Khilafat Movement

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About the Book The Khilafat Movement (1919-1924) refers to the ferment among Indian Muslims consequent to the collapse of the Ottoman Turkish Empire and the threat to the Turkish Khalifa during the closing stages of World War I. Armed with scriptural sanction and historical precedents, the Khilafat Movement became an all-India pan-Islamic agitation. Though a hundred years have. passed, there are several misconceptions about its exact nature and significance. The ideology that drove the Khilafat Movement remains alive to this day. The lessons it offers can only be ignored at one's peril.

About the Author The author, Dr. Shreerang Godbole is a scholar of Islam and Islamic history. He has stripped the Khilafat Movement of the false discourse surrounding it and exposed its true colours.

Foreword The Special Session of the Indian National Congress organized in Calcutta (Kolkata) on 4 September 1920 was historic on many counts. The Resolution to Non-Cooperate that was adopted at the Session also had as the other main agenda the idea to organize a movement that would put pressure on Britain to alter her policy towards Turkey and in doing so, show solidarity and support for the Caliphate and its political existence. The Khilafat Movement, as this movement came to be known, had support among the Muslims of India and also to some extent among other communities. For a country as vast as India, the support for the Movement was not widespread so to say, but the fact that Mahatma Gandhi was closely associated with the call to support the Caliphate enabled it to draw much attention. Interestingly however several important leaders even of the Congress were not in favor of the idea of raising a political demand in India in support of the distant Turkey and the Caliphate which had already lost much of its sheen, glory and relevance. But Gandhi came out in support of the Movement, believing that it was a chance to bring the Hindus and Muslims closer. Gandhi noted: "We talk of Hindu-Mohamed an unity. It would be an empty phrase if the Hindus held aloof from the Mohamedans when their vital interests are at stake."

Book's Contents and Sample Pages