Mahendra Pratap and the Kabul Provisional Government: An Epic Chapter in India’s Freedom Struggle

Abstract

The First World War opened a rare window of opportunity for Indian revolutionaries to mount a direct challenge to British colonial rule. Among the boldest of these was Raja Mahendra Pratap—a visionary royal who viewed the global conflict not as a crisis, but as a catalyst for India's liberation. Embarking on a sweeping diplomatic journey across Europe and Asia, Pratap sought to forge alliances with powers like Germany, Turkey, and Afghanistan, all in the hope of sparking an anti-colonial uprising back home. His ambitions took form in 1915 with the establishment of the Provisional Government of India in Kabul, where he assumed the role of President and Maulana Barkatullah served as Prime Minister. Though largely symbolic, this government declared India's right to self-rule on the world stage. Despite determined efforts—through diplomatic outreach in countries such as Germany, Russia, Turkey, and Japan—the movement stumbled in the face of wartime turbulence and vigilant British intelligence. Even so, Pratap’s unwavering mission, his connections with leaders like Lenin, and links to revolutionary circles such as the Silk Letter Conspiracy reflected an international approach that was far ahead of its time. Although the Kabul government did not succeed in inciting an armed revolution, it marked a defining moment in India’s freedom struggle—bringing to light the global aspirations of its revolutionaries and the personal sacrifices they were willing to endure. This study retraces Mahendra Pratap’s remarkable journey, shedding light on how his vision and daring diplomacy helped shape India’s future path to independence and its emerging voice in world affairs.