Vardaan Learning Institute
Chapter 6: National Movement During the First World War (Home Rule League & Lucknow Pact)
Chapter Overview
The outbreak of the First World War (1914–1918) transformed the Indian national movement. The war created immense economic hardship, revived political activity through the Home Rule Movement led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant, brought about the historic Lucknow Pact (1916) uniting Congress and Muslim League, and compelled the British to make the August Declaration of 1917.
1. Impact of the First World War (1914–1918) on India
When the First World War broke out in August 1914, Indian leaders initial supported the British war effort with men, money, and materials, hoping that Britain would reward India with self-government after the war. However, the war brought severe economic and political consequences:
Consequences of WWI on India
1. Economic Distress and Heavy Taxation
The British government incurred massive defense expenditure (£127 million contributed by India). To finance the war:
- Customs duties were raised, income tax was introduced, and land revenue demands were increased.
- Severe inflation struck India — prices of essential commodities doubled between 1914 and 1918, causing extreme hardship for common people.
- Shortage of food, clothing, and coal led to widespread distress, exacerbated by terrible influenza epidemics (1918–19) which claimed over 12 million lives.
2. Recruitment and Human Casualties
Over 1.3 million Indian soldiers and laborers were sent to fight in distant battlefields of Europe, Mesopotamia, Africa, and Gallipoli. Over 70,000 Indian soldiers died. Forced recruitment in rural areas generated anger against British authorities.
3. Influence of Global Ideas & Allied Propaganda
Allied leaders (including US President Woodrow Wilson) declared that the war was fought for democracy and national self-determination. Indian leaders argued that if Britain was fighting for democracy in Europe, it could not deny self-rule to India. The Russian Revolution of 1917 further inspired Indians by proving that an autocratic empire could be overthrown.
2. The Home Rule Movement (1916)
Definition & Objective
Home Rule Movement: Inspired by the Irish Home Rule Movement, it was a countrywide movement launched in 1916 by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant.
Main Objective: To attain Home Rule (Self-Government) for India within the British Empire through constitutional and peaceful means, establishing responsible government where Indians managed internal administration.
The Two Home Rule Leagues
| Feature |
Tilak's Home Rule League |
Annie Besant's Home Rule League |
| Date of Foundation |
April 1916 (at Poona session). |
September 1916 (at Adyar, Madras). |
| Jurisdiction / Area |
Maharashtra (excluding Bombay city), Karnataka, Central Provinces, and Berar. |
Rest of India (including Bombay city, Madras, UP, Gujarat, Bihar). |
| Headquarters |
Poona (Pune). |
Adyar (Madras). |
| Main Organs / Newspapers |
Kesari (Marathi) and Mahratta (English). |
New India and Commonweal. |
| Key Features |
Linked Home Rule demand with linguistic states and education in vernacular languages. |
Established over 200 branches across India with prominent leaders like George Arundale, B.P. Wadia, and C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar. |
Activities and Government Repression
Impact & Repression
- Methods of Propaganda: Organized public meetings, lectures, reading rooms, political discussions, and wide distribution of nationalist literature in local languages.
- Government Repression:
- Tilak was barred from entering Punjab and Delhi; security of Rs 40,000 was demanded from his press.
- In June 1917, Annie Besant and her associates (B.P. Wadia and George Arundale) were arrested and interned in Ootacamund (Ooty).
- Public Backlash: Besant's arrest triggered massive protests across India. Sir S. Subramania Aiyar renounced his Knighthood in protest. Leaders like Muhammad Ali Jinnah joined the League in solidarity.
Significance and Achievements of the Home Rule Movement
Historic Achievements
- Revived Nationalist Movement: Injected fresh enthusiasm and mass vigor into the national movement after the inactivity following the Surat Split (1907).
- Created Political Consciousness: Expanded the political base of Congress by bringing women, students, and rural areas into active political life.
- Paved Way for Lucknow Unity: Worked actively to bring Moderates, Extremists, and the Muslim League onto a common platform in 1916.
