Question

What was the importance of the Lucknow Pact of 1916?

Answer 1

Hint: Formed in 1885, the Indian National Congress has played a pivotal role in India’s independence struggle and has also been pivotal in governments formed till date. The Muslim League, established in 1906, pushed for a separate Muslim state and was the catalyst in the formation of Pakistan. Thanks to British separatist politics, inter-religious harmony was precarious.

Complete answer: Lucknow Pact (1916) was an agreement between the Indian National Congress on December 29, led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and the All India Muslim League on December 31, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. This displayed the unfortunate central role that communalism had taken in Indian politics under the British. It was significant as it marked the merging of the two, a win for Hindu-Muslim unity.
The move made a lot of constructive reforms like:
- Encouraging self-government
- Ensuring 50% of the Imperial Legislative Council being Indian
- Electing the members of the Council by universal adult franchise (1/5th will be nominated) and increasing their terms to 5 years
- President to be elected by members of the Legislative Council
-Shifting to British funds from Indian to pay the salaries of the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs
- Reserving 1/3rd of the positions in the Central Government for Muslims, and laid down numbers for provincial legislatures as well.
- Separate electorates until the demand for joint electorates is made.
- Segregation of the executive and judiciary

Note: Muslims’ sense of isolation was caused by multiple factors like the British indifference towards the Khalifa of Turkey, partition of Bengal and was fanned by more radical leaders who joined the party in 1913. Unfortunately, regardless of its intention to increase compatibility, the measures are taken by the Hindus for Muslim representation in politics like the communal veto further highlighted communal privilege.