THE LUCKNOW PACT 1916

Background:
After joining the Muslim League in 1919 the Quaid-e-Azam started clearing the
path for Hindu Muslim unity. In 1915, the annual meetings of Congress and
Muslim League were held together at Bombay because of his efforts. This lead to
quick clearing of the path for Hindu Muslim unity, at last in 1916 once more the
meeting of both parties was held together at Lucknow where a written agreement
was signed between the two parties at Baradai of Qassai Bagh, which in the
history of sub-continent is called the Lucknow Pact.

Conditions of the Pact:

The conditions of Lucknow pact 1916 are as follows:-
1. Approval of Separate Electorate:
Congress will accept the separate electorate
2. One Third Muslim Representation:
The number of elected Muslim members in the central council will be one
third.
3. Nomination of Members:
The proportion of elected and nominated members of councils 1/5 will be
nominated members and ¼ will be elected members of the councils.
4. Proportion of Muslim Presentation in the Provinces:
In Muslim majority provinces that is Bengal and Punjab the number of
Muslim representatives was reduced to 40% in Bengal and 50% in Punjab
whereas in Muslim minority areas that is Bombay, Madras and U.P was
increased than their population ratio 33% to and in other provinces e.g.
C.P to 15%.
5. Agreement on Unanimous Law:
No suggestions for constitution making will be considered which will be
rejected by ¾th of any nations chosen members.
6. Conditions for Approval of Demands from the Government:
For conditions were decided for approval of following demands from British
Government.
a. Increase in the Autonomy of Provinces:
Provinces should be given appropriate internal autonomy. The
control of the centre should be decreased from the provinces,
besides the powers of provincial councils should be increased and
they must have full authority over the budget.
b. Freedom of Determination:
The members should have the right of ask questions and
subquestions and to present a movement of adjournment.
c. Separation of Judiciary from Administration:
The judiciary and administration should be separated in the country,
and the judiciary of every province should be under the High Court
of that province.

Result of Lucknow Pact:

Historical results were achieved from Lucknow Pact; an overview of these is as
follows:
1. Approval for Separate Electorate:
The British had accepted the long awaited demand of separate electorate
of the Muslims of India by giving it a legal status in the Act of India 1909.
Anyhow the Hindus always were against this. This demand was accepted
by British and Hindus in 1916, which resulted in the historical and political
success of Muslims.
2. Security of Muslim Rights and Interests:
According to the Lucknow pact the acceptance of Congress to give more
representation to Muslims than their population in the Muslim minority
provinces and in the centre, protected the rights and interests of Muslims.
This removed a lot of fears from the Muslims of India.
3. Muslim League’s Separate Status:
The Congress practically proved the importance of Muslim League in the
subcontinent by accepting the Muslim League as the representative party
of Indian Muslims in Lucknow agreement. This made it obvious that
Muslim League was the representative party of Muslims.
4. Increase in the Fame of the Quaid-e-Azam;
The fame and capability of the Quaid-e-Azam spread because of Hindi
Muslim Unity. Mr. Sirojani Naido while paying his tribute to the Quaid
declared him the ambassador of Hindu Muslim unity.
5. Hind Muslim Unity, First and Last Time:
Hindus tried to take revenge from Muslims in the Khilafat Movement
generally and in Nehru Report especially according to a planned
conspiracy while neglecting the written agreement of Lucknow Pact in
1916. This sent the Lucknow pact to the waste paper basket. This way the
first and last Hindu Muslim unity came to an end without any historical
achievement.