The Lucknow Pact(1916)
Background:
Since the very inception, All India Muslim League was a moderate organization with its manifesto to have cordial relations with the British. Annulment of the partition of Bengal constrained Muslim leaders to assertiveness. Because of the changing demeanor of the Muslim League, some new members joined the league in 1913. The most prominent amongst them was Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was also a member of the Indian National Congress and staunch supporter of cooperation between the Muslims and the Hindus. The Muslim League decided to stick together with the Congress so as to put pressure on the British government. The situation became favorable with the invitation from Lord Chelmsford for suggestions from the Indian politicians for the post World War I reforms.
Since the very inception, All India Muslim League was a moderate organization with its manifesto to have cordial relations with the British. Annulment of the partition of Bengal constrained Muslim leaders to assertiveness. Because of the changing demeanor of the Muslim League, some new members joined the league in 1913. The most prominent amongst them was Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was also a member of the Indian National Congress and staunch supporter of cooperation between the Muslims and the Hindus. The Muslim League decided to stick together with the Congress so as to put pressure on the British government. The situation became favorable with the invitation from Lord Chelmsford for suggestions from the Indian politicians for the post World War I reforms.
Joint
Session of Congress and Muslim league
Mr. Jinnah convinced both the Muslim League and the Congress to hold their annual joint session at Bombay in December 1915. The central leaders of the two political parties assembled at one place for the first time in the history of two political entities by setting aside their mutual conflicts for the sake of common interest. Their proposals were also corroborated by leaders of the Congress and Muslim League in November 1916 at Calcutta, where they reached an agreement about the composition of the legislatures. Congress confirmed the agreement on December 29 in his annual session and the League in its annual session held at Lucknow on December 31, 1916.
Mr. Jinnah convinced both the Muslim League and the Congress to hold their annual joint session at Bombay in December 1915. The central leaders of the two political parties assembled at one place for the first time in the history of two political entities by setting aside their mutual conflicts for the sake of common interest. Their proposals were also corroborated by leaders of the Congress and Muslim League in November 1916 at Calcutta, where they reached an agreement about the composition of the legislatures. Congress confirmed the agreement on December 29 in his annual session and the League in its annual session held at Lucknow on December 31, 1916.
Role of Quaid-e-Azam:
As Mr. Jinnah endeavored to overcome any issues between both ideological groups. On that event, Sarojini Naidu gave Jinnah, the main modeler of the Lucknow Pact, the title of "the Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity.
Salient features of the Lucknow Pact:
The following were the salient features of the
Lucknow Pact:
oSelf-government in India.
oOne-third representation in the central
government for Muslims
oSeparate electorates for all the
communities until a community demanded joint electorates.
o The number of individuals from the
Central Legislative Council ought to be expanded to 150.
oAt the provincial level, four-fifth of
the individuals from the Legislative Councils ought to be chosen and one-fifth
ought to be assigned.
oThe strength of Provincial legislative
should not be less than 125 in the major provinces and from 50 to 75 in the
minor provinces.
oAll members, except those nominated, were
to be elected directly on the basis of adult franchise.
oNo bill concerning a community ought to
be passed if the bill is contradicted by three-fourth of the individuals from
that network in the Legislative Council.
oThe term of the Legislative Council
should be five years and Members of Legislative Council should themselves elect their president.
oHalf of the members of the Imperial
Legislative Council should be Indians.
oIndian Council must be nullified.
oThe compensations of the Secretary of
State for Indian Affairs ought to be paid by the British Government and not from Indian
assets
oOut of two Under Secretaries, one should
be Indian.
oThe Executive ought to be isolated from
the Judiciary.
Impact of the Lucknow Pact:
Despite the fact that this Hindu Muslim Unity continued uniquely for a long time and fallen after the improvement of contrasts between the two communities mostly after the Khilafat Movement, yet it was a significant occasion throughout the entire existence of the Muslims of South Asia. It was the first run through when Congress perceived the Muslim League as the sole Muslim ideological group and Muslims as a separate nation. It was the initial move toward the idea of the Two-Nation Theory as Congress consented to separate electorates. This unity arrived at its apex during the Khilafat and the Non-Cooperation Movements.
Despite the fact that this Hindu Muslim Unity continued uniquely for a long time and fallen after the improvement of contrasts between the two communities mostly after the Khilafat Movement, yet it was a significant occasion throughout the entire existence of the Muslims of South Asia. It was the first run through when Congress perceived the Muslim League as the sole Muslim ideological group and Muslims as a separate nation. It was the initial move toward the idea of the Two-Nation Theory as Congress consented to separate electorates. This unity arrived at its apex during the Khilafat and the Non-Cooperation Movements.
No comments:
Post a Comment