Lucknow Pact 1916; A Landmark towards Muslims-Hindus Unification

By Cad. Abubakar Afridi, House Johar, 8th A.

Honorable chief guest, respected audience and my dear fellows! Assalam-u-Alaikum!

I am glad to join you on the day of independence (or on this auspicious day). Dear audience I
am here to make you remember the day when the Lucknow Pact 1916 took a new twist with change in
Muslim Leagues political doctrine. The Quad-e-Azam inclusion in Muslim League was historic event,
my dear audience this inclusion had given new direction to Muslim Leagues political struggle. Self-
rule, far, brought the Muslim League and Congress closer to each other. The leaders of the both parties
agreed that they should cooperate with each other to make British accept their demands. They
acknowledge that the objectives can be achieved if the major communities of sub-continent (India)
forgot their differences on petty issues and unite for the important national issues. My dear audience,
the political vicinity had taken a happy turn and ground for cherished, Hindu-Muslim Unity had been
smoothed.
As I have told you that main objective of All India Muslim League existence was to establish
friendly relations with the Crown. However due to the decision of British Government to annul
Partition of Bengal, the Muslim Leadership decided to change its stance. In 1913, a new group of
Muslim Leaders entered the folds of the Muslim League with the aim of bringing the gulf between the
Hindus and Muslims. The most prominent amongst them was Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Who was
already member of Indian National Congress. The Muslim League changed its major objective and
decided to join hands with Congress in order to put pressure on the British govt. As a result of the hard
work of Mr. Jinnah both the Muslim League and the Congress met for the annual session at Bombay.
The main leaders of both parties assembled at one place for the first time in the history of these
organizations.
Dear Audience the main leaders of both parties had agreement on the following main clauses.
There shall be self-government in sub-continent (India).
Muslims Should be given one-third representation in the central government.
There should be separate electorates for all the communities until a community demand for joint
electorates.
System of weightage should be adopted.
The number of the members of central legislative council should be increased to 150.
The strength of provincial legislative should not be less 125 in the major provinces and from 50 to
75 in the minor province.
All members, except those nominated were to be elected directly on the basis of adult franchise.
Term of the Legislative Council should be five years.
Members of Legislative Council should themselves elect their President.
Half members of Imperial Legislative Council should be Indian.
Indian Council must be abolished;
These were few main clauses of Lucknow Pact which lead to Commoner of interests of both
parties and as a result become the ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unification. Although this Hindu-
Muslim Unity was not able to live for more than eight years, and collapsed after the development of
differences between two communities after Khilafat Movement and thus Two-Nation Theory was
accepted.