New Books Network Imran Mulla, "The Indian Caliphate, Exiled Ottomans and the Billionaire Prince" (Hurst, 2025)
Jan 15, 2026
Imran Mulla, a journalist at Middle East Eye and historian, shares insights from his book on the Ottoman caliphate and its intriguing aftermath. He delves into the radical resurgence efforts by Indian Muslims and the opulent Nizam of Hyderabad to revive the caliphate after its 1924 abolition. Discussing cultural intersections, he highlights the significance of a 1931 royal marriage alliance and explores alternate histories where Hyderabad could have become a caliphal center. Mulla emphasizes the importance of these connections for understanding contemporary Muslim political landscapes.
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Caliphate Reinvented Under Ottoman Rule
- The Ottoman caliphate was reconstituted multiple times and shifted from juristic to mystical-imperial authority under the Ottomans.
- Abdul Hamid II and later constitutional reforms transformed the caliphate into a tool of modern Ottoman statecraft.
Political Calculus Behind Abolishing The Caliphate
- Mustafa Kemal kept the caliphate initially to placate global Muslim opinion, especially in India.
- He later abolished it in 1924 because Abdülmecid's prestige threatened the coherence of the new Turkish republic.
Khilafat Movement's Mass Mobilization
- The Khilafat movement in India mobilized millions and allied with Gandhi's Congress for Hindu-Muslim unity and anti-colonial pressure.
- It birthed mass non-cooperation and influenced early Indian independence politics before fragmenting after the caliphate's abolition.
