Lucknow Pact

 

Topic: Lucknow Pact (లక్నో ఒప్పందం) 1916

1. Context & Importance:

   • The Lucknow Pact occurred in 1916.

   • The speaker emphasizes that the year 1916 is very important and has appeared in previous exams.

2. Event:

   • The pact refers to agreements made during the Indian National Congress (INC) annual session held in Lucknow in December 1916.

   • The session was presided over by Ambica Charan Majumdar (A.C. Majumdar).

3. Key Outcomes of the Lucknow Session:

   • A. INC Unity:

     • Re-admission of the Extremists (అతివాదులు - led by Tilak) into the INC, ending the split with the Moderates (మితవాదులు) that began at the Surat Session (1907).

     • Factors enabling this reunion:

       • Efforts of Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

       • Tilak's more moderate stance after his release from prison.

       • The deaths of key Moderate leaders Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Pherozeshah Mehta in 1915, who had previously opposed Tilak's re-entry.

   • B. INC - Muslim League Pact (Lucknow Pact):

     • An agreement was reached between the INC and the All-India Muslim League (ML).

     • Key Architects: Bal Gangadhar Tilak (from INC side) and Muhammad Ali Jinnah (from ML side). Both were considered best friends and shared Gokhale as a political guru.

     • Terms/Significance:

       • Joint Demand: Both parties agreed to cooperate and present common political demands to the British government, primarily focusing on Home Rule (స్వయం పాలన).

       • Acceptance of Separate Electorates: The INC, in a major concession, formally accepted the principle of Separate Electorates for Muslims, which had been granted by the British in the Minto-Morley Reforms of 1909. (This was a controversial decision with long-term consequences).

4. Reasons for Muslim League's Shift Towards INC:

   • Annulment of Bengal Partition (1911): Muslims felt betrayed by the British reversal of the 1905 partition, which had created a Muslim-majority province (East Bengal).

   • Britain vs. Turkey in WWI: Britain's actions against the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) angered Indian Muslims because the Turkish Sultan was considered the Caliph (Khalifa), the religious head of Muslims worldwide.

   • Influence of Nationalist Leaders: Rise of younger, nationalist leaders like Jinnah within the Muslim League who favoured cooperation with the INC against the British.

   • (The Muslim League also shifted its headquarters to Lucknow around this time).

5. Notes on Tilak & Jinnah (at that time):

   • Tilak: Despite promoting Ganpati and Shivaji festivals (seen by some as divisive), he wasn't considered anti-Muslim. Evidence: Attended Muharram festivals, defended in court by Jinnah (1908), had Muslim disciples like Maulana Hasrat Mohani, worked actively with Jinnah for the pact.

   • Jinnah: Was a member of both the INC and the Muslim League. He was seen as a secular nationalist and an "Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity". His famous quote from the era: "I am an Indian first, then a Muslim".

6. Historical Significance:

   • The Lucknow Pact represents a significant high point of Hindu-Muslim political unity in the Indian independence movement (other instances mentioned: 1857 Revolt, Khilafat Movement).

   • It strengthened the nationalist movement by presenting a united front demanding self-government.

7. Mention of Maulana Hasrat Mohani:

   • Disciple of Tilak.

   • First person in India to demand Complete Independence (Sampoorna Swatantram / Purna Swaraj) against the British (even before INC's 1929 resolution).

   • Coined the famous slogan "Inquilab Zindabad" (Long Live Revolution), later popularized by others like Bhagat Singh.