The Lucknow Pact 1916

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 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

1. 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 charter of demands.
2. Muslim League’s Desire: After its formation in 1906, the Muslim League had been trying its best to safeguard the genuine interests of British Indian Muslims. However, after a decade of this solo flight, its leadership realized that it could not achieve much and decided to work with other parties to achieve its objectives.
3. 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 is the only way to get independence. For his efforts, Sarojini Naidu gave Jinnah the title ‘the Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity.

Significance:

1. Formal Acceptance of Two Nation Theory by Congress The Congress agreed to three major demands of the Muslim League to separate electorates for Muslims in electing representatives to the Imperial and Provincial Legislative Councils. Although the Muslims were given this right in the Indian Council Act of 1909, the Indian National Congress opposed it.
2. Fair Representation to Muslims: The Congress also agreed to the idea of one-third of seats for Muslims in the Councils even though the Muslimpopulation 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 National Party: Muslim league agreed with the Congress for greater autonomy for India. The pact was important in that it enhanced the League’s power in Indian politics
5. Reduction in Majority Provinces: Muslim League agreed to reduce its majority in 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 the 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. Pressure on British Government: The Lucknow Pact resulted in greater pressure on the British to grant more autonomy to India resulting in leading to 1919 reforms. After Lucknow Pact, both parties presented some common demands to the British. They demanded:

Self-government in India.

Abolition of the Indian Council.

Separation of the executive from the judiciary.

Salaries of the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs are to be paid from British coffers and not Indian funds.

1/3rd representation to be given to Muslims in the Central Government.

The number of Muslims in the provincial legislatures is to be laid down for each province.

Separate electorates for all communities until a joint electorate is demanded by all.

Introduction of a system of weightage for minority representation (it implied giving minorities more representation than their share in the population).

Increasing the term of the Legislative Council to 5 years.

Half the members of the Imperial Legislative Council were Indians.

All elected members are to be elected directly based on the adult franchise. 4/5th of the members of the provincial legislatures are to be elected and 1/5th to be nominated.

Members of the Legislative Council elect their President themselves.

Except for the provision for the central executive, these proposals were largely embodied in the Government of India Act of 1919.