Lucknow Pact: The First and Last
Alliance between the Muslim League and
the Indian National Congress
December, 1916
Circumstances leading to Lucknow Pact / Reasons/ Background
Muslims’ new/fresh approach after the sudden annulment of the partition of Bengal
The rescindment of the partition of Bengal served as an eye-opener for the Muslims of India.
Though Muslims remained loyal to the British rule after the partition of Bengal and did not
participate in any agitation, the British could not sustain the pressure of demonstrations and
reversed the decision of partition in 1911. This was a betrayal of the Muslims’ loyalty. They
realized the British rulers could no longer be trusted. Now they had to devise a new strategy for
achieving their goals. The Muslim League changed its major objective and decided to join hands
with Congress to put pressure on the British government.
Discrimination against Muslims
Important developments, in addition to the abolishment of the Partition of Bengal, occurred at
the start of the second decade of the 20th century like Western aggression towards Muslim
countries, Balkan wars (1912-1913), Libya-Italy war 1911, and demolition of the mosque in
Kanpur/Kawnpur (1913) weakened Muslim faith in the British. This led to a major drift in the
Muslim League’s policy. This change brought the ML and Congress closer. In this way, the era
of cooperation between Hindus and Muslims set in.
Young leadership and Jinnah’s Role
In 1913, a new group of Muslim leaders entered the folds of the Muslim League intending to
bridge the gulf between the Muslims and the Hindus. The most prominent amongst them was
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was already a member of the Indian National Congress. Lord
Chelmsford's invitation for suggestions from the Indian politicians for the post World War I
reforms further helped in the development of the situation.
Congress’ need: From Swadeshi to Swaraj
One of the last major demands to be added to the platform of the Congress Party in the wake of
Bengal’s first partition was SWARAJ (self-rule), soon to become the most popular mantra of
Indian nationalism. Congress was keen to gain the support of the Muslim League for its demand
By: Dr. Syeda Farzana Bukhari ……………………………………….…….Read Right Institute
of self-rule in India. It hoped that it would be difficult for the British to reject the joint demand of
self-rule for a longer time. Therefore, it was ready to give concessions to the Muslim League for
its own objective of home rule and Congress went into Lucknow Pact with the Muslim League in
1916.
League’s need: Constitutional Protection
Muslims were to have one-third representation in the central government. The Muslim League
dropped its claim to majority status in Punjab and Bengal in exchange for the promise of extra
seats in the Muslim minority areas. They needed constitutional protection – separate electorate
and provincial autonomy – from Hindus after the British would leave India. Muslim League,
therefore, signed the Lucknow Pact in 1916 in which Congress agreed on granting the Muslims
1/3 reserved seats in the central legislative council. It mandated self-government in India with
separate electorates for Hindus and Muslims, and guaranteed a minimum number of
representatives to adherents in areas where they were a minority.
The Pact
The Lucknow Pact is an agreement between the Indian National Congress and the All India
Muslim League reached at a joint session of both the parties held at Lucknow in 1916. Reflecting
the growing solidarity between the Muslim League and Congress Party, in December 1915 both
organizations held their annual sessions in Bombay, and their leaders met for the first time in
history, linked by their desire to end British rule of the subcontinent. In October 1916, a group of
19 Muslim and Hindu elected members of the Imperial Legislative Council sent the viceroy a
reform memorandum. The British ignored the memorandum, but it became the basis for an
agreement on electorates and representation reached by Congress and Muslim League leaders at
Calcutta in November 1916 and ratified at Lucknow in December.
Reforms suggested in the Lucknow Pact ***************
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 to be paid from British coffers and not
the Indian funds.
1/3rd representation to be given to Muslims in the Central Government.
The number of Muslims in the provincial legislatures 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.
By: Dr. Syeda Farzana Bukhari ……………………………………….…….Read Right Institute
Half the members of the Imperial Legislative Council to be Indians.
All elected members to be elected directly on the basis of adult franchise. 4/5th of the
members of the provincial legislatures to be elected and 1/5th to be nominated.
Members of the Legislative Council to elect their President themselves.
Significance
The Lucknow agreement took a new twist with change in Muslim League’s political doctrine.
The Quaid-e-Azam inclusion in the Muslim league was a historic event, which gave a new
direction to the Muslim league’s political struggle. Self-rule for India brought the Muslim league
and the Congress closer to each other. The leaders of both parties agreed that they should
cooperate with each other to make the British accept their demands. They acknowledged that the
objectives can be achieved if the two major communities of India forget their differences on
petty issues and come closer to each other to see eye to eye on the important national issues.
The political vicinity had taken a happy turn and ground for cherished Hindu Muslim unity had
been smoothed. The pact was important in that it enhanced the League’s power in Indian politics
and established communalism as an unavoidable part of Indian politics despite the apparent
bonhomie between the two communities at the session. The congress party agreed to the right to
separate electorate for the Muslims first and last time in the history of the subcontinent. The
agreement between the parties on a separate communal electorate formally established
communal politics in India. Through this pact, the INC also tacitly accepted that India consisted
of two different communities with different interests.
Note: Use only Paragraph
Quotations
Sarojini Naidu gave Jinnah, the chief architect of the Lucknow Pact, the title of "the
Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity".
Quaid-e-Azam, in his presidential speech at Lucknow, said
“India’s real progress can only be achieved by a
true understanding and harmonious relations
between the two great communities. With regard to
our own affairs, we can depend upon nobody but
ourselves.”
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, in his speech at Lucknow, said
“We cannot rise from our present intolerable
condition without the aid of the Muslims. So in
order to gain the desired end there is no objection
By: Dr. Syeda Farzana Bukhari ……………………………………….…….Read Right Institute
to giving a percentage, a greater percentage, to the
Muslims.”
James Wynbrandt has rightly said in his book, A Brief History of Pakistan:
“Called the Lucknow Pact, the agreement
established an alliance between the Muslim
League and the Indian National Congress.”
“The spirit of cooperation was relatively short-lived,
but it marked the first time Congress recognized the
Muslim League as a legitimate representation of the
Muslim community”
(James Wynbrandt , A Brief History of Pakistan pg.141)
Note: A Brief History of Pakistan is recommended by FPSC
By: Dr. Syeda Farzana Bukhari ……………………………………….…….Read Right Institute
