Question

Which group was formed in 1919 to support the Khilafat Movement and strengthen the Hindu-Muslim unity?

• A. All India Muslim League
• B. Indian National Congress
• C. Khilafat Committee
• D. Hindu Mahasabha

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Khilafat Committee

Khilafat Movement and the Formation of the Khilafat Committee

• The Khilafat Movement was a pan-Islamist political protest launched by Muslims in British India in 1919.
• The movement aimed to pressure the British government to reform the terms of the Treaty of Sevres (1920) and preserve the Ottoman Caliphate.
• The Khilafat Committee was formed in 1919, primarily by Muslim leaders, to organize and lead the Khilafat Movement.
• A significant aspect of the movement was its convergence with the Non-Cooperation Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. This alliance aimed to foster Hindu-Muslim unity and present a united front against British rule.
• Key leaders associated with the Khilafat Movement include the Ali brothers (Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar and Maulana Shaukat Ali), Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, and Mahatma Gandhi.
• The movement eventually lost momentum after the abolition of the Caliphate by the Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1924 and the shifting political landscape in India.
• The Khilafat Committee played a crucial role in mobilizing public opinion and organizing nationwide protests, including boycotts and demonstrations, during its active period.
• The alliance between the Khilafatists and the Congress, though short-lived, was a significant moment in the Indian independence struggle, demonstrating the potential for inter-communal solidarity.