The Lucknow Pact: Context and Consequences

Introduction

The Lucknow Pact was an agreement reached between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League (AIML) at a joint session of both parties held in Lucknow in December 1916. It was adopted by Congress at its Lucknow session on December 29 and by the Muslim League on December 31, 1916. Bal Gangadhar Tilak represented Congress while framing the deal, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah (who was part of both Congress and the Muslim League in 1916) participated in this event

Context

The Lucknow Pact should be seen in the backdrop of the following:

1. Change of mind in INC Leadership: The origins of the Lucknow Pact can be traced back to the annulment of the partition of Bengal in 1911. The decision to partition Bengal initially provoked widespread protests, spearheaded by the Indian National Congress. In response to public sentiment and political pressure, the British government revoked the partition. The success of its agitational politics galvanised the Indian National Congress, which now started pressing the British Government for greater self-government. However, its leadership realised that without coopting the British Indian Muslims, it could not succeed in its demand for political representation and self-governance. This change of mind was the most important reason for the Lucknow Pact
2. British Taunt: When pressed by Congress for greater political autonomy for India, the British replied that there was no unity among the Indians regarding the nature and quantity of autonomy they were demanding. This taunt that Indians were divided and could not agree on a plan galvanized both parties to put aside their differences and come up with an agreed-upon charter of demands.
3. Muslim League’s Desire: The Partition of Bengal also changed the mindset of the leadership of the All-India Muslim League. After its failure to stop the annulment of the Partition of Bengal, and a decade of solo flight, its leadership realized that it could not achieve much and decided to work with other parties to achieve its objectives.
4. Personalities: Both, Congress and the Muslim League, were dominated by two powerful nationalist personalities. Mohammed Ali Jinnah and Bal Ganga Dhar Tilk were staunch nationalists, believing that Hindu-Muslim unity was the only way to get independence. For his efforts, Sarojini Naidu gave Jinnah the title ‘the Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who was released from prison in 1914, injected fresh energy into the nationalist movement. Tilak’s efforts to bridge the gap between the Congress and the Muslim League, along with his advocacy for a united political front, were instrumental in the lead-up to the Lucknow Pact.
5. Start of WW1: The backdrop of World War I (1914–1918) further added impetus to the political developments. The war had diverted the British government’s attention and resources, causing it to seek Indian support. The Congress, realizing the strategic opportunity, decided to put its differences with the Muslim League aside and seek a common ground to present a united demand for self-governance to the British authorities. The British government, preoccupied with the war effort, was compelled to consider Indian aspirations more seriously to secure Indian support.

Genesis and Negotiations:

The negotiations for the Lucknow Pact were facilitated by prominent leaders from both the Congress and the Muslim League. On the Congress side, leaders like Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak were instrumental, while on the Muslim League side, Mohammad Ali Jinnah played a crucial role.

The key points of the Lucknow Pact were:

1. Increase in Representation: The pact demanded an increase in the number of elected members in the Imperial Legislative Council and provincial councils. This move aimed to enhance Indian participation in the legislative process, giving them a greater role in decision-making.
2. Separate Electorates: The pact also ensured separate electorates for Muslims, safeguarding their political representation and interests.
3. Weightage for Muslims: Muslims were granted weightage in provinces where they were a minority, to ensure fair representation.
4. Responsible Government: The pact underscored the demand for self-governance, with a responsible government in the provinces, emphasizing the importance of accountable administration.

Response of the British Government

The British government, eager to secure Indian support during World War I, acknowledged the political aspirations of Indians to a certain extent. This response indicated a shift in colonial policy and laid the groundwork for future negotiations on constitutional reforms. The Lucknow Pact resulted in greater pressure on the British to grant more autonomy to India, leading to the 1919 reforms. After the Lucknow Pact, both parties presented some common demands to the British. They demanded:

1. Self-government in India.
2. Abolition of the Indian Council.
3. Separation of the executive from the judiciary.
4. Salaries of the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs are to be paid from British coffers and not Indian funds.
5. 1/3rd representation to be given to Muslims in the Central Government.
6. The number of Muslims in the provincial legislatures is to be laid down for each province.
7. Separate electorates for all communities until a joint electorate is demanded by all.
8. Introduction of a system of weightage for minority representation (it implied giving minorities more representation than their share in the population).
9. Increasing the term of the Legislative Council to 5 years.
10. Half the members of the Imperial Legislative Council were Indians.
11. All elected members are to be elected directly based on the adult franchise. 4/5ths of the members of the provincial legislatures are to be elected and 1/5th to be nominated.
12. Members of the Legislative Council elect their President themselves.

The British government, eager to secure Indian support during World War I, acknowledged the political aspirations of Indians to a certain extent. This response indicated a shift in colonial policy and laid the groundwork for future negotiations on constitutional reforms. Except for the provision for the central executive, these proposals were largely embodied in the Government of India Act of 1919.

Significance of the Lucknow Pact

The Lucknow Pact is a historic agreement in the annals of the Indian freedom struggle, representing a significant milestone in the country’s quest for self-governance and political representation. The pact marked a rare instance of cooperation between these two major political parties, transcending religious and ideological differences to present a united front against British colonial rule.

1. Formal Acceptance of Two Nation Theory by Congress The Congress agreed to three major demands of the Muslim League: separate electorates for Muslims in electing representatives to the Imperial and Provincial Legislative Councils. Although Muslims were given this right in the Indian Council Act of 1909, the Indian National Congress opposed it.
2. Fair Representation of Muslims: The Congress also agreed to the idea of one-third of seats for Muslims in the Councils, even though the Muslim population represented less than a third.
3. Veto Right for Muslims: Congress agreed that no act affecting a community should be passed unless three-quarters of that community’s members on the council supported it
4. Muslim League Emerged as the National Party: The Muslim League agreed with the Congress for greater autonomy for India. The pact was important in that it not only enhanced the League’s power in Indian politics but also catapulted moderate and western-educated British Indian Muslim elite into mainstream leadership
5. Reduction in Majority Provinces: The Muslim League agreed to reduce its majority in the two majority provinces of Punjab and Bengal in exchange for a nominal increase in its representation in minority provinces. This was the biggest blunder of the Muslim League
6. Communal Unity: One of the biggest benefits of the Lucknow Pact was the substantial reduction in acrimony between the Hindus and the Muslims and greater cooperation between the two political parties of British India. This pact paved the way for Hindu-Muslim cooperation in the Khilafat movement and Gandhi’s non-cooperation movement in 1920.
7. Strength in Numbers: The joint demands made by the Congress and the Muslim League carried more weight in the eyes of the British government. The numbers and diversity represented by this alliance lent credibility to their demands.
8. Impact on Indian Nationalism: The Lucknow Pact bolstered the confidence of Indian nationalists and reinforced their belief in the power of political action to achieve their objectives. It also highlighted the importance of negotiation and compromise in pursuit of larger goals.

Conclusion

The Lucknow Pact stands as a pivotal chapter in the Indian freedom struggle. It represented a unique moment of cooperation between the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League, underscoring their shared aspirations for self-governance and political representation. While the unity was temporary, its impact on India’s trajectory towards independence was enduring, shaping subsequent political strategies and negotiations with the colonial power.

From the book “Milestones of Pakistan Movement: 1857–1947”

Milestones of Pakistan Movement: 1857-1947

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