- Forced British Reforms: Compelled the British government to make the landmark August Declaration of 1917 promising self-governing institutions.
3. The August Declaration of 1917 (Montagu Declaration)
On 20 August 1917, Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State for India, made a historic policy statement in the British House of Commons:
"The policy of His Majesty's Government is that of the increasing association of Indians in every branch of the administration and the gradual development of self-governing institutions with a view to the progressive realisation of responsible government in India as an integral part of the British Empire."
- Significance For the first time, the British government officially recognized Responsible Government as the goal of constitutional development in India.
- Consequences Following this declaration, Annie Besant was released from internment in September 1917 and was elected President of the Calcutta Session of Congress in December 1917 (first woman Congress President).
4. The Lucknow Pact (1916)
The Lucknow Pact was a historic landmark in the Indian freedom struggle, signed at the joint session of the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim League held at Lucknow in December 1916.
Circumstances & Factors Leading to the Reunion & Pact
Factors Behind Unity
1. Reunion of Moderates and Extremists (1916)
Thanks to the untiring efforts of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant, Moderates and Assertive Nationalists reunited at the Lucknow Session (presided over by Ambica Charan Mazumdar) after 9 years of separation since the Surat Split.
2. Annulment of the Partition of Bengal (1911)
The British decision to cancel the Partition of Bengal in 1911 shocked Muslim League leaders, who realized that British assurances of protecting Muslim interests could not be trusted blindly.
3. British War against Ottoman Turkey (Khilafat Issue)
During WWI, Britain fought against Turkey (the Ottoman Empire). The Sultan of Turkey was regarded as the Caliph (Khalifa), the spiritual head of Muslims worldwide. British actions against Turkey deeply offended Indian Muslims.
4. Rise of Younger Nationalist Muslim Leaders
Young progressive leaders like Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, and Hasrat Mohani came to the forefront of the Muslim League, steering it towards anti-imperialism and cooperation with the Congress.
Main Provisions of the Lucknow Pact
Key Terms of Agreement
- Acceptance of Separate Electorates: The Congress accepted the Muslim League's demand for separate electorates for Muslims in elections to provincial and central legislative councils.
- One-Third Reservation in Central Legislature: One-third of the elected Indian members in the Central Legislative Council were to be Muslims, elected by separate Muslim electorates.
- Weightage in Minority Provinces: Muslims were granted representation in provincial legislatures greater than their population proportion in provinces where they were minorities (such as UP, Bihar, Bombay, Madras).
- Communal Veto (3/4th Majority Rule): No bill or resolution concerning a religious community could be passed in any council if three-fourths (3/4ths) of the members of that community opposed it.
- Joint Demands to the British Government:
- Immediate declaration that Self-Government would be conferred on India at an early date.
- Expansion of Legislative Councils with four-fifths (4/5ths) elected members.
- Half of the members of the Governor-General’s Executive Council to be Indians elected by the legislature.
- Salaries of the Secretary of State for India to be paid from the British Treasury, not from Indian revenues.
Significance and Impact of the Lucknow Pact
- Hindu-Muslim Unity Peak moment of Hindu-Muslim unity. For the first time, Congress and Muslim League stood on a common political platform to present joint demands for self-rule.
- Congress Reunion Reunited the Moderates and Extremists, making the INC a formidable mass organization.
- Pressure on British Forced the British government to take Indian demands seriously, leading directly to the Montagu Declaration of 1917.
Drawbacks & Critical Assessment of the Pact
Critical Review
Despite its political success, the Lucknow Pact had serious long-term flaws:
- Legitimized Communal Politics: By conceding separate electorates and communal vetoes, the Congress officially recognized Muslims as a separate political entity, strengthening communal feelings in Indian politics.
- Temporary Pact among Elites: The unity was negotiated between top political leaders of Congress and Muslim League without building deep grassroots unity among the masses.
- Precedent for Partition: Accepting separate representation on religious lines sowed the seeds of communal division that ultimately led to the Partition of India in 1947.
