1. Lucknow Session of Indian National Congress (1916)
1.1. Background
1.2. Readmission of Extremists to Congress
2. Lucknow Pact (1916)
2.1. Background
2.2. Nature of Lucknow Pact
2.3. Analysis of Lucknow Pact
2.4. Outcome of the Pact
3. August Declaration (1917)
3.1. Background
3.2. Objectives
3.3. Outcome
3.4. India’s Objection to August Declaration
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Topic – Lucknow Pact: A Critical Analysis (Notes)
Subject – History
(Modern Indian History)
Table of Contents
Lucknow Session of Indian National Congress (1916)
The Lucknow Session of Indian National Congress was presided over by Ambica Charan Mazumdar. It was the 31st session of the INC which was held in Lucknow. This session has gained historic importance due to the remarkable decisions made during the session. It marks the reconciliation of the moderates and the extremists after 10 years of ideological disputes after their split in the Surat session of 1907. Bal Gangadhar Tilak assured the moderates that the extremists would not adopt any agitational strategy or politics while protesting against the British, which led to the reconciliation. Also, the demise of Moderate leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Pherozeshah Mehta reduced the opposition for amalgamation of the factions of Congress (Extremists and Moderates) paving the way for Tilak and Annie Besant to dominate the Congress. The historic Lucknow pact between Congress and the Muslim League was signed in this session.
Background
- During World War 1, the British fought against the Ottoman Empire of Turkey. This hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims and irritated the Muslin League.
- Also, the decision of the British to annul the Partition of Bengal annoyed the Muslim League which supported the British in 1905.
- British rejection of the establishment of the University at Aligarh further catalyzed Muslim agony.
- The congress wanted mass support for its struggle against the British.
- Muhammad Ali Jinnah who was a member of both the parties at the time persuaded both the parties to pressurize the British to give Indians more authority in ruling India, besides protecting Muslim Interests.
- For his effort to ensure reconciliation between the league and congress, Sarojini Naidu gave Jinnah the title of “the Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity”.
- The session marked the reconsolidation of Hindus and Muslims, Moderates and Extremists and they began to collectively demand “home rule for India”.
- It strengthened the Nationalist movement in India.
Readmission of Extremists to Congress
Several factors aided this reunion, such as:
- Old controversies were no longer relevant.
- Both the Moderates and the Extremists recognised that the split had resulted in political inaction.
- Annie Besant and Tilak had worked hard to bring the two together.
- To assuage Moderate fears, Tilak declared that he supported administrative reform rather than overthrow of the government. He also condemned violent acts.
- The death of Pherozeshah Mehta, who led the Moderate opposition to the Extremists, made the reunion possible.
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