2B. Reemergence of Muslim Values Flashcards
What was the Khilafat Movement?
The Khilafat Movement was an Indian Muslim movement aimed to rouse public opinion against the harsh treatment accorded to the Ottoman empire after World War I and specifically against the treatment of the Ottoman sultan and caliph
What was the significance of Gandhi’s support for the Khilafat movement?
Through supporting the Khilafat movement, Gandhi gained the support of a large number of Muslim spiritual and political leaders for his policy of non-violent non-cooperation.
Why did Jinnah hate Gandhi’s support for the Khilafat movement?
- Believed his support to be disingenuous and opportunistic
- Worried that it would cause schisms between Muslims, threatening the existing political structures and an orderly process towards independence
Why did the Khilafat movement collapse by 1923?
- Turkey rejected the caliphate and became a secular state → removed an important spiritual leader for Muslims and removed the primary motivation for the movement
- The religious, mass-appeal aspects of the movement alienated western-orientated politicians like Jinnah, who resigned from Congress
- It was also tarnished by the Muslim Moplah rebellion in south India in 1921, the excesses of which deeply stirred Hindu India.
- Gandhi’s suspension of his movement and his arrest in March 1922 weakened the Khilafat movement still further
- (Many Muslims became uncomfortable with Gandhi’s leadership)
How significantly did Muslims drift away from Congress between 1921-23?
In 1921, 10.9% of Congress delegates were Muslims
By 1923, this had fallen to 3.6%
How did the pre-1914 Tanzeem and Tabligh movements come to the forefront of Muslim India’s politics?
The two movements (one focusing on organisation, the other on the promotion of religion) came to the forefront of Muslim India’s politics to meet ideals such as:
- Rejuvenation of Islam
- End of conversion from Islam to Hinduism
- Muslim communities would feel a new sense of purpose
To these ends, each town was to have an Anjuman Tabligh-ul-Islam to ensure:
- More vigorous preaching
- Better religious education
- Regular observance of religious duties
- Renovation and construction of mosques
What were the effects of the Anjumans?
The Anjumans developed their religious focus to concentrate on the plight of various Muslim groups constrained by power and influence of Hindu commercial communities.
This caused anti-Hindu sentiment to grow as poorer Muslims focused their anger at their poor economic conditions at Hindus rather than the Raj.
How did the Tabligh and Tanzeem movements create friction with Hindus?
These movements were seen as provocative in the same way as the Arya Samaj group.
How did the Hindu group Arya Samaj create friction with Muslims?
Arya Samaj was proactive in many parts of Northern India with a significant Muslim population:
- Members openly criticised Islam and sought converts to Hinduism
- They argued for the protection of cows and established the Cow Protection Society, bringing them into conflict with Muslim butchers and tradespeople
- Attempted to have Hindi replace Urdu as the language of administration, frightening Urdu-speaking Muslims
This worsened once it became known that the main donators to Arya Samaj came from the Hindu merchant and money-lending caste upon whom many poorer Muslims depended for economic security.
How did differences in traditions and festivals create friction between Hindus and Muslims?
Many Hindu festivals use gongs, bells and cymbals to create music during worship, whereas Muslims pray in silence.
- Sometimes Hindus stopped playing during Muslim times of prayer, some did not. When they didn’t, verbal abuse and violence folled
In the Muslim festival of Bakr’Id, cows were ritually slaughtered, which were sacred to Hindus.
On the other hand, the Hindu festival of Holi was particularly noisy and troubling for Muslims:
- On the first day, bonfires were lit at night
- On the second day, people danced in the street, throwing coloured powder and water at each other etc.
How did Jinnah seek to console difference between Congress and the Muslim League in 1927?
At the Muslim League’s 1927 meeting in Delhi, Jinnah offered a proposition:
- The Muslim League would revoke their support for separate electorates
- The Muslim League would receive a guaranteed 1/3 of seats in the Central Legislative Assembly
- Sind would be separated from Bombay to create a Muslim-majority province
This was rejected by Congress out of hand
How did Jinnah try again in 1929 to console difference between Congress and the Muslim League?
He offered a compromise plan of 14 points (Jinnah’s 14 Points) which was rejected by Congress again.
Believing that this situation represented a parting of ways, he left for England to follow a lucrative career as a barrister
