Why was the Khilafat Movement started by the Ali brothers after the First World War

June 9, 2023

Q. Why was the Khilafat Movement started by the Ali brothers after the First World War?

(a) To turn foreigners out of the country

(b) To attain freedom from the British rule

(d) To agitate for the preservation of the office of Khalifa and better treatment for Turkey, where the British Government imposed harsh terms after the war.

Ans: (d) To agitate for the preservation of the office of Khalifa and better treatment for Turkey, where the British Government imposed harsh terms after the war.

Explanation: The correct answer is (d) To agitate for the preservation of the office of Khalifa and better treatment for Turkey, where the British Government imposed harsh terms after the war.

The Khilafat Movement, initiated by the Ali brothers (Maulana Mohammad Ali Jouhar and Maulana Shaukat Ali), was launched in India after World War I. The movement aimed to protest against the harsh treatment imposed on Turkey by the British Government after the war and to advocate for the preservation of the office of the Khalifa, who was considered the spiritual leader of Muslims worldwide.

The Treaty of Sèvres, signed in 1920, imposed severe terms on Turkey, including the dismantling of the Ottoman Caliphate and the loss of territories. The Khilafat Movement sought to mobilize Indian Muslims in support of the Ottoman Caliphate and to protest against the perceived injustice inflicted upon Turkey.

While the Khilafat Movement shared common ground with the broader Indian independence movement and sought to cooperate with various organizations, its primary focus was on the preservation of the Khalifa’s office and better treatment for Turkey rather than specifically aiming for freedom from British rule.

Therefore, the correct answer is (d) To agitate for the preservation of the office of Khalifa and better treatment for Turkey, where the British Government imposed harsh terms after the war.