Pan-Islam in British Indian Politics

A correct perspective on the origins and development of pan-Islam in British India had eluded writers for years. The author treats the subject comprehensively and highlights links between pan-Islam and nationalist movements in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In focus is the Khilafat movement (1918-1924) which, with its distinct religio-political dynamics, aimed at saving Ottoman Turkey from dismemberment as well as securing self-government for India.Extensively utilizing a variety of archival and other source materials, the author unfolds the fascinating story of how, in concert with secular forces, the pan-Islamic appeal was mobilized for political gains in the broader context of the British policy towards Turkey and India.The book also examines the gradual transition of Muslim politics from pan-Islam to territorial nationalism, especially after the Turks abolished the caliphate and the Indians plunged back into communal strife.