empire was abolished, and the Caliphate was ended.

The Khilafat Movement, though ultimately unsuccessful, fostered a sense of political awareness and self-confidence among Indian Muslims. It encouraged them to participate in national politics.

The movement led to a rise in Muslim journalism in India. Numerous Urdu magazines and newspapers emerged, voicing the concerns and demands of Indian Muslims.

Hindus sought complete independence from British rule, while Muslims primarily focused on restoring their own religious authority through the Caliphate.

The movement's focus on defending the Caliphate against Western powers, particularly the British, fueled anti-British feelings among Indian Muslims.

Gandhi, recognizing the movement's anti-British sentiment, called for an end to the campaign before Kemal Ataturk, a Turkish military leader, officially abolished the Caliphate in 1924.

The movement significantly fostered a sense of shared identity among Indian Muslims and played a crucial role in their political awakening. It also laid the groundwork for the rise of Muslim political organizations in India.

The Khilafat Movement, while ultimately failing to save the Ottoman Caliphate, had lasting effects. It united Indian Muslims, heightened their awareness of their separate identity, and pushed them toward a sense of self-determination.

Several factors contributed to the movement's decline, including the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I, internal divisions among Muslims, and the abolition of the Caliphate in Turkey.

Mahatma Gandhi supported the Khilafat Movement through the Non-Cooperation Movement, aiming to unite Hindus and Muslims against British rule. However, violent incidents forced him to call off the movement, leading to the Khilafat Movement's decline.

The Khilafat Movement saw an increase in violence, leading to deaths of Hindus, Muslims, and British people. This ultimately led Gandhi to call off the Non-Cooperation Movement, harming the Khilafat Movement's momentum.

Though unsuccessful in its main objective, the Khilafat Movement played a significant role in shaping the Indian Muslim community. It ignited a sense of shared Islamic identity and strengthened Muslim political consciousness.

The Non-Cooperation movement aimed to achieve independence from British rule through passive resistance. This included rejecting government titles, boycotting courts and educational institutions, resigning from jobs, and refusing to pay taxes.

This incident in 1922, where a mob set fire to a police station in Chauri Chaura, killing 23 policemen, led Mahatma Gandhi to suspend the Non-Cooperation Movement due to concerns about violence.

Despite its failure to restore the Ottoman Caliphate, the Khilafat Movement significantly influenced Indian politics by uniting Muslims, fostering a sense of national awareness, and strengthening the idea of a separate Muslim nation.

The Khilafat Movement illustrated the deep divide between Hindu and Muslim interests, with Muslims feeling that their concerns were not genuinely addressed in a united India. This strengthened the argument for a separate Muslim state, later leading to the establishment of Pakistan.

The Khilafat Movement had negative economic consequences for many Muslims as they resigned from their jobs in protest against British rule, leaving them financially unstable.

The Khilafat Movement aimed to protect the Ottoman Caliphate, the religious leader of the Islamic world, as a way to ensure that Muslim holy places were protected from European powers like the British.

The Khilafat Movement played a vital role in empowering and uniting Indian Muslims, instilling a sense of shared identity and increasing their political awareness, ultimately contributing to their growing voice in national politics.

The Khilafat Movement faced internal divisions within the Muslim community, with some supporting the Congress, some advocating for the separate Khilafat cause, and others aligning with the Muslim League. This resulted in a weakening of the movement's overall power.