BACKGROUND
The Lucknow pact is an essential agreement in the history of Muslims and Hindus. The failure of the British to grant more rights to Muslims and Hindus in 1914 made Muslims and Hindus closer together. Muslims and Hindus wanted to work on constitutional reforms.
Hindus were particularly offended by the British because of the right given to Muslims for separate electorates, and the Muslims were offended by the British on the reversal of the partition of Bengal in 1911.
INTRODUCTION
After joining the Muslim League in 1913, the Quaid-i-Azam started clearing the path for Hindu-Muslim unity. In 1915, the annual meetings of Congress and the Muslim League were held together. This led to the quick clearing of the way for Hindu-Muslim unity. At last, in 1916, once more, the meeting of both parties was held together at Lucknow, where a written agreement was signed between the two parties called the Lucknow Pact.
ARCHITECTS OF THE PACT
Chief architects of this pact were Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Sarojini Naidu.
CONDITIONS OF THE PACT
Following are the conditions of the Lucknow pact
- Separate Electorate
- Muslim representation
- Nomination of Members
- The proportion of Muslum Representatives
- Agreement of unanimous law
1. SEPARATE ELECTORATE
Congress will accept the separate electorate.
2. MUSLIM REPRESENTATION
The number of elected Muslim members in the central council will be one-third.
3. NOMINATION OF MEMBERS
1/5 will be nominated members, and 1/4 will be elected members of the councils.
4. PROPORTION OF MUSLIM PRESENTATION
In Muslim-majority provinces such as Bengal and Punjab, the number of Muslim representatives was reduced by 40% in Bengal and 50% in Punjab, whereas in Muslim minority areas such as Bombay. Madras and UI increased their population ratio by 33%, and in other provinces, e.g. CP to 15%
5. AGREEMENT ON UNANIMOUS LAW
No suggestions for constitution-making will be considered, which will be rejected by 3/4 of any nation’s chosen members.
CONDITIONS FOR APPROVAL
The conditions were decided for approval of the following demands from the British Government.
- Increase in the autonomy of Provinces
- Freedom of determination.
- Separation of Judiciary from administration
1. INCREASE IN THE AUTONOMY OF THE PROVINCES
Provinces should be given appropriate internal autonomy. The control of the centre should be decreased from the areas. Besides, the power of the provincial council shouldn’t increase, and they must have full authority over the budget.
2. FREEDOM OF DETERMINATION
The members should have the right to ask questions and sub-questions and present an adjournment movement.
3. SEPARATION OF JUDICIARY FROM ADMINISTRATION
The judiciary and administration should be separate in the country, and the jury of every province should be under the High Court of that province.
MERITS OF THE SCHEME
- It gave autonomy to the provinces.
- The Muslims were given the right to elect their representatives by a separate electorate.
- People were given the right
- India was given a status equal to the other dominions
- No law can be entered without the approval or consent of the minorities
DEMERITS OF THE SCHEME
- The scheme did not envisage a fully representative and effective govt
- The Muslim majority was reduced to a minority
- The net result would have been a stalemate in which the civil servants would have exercised absolute power.
INCREASE IN THE FAME OF THE QUAID-E-AZAM
The fame and capability of the Quaid e-Azam spread because of Hindi-Muslim Unity. Mr. Strojani Nalde, while paying his tribute to the Quaid, declared him the ambassador of Hindi Muslim unity.
HIND MUSLIM UNITY, FIRST AND LAST TIME
Hindus tried to take revenge on Muslims in the Khilafat Movement generally and in the Nebni Report, especially according to a planned conspiracy, while neglecting the written agreement of the Lucknow Pact in 1916. This sent the Lucknow pact to the waste paper basket. This way, the first and last Hindu-Muslim unity ended without any historical achievement.
GAINS FROM A MUSLIM POINT OF VIEW
- Separate Electorate
- One-third of Muslim seats in the Central Legislature
- An unofficial bill, if opposed by three-fourths of members of a community, will not be passed
IMPORTANCE OF THE LUCKNOW PACT
The Lucknow Pact was a bright chapter in the dark and gloomy environs of the Indian political history marred with communal strife and narrow-mindedness. The political agreement set a new path leading toward a happy and prosperous future.
REACTIONS OF HINDUS AND THE MUSLIMS
The Hindus of the United Provinces expressed their resentment because it granted separate electorates to the Muslims of India. All India Hindu Maltasbaha also did the same. Muslims belonging to the Sir Syed School of Thought” in the Punjals and United Provinces went against the Lackne pact.
FINAL NOTE
The Hindu-Muslim unity The Lucknow pact” of 1916 is essential as a milestone in the history of the sub-continent. Due to this agreement, Congress protected all the due rights of Muslims and accepted the Muslim League as their representative party. Because of the Hindu-Muslim Unity, the British government also gave legal protection to the rights and interests of Muslims in the Act of India 1919.
REFERENCES
- Pakistan Studies by Waqar Ahmad Cheema
