COMSATS University Islamabad, Attock Campus

Pakistan Studies

Assignment # 01

 Name: Rabia Khalid

 Roll No: (CIIT/FA15-BEE-002/ATK)

 Batch: BS(EE)- 8

 Department : Electrical Engineering

 Course Code: HUM111

 Submitted to: Mr. Sadan Ali

 Submission Date: 01st March, 2019

Q1: Why Khilafat movement failed and what role did Congress played in its failure?
Ans: Khilafat Movement:
The Muslims of India decided to launch a movement for the safeguard of the institution of
Caliphate and to manifest their resentment over actions that the Allies had taken in Turkey in the
years following World War I. That movement was Khilafat movement (1919-1924) and it was a
very important event in the political history of India. Its purpose was to pressurize the British
government to preserve the authority of the Ottoman Sultan as Caliph of Islam following the
breakup of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the war. Congress fully supported the Khilafat
movement. The aims of this movement were as follow:
1. To protect the holy places of Turkey.
2. To restore the territories of Turkey.
3. To restore the Ottoman Empire.
Failure of Khilafat Movement:
Following are the few main reasons for the failure of Khilafat movement.
1: Abolition of Khilafat Kamal Ataturk:
The abolition of Khilafat by Kamal Ataturk was a serious blow on Khilafat movement in the sub-
continent and he exiled Sultan Abdul Majeed, a helpless Caliph and abolished Khilafat as an
institution, due to this all agitational activities came to an end in the sub-continent.
2: Afghan Government behaviour during Hijrat Movement:
In 1920, Abdul Kalam Azad and Maulana Abdul Bari gave a call for Hijrat movement and urged
the Muslims to migrate to a place where they can freely practice their religion. They called India
as Darul-Harab. As a result, a large number of Muslims migrated from Sindh and N.W.F.P to
Afghanistan. But the Afghan authorities took a U-turn from their offer and did not allow them to
cross the border. After this tragic event, those who had advocated the Hijrat movement come to
realize their mistake, which resulted in failure of movement.
3: Chaura Chauri Incident:
When Khilafat movement became mature and was reaching its climax. A tragic incident took
place in the village of Chora Churi. In this incident, the police opened fire on the procession of
local resident. In a reaction, the agitated mob set the police station on fires which resulted in the
burning of twenty one police constables alive. Due to this incident, the Ali brother and other
Muslim leader were arrested and Mr. Gandhi put off the movement. As a consequence the
movement lost its intensity.
Role of Congress in the Failure of Khilafat Movement:
When the British government refused to help the delegation of Khilafat Movement, leader of
Khilafat movement decided to launch Non Co-operation Movement and the Congress extended
its full support to the Khilafat Movement.
Indians were asked to give up Government. Services, renounce title and boycott courts
of law and British goods, walk out of schools and colleges.
  Hundreds of thousands people returned the titles and stopped sending their children to
government schools and colleges. They accepted ordinary jobs in the private sector. But the
vacuum created in government offices was joyfully filled in by Hindus, because they are
not with Muslims because they were looking for “Self-Rule”. The congress cleverly
decided to use Muslims agitation to press the British for the further concession on “Self-
Rule”.
 The indirect announcement of Gandhi to discontinue the Non Co-operation Movement
caused a death blow to Khilafat Movement. Gandhi used an incident of arson on February
1922, when a violent mob set on fire a police choki at Chora Churi at district Gorakpur,
burning twenty one constables to death as an excuse to call off the non-cooperation
movement. It adversely affected the Khilafat Movement.

Q2: How Khilafat movement proved that Hindus and Muslims were two different nations
as they could not continue the unity, and ultimately paved the way for Pakistan movement?
Ans: The Khilafat movement was started to safeguard the Khilafat in Turkey, an issue which
essentially belonged to the Muslims. By the involvement of Hindus the Movement grew forceful
and there was possibility of meeting the movement with success. The British Government was
the common enemy of the Muslims and Hindus. That is why, both the nations continued united
efforts against it.
Definition of Nationalism:
According to definition of nationalism if someone threatens the unity or oneness of the nation,
then they fight them with power, but they try to go living as one, they would try to protect their
way of life. We can also called it a desire of a group of individuals, who are already united by
certain ties, to live together and, if necessary, to die together. It is the wish of people who feel
that they are one, to go on living as one.
Light of hope for the Muslims:
At that point the Hindu-Muslim unity was on its peak. And Muslims, for the very first time,
thought that may be this time Hindu will may listen to their demands later when the running
issue will be resolved and there will be equal rights for both Hindus and Muslims. Also there will
be unity and peace in the sub-continent. By seeing Hindus with them (Muslims), they consider it
as a sign of light of hope for them.
Real face of Hindus:
The difference between the Hindus and Muslims became even more pronounced during Khilafat
movement and many other events showed that the opposition of Hindus to British Government
was not going to last for long. Some of the events are as follow:
1: Concept of “Self-Rule”:
In reality Hindus were not with Muslims. They always wanted to lead the sub-continent by
themselves. They never accepted the rights of Muslims. They considered themselves superior
over Muslims and they never want to see them progressing. So, they joined the Khilafat
movement by keeping in mind the concept of “Self-Rule” that they will cleverly avail any
opportunity to clear their image in front of British government and to become single leading
nation in the sub-continent.

2: Violation of Non Co-operated Movement:

As when the leaders of Non Co-operated Movement decided to boycott against British
government, the Muslims followed to agreement but the Hindus took advantage and apply for
job for the vacant seats in British government offices because they were looking for “Self-Rule”.
3: Attitude of Gandhi:
When Khilafat Movement reached at its success, the Hindus especially Mr. Gandhi gave up from
movement by making an excuse of Chora Churi incident and leaved the Muslims. As a result
many of Muslims got arrested. 
Conclusion:
The Khilafat movement proved that Hindus and Muslims were two different nations as they
could not continue the unity and could not live together because in a nation, individuals never
cheat or stab in the back of others and don’t leave each other in difficult situations. But Hindus
had their own agenda and they fooled Muslims and used them for their own purpose.
The Khilafat Movement then created a political consciousness among the Indian Muslims, which
inspired them to constitute another movement for their independence. Because they realize that
Hindus will never give them their rights and will ever stand by them. Thus, they started a new
movement and named it as “Pakistan Movement”.