Question

What was the Khilafat agitation ? Why did Gandhiji support this agitations?

Answer 1

To unite the Hindus and Muslims, Gandhiji felt that he should take up the Khilafat issue. The First World War had defeated the Ottoman Turkey, it's head was Khalifa. To defend the Khalifa's powers a Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay in March 1919. Muslim leaders began discussing with Gandhi about the possibility of United mass action on this issue.At Calcutta session, he convinced other leaders of the need to start a movement in support of Khilafat and Swaraj. This is all I know and I hope I cleared your doubt.

Answer 2

Khilafat Agitation :

• The Khilafat movement (1919-1924) initiated by Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali was a mass movement against the reduction of temporal powers of Caliph after the defeat of Ottoman-Turkey in the First World War.
• To defend Khalifa's temporal powers, Khilafat Committee was formed in 1919 as he was considered as the spiritual head of Muslims.
• Gandhiji supported it because he saw it as an opportunity to bring Muslims under the umbrella of a unified National Movement.