Introduction

The period between 1919 and 1922 marked a significant phase in the Indian independence movement, characterized by the intertwining of the Khilafat movement with the broader Non-Cooperation Movement. This convergence represented a unique moment of Hindu-Muslim unity in the struggle against British colonial rule.

Emergence of the Khilafat Movement

1.Background: The Khilafat movement emerged as a response to the harsh treatment of the Ottoman Empire by the British and their allies post-World War I. Indian Muslims, for whom the Ottoman Sultan held religious significance as the Caliph, viewed the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire and the threat to the Caliphate as a direct affront to their religious sentiments.

2.Radicalization of Muslim Nationalists: This period saw an increasing radicalization among the younger generation of educated Muslims, as well as among traditional Islamic scholars, who began to adopt more nationalist stances. The disillusionment with British promises post-war acted as a catalyst for this shift.

Convergence with the Non-Cooperation Movement

1.Lucknow Pact as a Precursor: The groundwork for Hindu-Muslim political collaboration had been laid by the Lucknow Pact of 1916, which saw the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League agreeing to work together for constitutional reforms.