The following is a summary of the presentation delivered in the International Islamic University Malaysia on 26 October 2018, on the subject “Indian Muslim Contributions to the Ottoman Caliphate and the Turkish Nation (1874-1924)

Noor Mohammed Khalid, Post Graduate student IRKHS, 1st Semester, delivered an emotionally-charged presentation today at the Al Shafiie Meeting Room, on the various contributions made by Muslims of undivided India to the Ottoman Caliphate and the Turkish Nation during their most difficult period—1874 to 1924
He highlighted the financial, medical and diplomatic support the Indian Muslims extended to a distraught and devastated Ottoman Caliphate so as to uphold the honour and prestige of the Muslim ummah.
Indian Muslims knew all too well that the Ottomans were the sole independent Muslim nation on the face of the earth, and they alone had the potential to defend the Holy lands as well the prestige of Islam.
The speaker quoted a Turkish historian who admitted that the contributions made by Indians in this regard were unsurpassed by any other Muslim community. The historian had noted that the Indian Muslims offered their money and their mite despite themselves being a subject race.
Khalid put forth clinching evidences from various sources to show the huge outpouring of support for the Ottomans in the length and breadth of the country. He also spoke in detail about the efforts exerted by Muslim leaders and the public to ensure Turkey was not subjected to humiliating terms of the Sevres Treaty. Reference was made to the Khilafat delegation to UK and other parts of Europe which tried it’s best to win over the leaders of the victorious allied forces, to ensure Turkey was not humiliated and the nation was not dismembered.
He furnished substantial evidence to prove that the Lausanne treaty which granted honourable terms to the Turkish republic, despite the Turks having been the vanquished party, was greatly influenced by the pressure built on the British and other allied powers by Indians.
He went on to list periodicals published across India by Muslims to raise awareness about the miseries being suffered by the Turkish republic, and galvanize public opinion in their support. These newspapers were instrumental in raising funds as well for the Turkish Cause, pointed out the speaker.
The role of Indian Muslim merchants in financially aiding the movements to support the Ottoman Caliphate was also brought out by the speaker.
Special mention was made of the sacrifices made by leaders like Imam Nanawtawi, Allama Shibli, Maulana Azad, Maulana Mohammed Ali Jauhar, Allama Iqbal etc.
The presenter mentioned the sterling role played even by the communities in the Southern part of India, highlighting the sacrifices made by the Moplas of Malbar in this regard
During the Q&A session, one member of the audience pointed out that the name of another great supporter of the Caliphate, Ahmed Raza Khan was conspicuous by its absence.
Dr. Professor Elmira of the Department of History in the IIUM pointed out that even after the abolishment of the Caliphate, it is not appropriate to call the state that succeeded the Caliphate as ‘Turkey’, since, in the opinion of the learned professor, a large number of nationitilities were fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with the Ottoman Turks.
A unique feature of the meeting was the number of nationalities that were represented in the talk: Chinese, Turks, Arabs, Africans, Russians, Kurdis, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and, of course, Indians.
The meeting room was jam-packed despite the talk being Mr. Khalid’s maiden presentation in IIUM.

Here is a link to the entire slide show (44 slides)

The magnificent mosque in the International Islamic University Malaysia located in Kuala Lumpur