Political Awakening in India: All-India Muslim League and Lucknow Pact

Study Notes

All-India Muslim League

First session held in Karachi in 1907, attended by famous Muslim leaders such as Nawab Salimullah, Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk, and many others.
Proved to be a real representative of Muslims in India, providing a platform for the struggle for independence.

Lucknow Pact (1916)

A joint session between the Congress and the Muslim League was held in Lucknow in 1916, marking the first political settlement between Muslims and Hindus.
Led to further unity, with Gandhi from Congress supporting the Muslims in their struggle for the restoration of the Khilafat in the Ottoman empire.

Montague-Chelmsford Reforms (1919)

The British government promised Indians self-rule in exchange for their assistance in winning World War I.
The Government of India Act, 1919 introduced diarchy, where some powers were reserved and controlled by Governors of the provinces, while others were transferred to the provincial Legislative Councils.
Separate electorates for Hindus and Muslims were introduced, and a commission was set up to meet after ten years to decide whether India was ready for further concessions.

Khilafat Movement (1919)

Initiated by the Ali Brothers, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar and Maulana Shaukat Ali, the movement supported the cause of the Ottoman Caliphate.
The Indian Muslims demanded fair treatment for Turkey after the end of World War I.
The Treaty of Sevres carved up the Ottoman Empire into mandates to be administered by Britain, France, and Italy, despite the support of the Khilafat Movement in British India.
The Khilafat was abolished in 1924, and Khalifa Abdul Majid II was exiled.

Non-Cooperation Movement

A series of attempts made by the British to repress the wave of Indian nationalism, leading to the non-cooperation movement.
Indians boycotted elections, government institutions, foreign goods, and even resigned titles given by the British government.
Gandhi called off the non-cooperation movement in February 1922 after the Chauri Chaura incident.

Delhi Muslim Proposal (1927)

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah proposed that if the Hindu-majority Congress agreed to protect the rights of Muslims, the Muslim League would give up their demand for separate electorates.
The proposal included separating Sindh from Bombay, introducing reforms in the North-West Frontier Province and Balochistan, and ensuring one-third representation in the central legislature for Muslims.

Simon Commission (1927)

A commission headed by Sir John Simon was sent to the subcontinent to investigate the constitutional problems in British India.
The Commission, comprising only British members, was boycotted by the Congress and some Muslim leaders, including Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Description

Test your knowledge on the first session of All-India Muslim League held in 1907 at Karachi and the significance of the Lucknow Pact in India's political awakening. Learn about famous Muslim leaders, the role of the Muslim League, and the collaboration between the Congress and the Muslim League.