The Lucknow Pact, 1916

Introduction

Lucknow Pact was very significant in the history of India as this pact increase the power in the politics of India. After the pact, communalism was set up because this pact made a mutual understanding between the two parties in terms of their struggle process against the torture of the British.

The Lucknow Pact: Background

Muslim League was established in the year 1906 and at the initial stage; it was a moderate institution to be focused on the officials of the British.

• Lord Chelmsford solicited suggestions for reformation from all political parties to support them to fight the world war-I.

• Mohammed Ali Jinnah the former leader of the League agreed to their proposal and wanted to use this change as the constitutional reformation. The collaboration of Hindu-Muslim power was also another wish for Jinnah to support British rule.

• Jinnah was a member of both political parties and he was greatly involved in this pact.

• The leaders of these two parties met in a meeting in this Pact for the first time and there the leaders of both parties consulted several reforms suggestions for the constitution.

• 19 selected members of the political parties of India met with Viceroy for seeking constitutional reforms in October 1916.

• The leaders of both parties met in a meeting in Calcutta for further discussion on the amendment of their suggestions

• The final session or the annual session was arranged at Lucknow in the month of December 1916 where the leaders of INC and League were joined.

• Sarojini Naidu honoured Jinnah with the title Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity for the effort to arrange the pact.

Features of Lucknow Pact

Several suggestions were raised by the leaders of INC and the League for the reformation of the constitution of India.

• The first suggestion raised in the pact was a self–government for the citizens of India and the Council of Indian counterparts should be an end

• The government of Britain should be liable for paying the salaries of the State’s Secretary for all types of Indian affairs rather than the funds of India.

Figure 1: Features of Lucknow Pact

• The members of The Legislative Assembly (LA) must elect the president of the country and the tenure of the LA should be % years.

• A minimum of 150 members should be comprised of the Central Legislative Council and among them; half members should be elected from India.

• Around ⅕th of the Council, members should be nominated and the rest of the members should be elected.

• The Muslim members should be provided opportunities to be a member of the Council. Besides this, minorities should also be a member of the council.

Reforms after Lucknow Pact

Several reformations were seen after this pact in the politics of the country. The attitude of the leaders of both parties changed after this pact and a collation was seen between both parties.

• Both parties had agreed to the suggestion of a separate electorate that refers to the INC had understood the political community as well as provided recognition in terms of multiple communities.

• The weightage of the Muslim representation was granted in this pact and the leaders provide importance to the emergence of minorities in the politics of India.

• Riots for Bihar communism along with the united provinces as well as Bengal started in this pact after revealing the disagreement among the leader’s masses

• It was suggested that the legislature of the constitution could not be passed united it was supported by the ¾th members of all regions. This proposal led to the implementation of veto communism in the legislature of India.

Significance of the Lucknow Pact

A lot of importance can be seen in this pact and it had a great outcome on the politics of India.

• The pact provided a great impression in the context of Hindu-Muslim unity in such a wide political scene but this impression lasted for a shorter time.

• This pact referred to an agreement between INC and League where the collaboration of both parties was seen. Moreover, this pact set up communal politics in this country.

• The INC accepted the suggestions of the League through this pact and a great collaboration of attitude of the leaders of both parties was seen.

• The pact led to the hitherto had lesser relevance to the League into the front area of the politics of India with the Congress.

Conclusion

The pact was one of the most important treaties or communal meetings arranged between INC and the League in terms of non-support movement by the leaders of Indian politics. This was a liberal pact where Hindus, Muslims and minorities combined agreed. The strength of the League increased after this pact and this pact was a collaboration between both parties against the power of the British. It was a symbol of unity of Hindu-Muslim but it lasted for a few years. The agreement of this pact was established in terms of all communities in India.

FAQs

Q1. What was the negative impact of the pact on the politics of the country?

Congress leaders failed in retaining secular characteristics by agreeing to a communal electorate. The emergence of the two-nation theory happened in this party.

Q2. Who was honoured with the title Ambassador of Hindu – Muslim Unity?

Sarojini Naidu honoured Muhammad Ali Jinnah with the title Ambassador of Hindu – Muslim Unity. He was honoured for his effort in Hindu – Muslim Unity.

Q3. What were the principal achievements of the pact?

The moderates, as well as radicals, were reunited on the self-rule concept in this pact. The pact provided an impression of Hindu-Muslim unity for the first time. Another Importance of this pact was the importance of minorities in the politics of the country.