Tilak and Jinnah were the forces behind the Lucknow Pact, 1916. Describe the Significance (Impact) of the Lucknow Pact under these heading:

(a) A step towards Hindu-Muslim Unity.

(b) Unity between the Congress and the League demoralised the Government.

(c) August Declaration, 1917.

(a) The Lucknow Pact was an important step on the road to Hindu-Muslim unity. The Hindu-Muslim cooperation and unity continued throughout the years 1914-1922. It had been said that the Congress had yielded too much to the Muslim League. Tilak's reply to this criticism "When we have a fight against a third party, we stand on this platform united; united in race, united in religion."

(b) The Lucknow Pact signified the unity between the Congress and the Muslim League and between early nationalists and assertive nationalists. This demoralised the Government of India. Our leaders were convinced that the government would grant India a significant measure of self-government only if there was "a united political front" to bring pressure upon them. The government now had no excuse for delaying political or constitutional reforms.

(c) The Pact led to the gradual development of self-governing institutions. The World War was on and our leaders had made it sufficiently clear that the British could not expect loyalty from Indians, if their demand for political reforms went unheard. In the face of overwhelming odds, the Government announced on August 20, 1917 that their policy in India was "the gradual development of self-governing institutions."