<P> Most Indians and Indian political leaders had been divided in their response to World War I and the Indian soldiers fighting on behalf of the British Empire against Germany, the Austro - Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire . The latter's involvement irked India's Muslims, who saw the Sultan as the Caliph of Islam . </P> <P> Many Indian revolutionaries opposed the war, while moderates and liberals backed the war . The issue divided India's political classes and left the increasing demand for self - government going nowhere . Besant however declared, "England's need is India's opportunity". As editor of the New India newspaper, she attacked the colonial government of India and called for clear and decisive moves towards self - rule . As with Ireland, the government refused to discuss any changes while the war lasted . This set the stage for the movement . </P> <P> Between 1916 and 1918, when the war was beginning, prominent Indians like Joseph Baptista, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, G.S. Khaparde, Sir S. Subramania Iyer and the leader of the Theosophical Society, Annie Besant, decided to organise a national alliance of leagues across India, specifically to demand Home Rule, or self - government within the British Empire for all of India . Tilak founded the first home rule league at the Bombay provincial congress at Belgaum in April, 1916 . then after this Annie Besant founded second league at Adyar Madras in September 1916 . While Tilak's league worked in areas like Maharashtra (excluding Bombay city), Karnataka, Central provinces and Berar, Annie Besant's league worked in the rest of India . </P> <P> The move created considerable excitement at the time, and attracted many members of the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League, who had been allied since the 1916 Lucknow Pact . The leaders of the League gave fiery speeches, and petitions with hundreds of thousands of Indians as signatories were submitted to British authorities . Unification of moderates and radicals as well as unity between Muslim League and Indian National Congress was a remarkable achievement of Annie Besant . </P>

Who initiated the home rule movement in india