Lucknow Pact

Q: ‘The Lucknow Pact of 1916 was the only beacon of hope for Hindu-Muslims
unity between 1914 and 1930.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. [14]

Answer: Luck now Pact was a beacon of hope for both Congress and Muslim League
because it was the first time they both worked together towards a common objective as
Quaid e-Azam joined the Muslim League in 1913 after that he started working for Hindu-
Muslim unity, understanding and for better cooperation, the Luck now Pact of 1916 was
truly the only beacon of hope for Hindu and Muslim unity between 1919 and 1930.

The Luck now Pact was the only agreement on the plan of constitutional reforms which was
agreed both by Congress and Muslim League in 1916. The British reforms of 1919 also
called Montage-Chelmsford reforms were also established by the British government for
legislative council in provinces with the diarchy system which was not accepted by both the
Congress and the Muslim League, in 1928 Nehru report was drawn up for dominion status
and joint electorates which was not accepted by the Muslim League because the Nehru
Report denied acceptance of separate electorates.

In 1913 a new group of Muslim leaders entered the folds of Muslim League. The Muslim

League changed its major objectives and joined hands with congress. As a result of hard
work of Muhammad Ali Jinnah both Muslim League and Congress met for the annual
session of Bombay in December 1915. The leaders of both parties decided that they should
cooperate with each other to bring the British government to accept their demands therefore
in 1916 Muslim League and Congress held session at Lucknow and draw a Pact known as
Luck now Pact in which they reached to an agreement and it was gauntly forward for
Muslim hope. Obviously there had to be compromise on both sides. The most important
concession came when Congress agreed with the Muslim League that there should be
separate electorate for each group. The All India legislature that they called for it was
agreed that Muslim would have 1/3rd of the seats and weight age to the minorities of the
provinces were also agreed upon. Jinnah hoped that this agreement would lead to a united
Indian nation. Both Congress and Muslim league hoped that the British would their joint call
for self-government.
The British simply could not ignore the growing demand for self-government. Even during
the war agitation continued. The unity of Muslim League and Congress could not be
dismissed. They had to respond to the Luck now Pact, so in 1918 Edwin Montage secretary
of state for India and lord Chelmsford Viceroy of India, put forward plans which became the
Government of India act 1919 also known as Montage-Chelmsford reforms, in which
greater association of Indian in all branches of government were given. Greater provincial
power was given along with the responsible government for the induction of Indians in the
commission ranks; through these reforms they also introduced the diarchal system in
which there was to be a division of power between the governors. The executive and
provincial legislatures and the final decision were with the governor general. These
reforms disappointed Muslim League and Congress party as they had hoped for more
substantial confession. Through these reforms the most infamous Rowlett Act was also
passed.

In 1928 a committee was established by All Parties conference to try to define some
principals which might govern the Indian future constitution as both League and the
Congress rejected the Montage –Chelmsford reforms. The relation between the League and
the Congress remain cordial since self-rule was still their aim and could only be achieved
through mutual cooperation. However in 1928 the committee was able to produce a report
known as Nehru Report in which Jawaharlal Nehru recommended that no separate
electorate would be given to Muslims, no one 1/3rd seats for the Muslims in the central
legislation, a no reservation for the seats in Punjab and Bengal.

Quaid e-Azam tried his best to amend the Nehru report by introducing four important
changes which were 1/3rd elected representatives of the central parliament to be Muslims
in the provinces of Punjab and Bengal and seats should be reserved for the Muslims on

population basis, Sind and N.W.F.P must be granted full autonomy. The committee rejected
the suggestions and it was a calamity for Jinnah and Nehru report ended the hope of Hindu
Muslim unity and this totally alienated the Muslims and marked the end of any future
cooperation between League and the Congress. In response to Nehru report Jinnah
introduced his 14 points as a one final attempt to preserve the relationship and he added
the three amendments to the report which were in Jinnah’s 14 points but these proposals
were met with refusal. This is the very moment when Jinnah said it is ‘It is parting of the
ways’.
In my opinion, Luck now Pact of 1916 was only seen as the beacon for hope for both
Hindus and Muslims unity between the years 1914 to 1930.