230 Modern Islam in India
the incident of the government's conditional offer of their
release in 1917: they had been asked to sign an undertaking
that they would, if released, do nothing helpful to the king-
emperor's enemies, or attacking that gentleman's friends.
They were not freed when they signed not that undertaking
but another to the same effect but beginning with the
bismillah, and adding the qualification : " without prejudice
to our allegiance to Islam " 9. The organizing ability of these
men, particularly that of Muhammad 'all, was marked. Be-
fore long the Khilafat Committee was a powerful and very
representative body. It was also a decidedly aggressive body.
The Muslims who supported it were vigorous and deter-
mined, enthusiastic about the struggle.
The theological weight of Indian Islam was fully behind
the anti-British movement. The leaders of the 'w/ama'
consulted with the Khilafat leaders, and the rank and file
theologians throughout the country provided an impor-
tant propaganda force.
In January 1920 the 'all brothers issued the Khilafat
Manifesto. Presently, in accordance with it, Muhammad
'all and other leaders went off to Europe to present the
Khilafat case. While these were away, the Committee
came more and more under the influence of Gandhi and
the nationalists. Abu-1 Kalam Azad was released from
internment in 1920, and at once vigorously gave himself and
his very remarkable ability to the Khilafat and nationalist
cause. In May, the All-India Khilafat Committee, meeting
in Bombay, adopted Gandhi's Non-co-operation programme.
(This was several months before the Congress did like-
wise.) The following month a conference of Hindu and
Muslim leaders met at Allahabad, and jointly approved
that programme. The country was becoming exceedingly
wrought up, and was preparing to fight.
The humiliating treaty of Sevres was signed on August
10, 1920; it was nicely suited to inflame beyond measure
the Indian Muslims. In September the Congress met in
special session at Calcutta, and adopted the Non-co-opera-
tion plan as a means to attain the two objectives which it