Bookstawa – Modern History

Lucknow Pact, 1916

Background

• In 1916, the Indian National Congress held its session in Lucknow under the presidentship
of Ambika Charan Majumdar, a moderate leader within Congress. This session holds
significance as :

◦ It finally readmitted the Extremists led by Tilak to the Congress fold (after the 1907
Surat Split).
◦ It resulted into the famous Lucknow Pact between the Congress & the Muslim League.

What Contributed to the readmission of Extremists to Congress?

Annie Bessant & Tilak had made vigorous efforts for the reunion. To mollify the suspicions
of moderates, Tilak had declared that he supported a reform of administration & not an overthrow
of the government. He also denounced acts of violence. Also, the old controversies had become
meaningless now. Additionally, both the Moderates & the Extremists realised that the split had led
to political inactivity.

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 Bookstawa – Modern History

Run up to Lucknow Pact

Another significant development that took place in Lucknow was the coming together of
the Muslim League & the Congress & the presentation of common demands by them to the
government. When the Muslim League was formed in 1906, it was a relatively moderate
organisation with a pro-British stance. After the First World War, the Viceroy Lord Chelmsford
had solicited reform suggestions from Indians in return for the Indian support to the British war
effort. The Muslim League led by Mohammed Ali Jinnah wanted to use this opportunity to press
for constitutional reforms through a joint Hindu-Muslim platform. Jinnah was then a member of
both the parties and he was largely responsible for the Pact. This was the first time that leaders of
both the INC and the Muslim League were meeting for a joint session.

What were the reasons that brought Muslim league to come with the Congress?

• The Bengal Paritition done by the British Government in October 1905 created a Muslim
majority East-Bengal to woo the Muslims, was later annuled in 1911. This annoyed those
sections of the Muslims who had supported the partition.

• The Calcutta session of 1912 of the Muslim League had committed the League to “Working
with other groups for a system of self-government suited to India, provided it did not come
in conflict with its basic objective of protection of interests of the Indian Muslims”. This goal
of self-government by the Muslim League, similar to the Indian National Congress brought
both the sides closer.

• The young leaders of Muslim League were getting inspired by bolder Nationalist politics &
were trying to outgrow the limited political outlook of the Aligarh school.

• During the World War I, the Ottoman Empire(Turkey) ruled by the Khalifa was fighting
against the Allied Powers(Britain, France, Japan, Russia, Italy). The Khalifa was considered
the spiritual leader by Muslims all over the world. This resulted in Indian Muslims shifting
loyalty in favour of Khalifa & against the British.

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 Bookstawa – Modern History

Lucknow Pact

At the meeting, the leaders of both sides consulted with each other and drafted a set of
joint demands for constitutional reforms. The Congress accepted the Muslim League’s position
on separate electorates which would continue till any one community demanded joint electorates.

In October 1916, 19 elected Indian members of the Imperial Legislative Council addressed a
memorandum to the Viceroy seeking reforms.

In November 1916, leaders from both the parties met again in Calcutta and discussed and
amended the suggestions.

Finally, at their respective annual sessions held at Lucknow in December 1916, the INC and
the League confirmed the agreement. This came to be known as the Lucknow Pact. For his efforts,
Sarojini Naidu ! gave Jinnah "# the title ‘the Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity”.

Provisions of Lucknow Pact

• Self-Government : The government should declare that it would confer self-government on

Indians at an early rate.

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 Bookstawa – Modern History

• Representation in Central Legislature : The representative assemblies at the central as well

as provincial level should be further expanded to the strength of 150 with an elected
majority & more powers given to them.

• Separate Electorate : Out of these, 75 should be Indians & at least one-third of these should
be Muslims i.e. 25.

• Communal Veto : If a bill is introduced in the central legislature which is affecting a

community, then it would get passed only if three-fourth of strength of that community in
the council supports it.

• Separation of Judiciary from Executive : It was demanded that the judiciary !‍

‍
should be
made to function independent of the Executive.

• The salaries of the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs (who resided in London) should be
paid by the British Government & not from the Indian Funds.

• The term of the Legislative council should be increased from three years to five years.

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