Lucknow Pact

1916
By
SHAHID JAMIL
Background
• An agreement between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, to
allow representation to religious minorities in the provincial legislatures.
• 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.
• The Muslim League leaders agreed to join the Congress movement demanding Indian
autonomy.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak, represented the Congress.
• Muhammad Ali Jinnah also participated in this event.
• The British had announced under immense pressure from Indian masses, in order to
satisfy the Indians.
Congress Stance
• The Congress agreed to separate electorates for Muslims in electing
representatives to the Imperial and Provincial Legislative Councils.
• Which the Indian National Congress opposed the rights of
representations to the Muslims in the Indian Council Act of 1909.
• The Congress also agreed to the idea of one-third seats for the
Muslims in the Councils despite the fact that the Muslim population
represented less than a third.
• The Congress agreed that no act affecting a community should be
passed unless three-quarters of that community's members on the
council supported it.
Demands from the British
The number of elected seats on the councils should be increased.
• Laws/Motions which were passed by large majorities in the councils
should be accepted as bindings by the British Government.
• Minorities in the provinces should be protected.
• All provinces should be granted autonomy.
• Separating the executive from the judiciary
• At least half of the members of the Executive Council being elected,
the Legislative council having a majority of elected members
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• Increasing the term of the Legislative Council to 5 years.
• Half the members of the Imperial Legislative Council to be Indians.
• All elected members to be elected directly on the basis of adult
franchise. 4/5th of the members of the provincial legislatures to be
elected and 1/5th to be nominated.
• Members of the Legislative Council to elect their President
themselves.
Significance
• The Lucknow Pact bring Hindu–Muslim unity.
• It was the first time that the Hindus and Muslims had made a joint
demand for political reform to the British.
• It led to a growing belief in British India that Home Rule (self-
government) was a real possibility.
• It established cordial relations between the Muslim League and the
Indian National Congress.
• Before the pact, both parties were viewed as rivals who opposed each
other and worked in their own interests. However, the pact brought a
change in that view.
Significance
• The Lucknow Pact also helped the two prominent groups within the
Indian National Congress – the 'extremist' faction led by the Lal Bal
Pal trio (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal),
and the 'moderate' faction led by Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
• Abolition of the Indian Council.
• Separation of the executive from the judiciary.
• Salaries of the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs to be paid from
British coffers and not Indian funds.
• 1/3rd representation to be given to Muslims in the Central
Government.