The Lucknow Pact, 1916

The accord amongst the All-India Muslim League abbreviated as AIML, and the Indian National Congress, which was signed at a joint assembly of both parties in Lucknow is referred to as The Lucknow Pact 1916. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, a member of both the Congress and the League at the time, convinced both parties to come to an agreement to urge the British government to take a more liberal attitude towards India and grant Indians more power over their nation, while also protecting essential Muslim rights. 

The political parties decided to provide religious minorities participation in provincial legislatures as part of the agreement. Leaders of the Muslim League agreed to unite with the Congress-led movement for Indian sovereignty. 

This is an illustration of a consociational practice in Indian politics, according to scholars.  While negotiating the Lucknow Pact 1916, Bal Gangadhar Tilak represented the Congress, in the presence of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Mahatma Gandhi. Sarojini Naidu, India’s Nightingale, nicknamed Jinnah “the Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity” for his attempts to bring the Congress and the League together.

Facing enormous pressure from the Indian public, the British government declared that they would consider a set of proposals that would result in approximately 50% of the members of the Executive Council becoming appointed, as well as the Legislative Council getting a large proportion of members elected. 

These were backed by both the Congress and the Muslim League. They knew that in order to obtain more concessions, they needed to work together more.

Congress Agreements

In choosing delegates to the Imperial and Provincial Legislative Councils, the Congress agreed to separate electorates for Muslims. Even though the Indian Council Act of 1909 granted Muslims this authority, the Indian National Congress rejected it. Regardless of the fact that Muslims made up less than one-third of the population, the Congress agreed to the notion to grant them one-third of the seats in the Councils. 

Besides that, the Congress also resolved that no action impacting a community would be enacted unless it received the consent of three-quarters of the community’s council members. The conflict between the moderates and the extremists was lessened to some degree after the adoption of this pact. And their relationship could be seen changing dramatically.

Demands made to the British

The British were provided with certain common claims by both groups. 

• They demanded that the number of elected council seats be raised
• The British Government should accept as bindings the laws enacted by substantial majorities in the councils
• The rights of minorities in the regions should be safeguarded.
• Autonomy must be provided to all provinces
• Establishing a buffer between the executive and the judiciary
• At least 50% of the Executive Council members must be elected, and the Legislative Council must have a majority of elected members

When was the Lucknow Pact Adopted in 1916?

The Lucknow Pact was adopted in 1916 in the month of December at a joint conference in Lucknow between the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim League (AIML). The Congress adopted the Lucknow Pact 1916 on December 29 and the AIML on December 31, 1916. The signing of the Lucknow Pact 1916 marked its 105th anniversary as of December 2021.

What is the Significance of the Lucknow Pact of 1916?

The significance of The Lucknow Pact Of 1916 is as follows:

1. The Pact was viewed as a ray of optimism for Hindu–Muslim cooperation.  The Hindus and Muslims submitted a combined appeal to the British for political reform for the very first time. As a result, there was an increasing belief throughout British India that self-government or Home Rule was a viable option. The accord also signified the pinnacle of Hindu-Muslim cooperation. 
2. The Muslim League and the Indian National Congress built good relations as a consequence. Prior to the agreement, the parties were seen as adversaries who resisted one another and pursued their own goals. The accord, on the other side, created a change in that viewpoint.
3. The Lucknow Pact 1916 also aided in the formation of a more friendly relationship among both the major factions inside the Indian National Congress: the ‘extremist’ headed by Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal also known as the Lal Bal Pal trio and the ‘moderate’ faction headed by Gopal Krishna Gokhale till the time of his passing away in 1915 and afterwards headed by Mahatma Gandhi. 
4. Although two decades later, Jinnah argued for a distinct Muslim nation, he was a member of both the Congress and the Muslim League in 1916 and an acquaintance of Tilak.

Conclusion

The Indian National Congress, commanded by Maratha leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and the All-India Muslim League, commanded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, were the driving forces behind the Lucknow Pact 1916. The proposals were an improvement of the “political testament” by Gopal Krishna Gokhale. 

The conference held in Lucknow signified the unification of the Congress’s moderate and radical sections. The treaty addressed both the framework of India’s government and the relationship between the Hindu and Muslim populations.