The Khilafat Movement was one of the most significant mass political movements in India during the early twentieth century. It emerged after the First World War and was closely connected with the fate of the Ottoman Empire and the position of the Ottoman Sultan, who was regarded by many Sunni Muslims as the Caliph, the spiritual head of the Islamic world. Although the movement originated as a religious and political campaign to protect the authority of the Caliph, it soon became deeply intertwined with the Indian struggle against British colonial rule. The alliance between the Khilafat leaders and Mahatma Gandhi transformed the movement into a broader anti-colonial campaign and played a decisive role in the formation and success of the Non-Cooperation Movement. The origins of the Khilafat Movement lay in the international developments following the end of the First World War. The Ottoman Empire had fought on the side of Germany and its allies and suffered defeat. The victorious Allied Powers proposed harsh peace terms that threatened to dismantle the Ottoman Empire and reduce the authority of the Sultan. Indian Muslims feared that the holy places of Islam and the institution of the Caliphate would be weakened or abolished. Since many Indian Muslims regarded the Caliph as an important symbol of Islamic unity, these developments caused widespread dissatisfaction and anxiety. The British government had earlier assured Indian Muslims that the interests of the Ottoman Empire would be respected after the war. However, these assurances were not fulfilled. The Treaty of Sèvres in 1920 imposed severe conditions on Turkey, leading to widespread disappointment among Indian Muslims. Many felt betrayed by British policies and concluded that constitutional methods alone would not protect their interests. The Khilafat Movement was led by prominent Muslim leaders such as Maulana Mohammad Ali, Maulana Shaukat Ali, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and Hasrat Mohani. They established the All India Khilafat Committee in 1919 to organize protests and mobilize public opinion. Meetings, conferences, petitions, and demonstrations were conducted across the country to pressure the British government to preserve the Caliphate and ensure fair treatment of Turkey. The movement possessed several important characteristics. It was essentially a mass movement involving people from different regions, occupations, and social classes. Unlike earlier political activities that were largely confined to educated elites, the Khilafat Movement succeeded in attracting ordinary Muslims, including traders, peasants, artisans, students, and religious scholars. The use of religious symbols and appeals made it highly effective in mobilizing large sections of the Muslim population. Another important feature was its anti-imperialist character. Although its immediate objective was related to the Ottoman Empire, the movement gradually became a protest against British imperialism in India. Indian Muslims increasingly viewed British foreign policy and colonial rule as interconnected issues. This anti-colonial dimension enabled the movement to find common ground with the Indian National Congress. The movement also marked a shift from constitutional methods to mass agitation. Boycotts, public demonstrations, resignations from government posts, and refusal to cooperate with colonial authorities became important methods of protest. These methods later became central