Question

Which one of the following leaders was elected as the President of the All India Khilafat Conference held in Delhi in 1919?
A. Mahatma Gandhi
B. Shaukat Ali
C. M.A Jinnah
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: He was fundamental in merging this movement with the Non-cooperation movement, a national win for Muslim visibility. Swaraj (self-rule) and Satyagraha (non-violent protest) are two of the fundamental principles in his teaching. Also, note the contextual significance of the year 1919. For example, it is the year of the Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Complete answer: Option A. (Mahatma) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a Gujarati leader who we regard as the Father of the nation. He was a lawyer and a freedom fighter. The policies he followed in his struggle to ascertain civil rights inspired individuals internationally. Hence, this is the correct answer.
Option B. Shaukat Ali was a prominent leader of the Khilafat movement, who published newspapers like the English weekly, ‘Comrade’ and the Urdu weekly, ‘Hamdard’ and that shaped the political sentiment of Indian Muslims back then. He was elected as the last President of the Khilafat Conference. This is often mistaken for the correct answer but please note the difference in timelines.
Option C. M.A Jinnah was named Mahomedali Jinnahbhai at birth. He was a barrister and was the founder and first Governor-General of Pakistan. This is, however, not the right answer.
Option D stands invalid.
Therefore, Option A is the correct answer.

Note: This was a part of a larger movement calling for the restoration of the Caliphate, the head of the Sunni Muslims. Key actors include Shaukat Ali, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and Abul Kalam Azad.