Khilafat movement was started by Ali Brothers (Mohammed Ali and Shaukat Ali) in August 1920 for the preservation of the office of Khalifa (Caliph),the religious head of the Muslims.Later on, Gandhiji combined the Khilafat movement with the Non Cooperation movement as he saw in this an opportunity to unite the Hindus and the Muslims.

The Khilafat movement was one of the most significant movements in the Indian independence struggle. It was launched in 1919 by the Indian Muslim community to protest against the British decision to strip the Ottoman Caliph of his temporal powers.

Reasons for the launch of the Khilafat Movement:

• The Ottoman Empire, which was the center of the Islamic world, had been defeated in World War I. The British, who had been allies of the Ottomans during the war, had now turned against them and were planning to dismember the empire.

• The Ottoman Caliph was considered the spiritual leader of the Muslim world, and the British decision to strip him of his temporal powers was seen as an attack on Islam and the Muslim community.

• The Indian Muslim community had been supporting the British war effort in the hope of gaining greater political rights and autonomy. However, the British had failed to deliver on their promises, and the Muslim community felt betrayed.

Leaders of the Khilafat Movement:

• The Khilafat Movement was led by two brothers, Maulana Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali. They were prominent Muslim leaders who had been active in the Indian freedom struggle for many years.

• They were joined by other Muslim leaders such as Abul Kalam Azad, Hasrat Mohani, and Hakim Ajmal Khan. The movement was supported by the Indian National Congress and its leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi.

Objectives of the Khilafat Movement:

• The main objective of the Khilafat Movement was to protest against the British decision to strip the Ottoman Caliph of his temporal powers.

• The movement also aimed to unite the Indian Muslim community and create a sense of Muslim identity and solidarity.

• The Khilafat Movement was also seen as an opportunity to gain greater political rights and autonomy for the Indian Muslim community.

Significance of the Khilafat Movement:

• The Khilafat Movement was one of the first mass movements in the Indian freedom struggle that involved the participation of the Muslim community.

• The movement helped to create a sense of Muslim identity and solidarity, which was important for the future of the Indian Muslim community.

• The Khilafat Movement also helped to unite the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, which had previously been divided along religious lines.

• The movement was also significant because it marked the beginning of Mahatma Gandhi's involvement in the Indian freedom struggle. Gandhi saw the Khilafat Movement as an opportunity to mobilize the masses and launch a non-violent struggle against the British.

Conclusion:

The Khilafat Movement was an important chapter in the Indian freedom struggle. It was launched to protest against the British decision to strip the Ottoman Caliph of his temporal powers and to demand greater political rights and autonomy for the Indian Muslim community. The movement helped to create a sense of Muslim identity and solidarity and marked the beginning of Mahatma Gandhi's involvement in the Indian freedom struggle.