What is the Khilafat Movement? What impact did it have on Gandhian Politics.

The Khilafat Movement was a political movement in India in the early 20th century that sought to defend the Ottoman Caliphate, the political and religious leader of the Muslim world, against the perceived threats to its existence. The movement emerged in response to the fall of the Ottoman Empire during World War I and the subsequent abolition of the Caliphate by the newly formed Republic of Turkey in 1924.

The Khilafat Movement was largely led by Indian Muslim leaders, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Abul Kalam Azad, who believed that the Caliphate represented an important symbol of Muslim unity and identity. The movement sought to mobilize Indian Muslims around the cause of defending the Caliphate and to pressure the British government to take action to restore the Ottoman Empire.

Gandhi supported the Khilafat Movement and saw it as an opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims in a common cause. He believed that the movement offered a chance for Hindus and Muslims to come together and work towards a common goal, and he encouraged Hindus to support the Khilafat cause. Gandhi's support for the Khilafat Movement played a key role in his strategy of non-violent resistance and helped to build support for the Indian independence movement among Muslims.

The Khilafat Movement eventually failed in its efforts to restore the Ottoman Empire and the Caliphate, but it had a significant impact on Gandhian politics in India. It helped to bring Hindus and Muslims together in a common cause and contributed to the development of a more inclusive and secular nationalist movement in India. The movement also played a role in the emergence of a more assertive and influential Muslim political presence in India, which would eventually lead to the creation of Pakistan as a separate Muslim-majority state in 1947.