Period of Radicalism in Anti-Imperialist Struggles Exercise Solutions | KalviGavani

The Anushilan Samiti was a revolutionary organisation founded in 1902 in Calcutta by Satish Chandra Basu, with Barindra Ghosh (Aurobindo Ghosh's brother) as a key promoter. It trained youth in physical fitness, arms, and revolutionary ideology. The Samiti published the newspaper Jugantar, which spread revolutionary ideas. Its members were involved in several bombings and assassinations, including the Muzaffarpur bombing of 1908. It was one of the most important revolutionary organisations in Bengal.

Abhinav Bharat (meaning "New India") was a secret revolutionary society founded by V.D. Savarkar in 1904 in Nasik. It was inspired by Mazzini's Young Italy and aimed at overthrowing British rule through armed revolution. Members took an oath of secrecy and were trained in arms and explosives. The society was involved in the assassination of the Nasik District Collector, Jackson, in 1909. Savarkar was arrested and sentenced to transportation for life to the Cellular Jail in the Andamans.

The Gadar Movement was an armed revolt planned by Indian immigrants in North America during World War I. The Gadar Party was founded in 1913 in San Francisco by Lala Har Dayal, Sohan Singh Bhakna, and others. Its newspaper Gadar was published in multiple languages. The party planned to incite a mutiny among Indian soldiers and launch an armed revolt while Britain was preoccupied with World War I. However, British intelligence intercepted the plans, and most Gadarites were arrested upon returning to India. The movement failed but inspired future revolutionaries.

In 1914, the Japanese ship Komagata Maru carried 376 Indian immigrants (mostly Sikhs from Punjab) to Canada, which had racist immigration laws. The Canadian government refused to let them land, and after a two-month standoff, the ship was forced to return to India. When the ship arrived at Budge Budge near Calcutta, British police tried to forcibly remove passengers, leading to a confrontation in which 20 passengers were killed. The incident highlighted the racism faced by Indians abroad and became a rallying point for revolutionary sentiment.

The two Home Rule Leagues (Tilak's at Belgaum and Besant's at Adyar) demanded: 1. Self-government (Home Rule) for India within the British Empire, on the lines of Ireland 2. Constitutional reforms — greater Indian representation in legislatures 3. Revival of the national movement after the decline following the Surat Split (1907) 4. Mass political education — taking the demand for self-rule to ordinary Indians through tours, pamphlets, and newspapers 5. Unity of Moderates and Extremists — bringing both factions back into the INC

Bengal — Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar:

The Anushilan Samiti was founded in 1902 in Calcutta by Satish Chandra Basu, with Barindra Ghosh as a key organiser. It operated as a secret society training young men in physical fitness, arms, and revolutionary ideology. The Samiti published the newspaper Jugantar (meaning "New Age" or "Change"), which spread revolutionary ideas and inspired youth.

Key activities:

• Muzaffarpur bombing (April 1908): Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki attempted to assassinate District Judge Kingsford. The bomb killed two British women instead. Chaki shot himself; Bose was arrested and hanged on 11 August 1908 at the age of 18.
• Alipore Bomb Case (1908–1909): Following the Muzaffarpur bombing, the British arrested numerous revolutionaries including Aurobindo Ghosh and Barindra Ghosh. Aurobindo was acquitted; Barindra was sentenced to death (commuted to life imprisonment). The trial became a rallying point for revolutionary sentiment.
• Other revolutionary acts: robberies to fund activities, assassinations of British officials.

Maharashtra — Abhinav Bharat:

Abhinav Bharat was founded by V.D. Savarkar in 1904 in Nasik, inspired by Mazzini's Young Italy. It was a secret society that aimed at armed revolution to overthrow British rule.

Key activities:

• Assassination of Jackson (1909): Anant Kanhere, a member of Abhinav Bharat, assassinated A.M.T. Jackson, the District Collector of Nasik, on 21 December 1909.
• Savarkar was arrested in London and sentenced to transportation for life (50 years) to the Cellular Jail in the Andamans.
• The Nasik conspiracy case led to the imprisonment of several members.

Significance of Revolutionary Movements: 1. They demonstrated that Indians were willing to sacrifice their lives for freedom. 2. They created a heroic tradition that inspired future generations. 3. They forced the British to take Indian demands more seriously. 4. They showed the limitations of individual terrorism — heroic but unable to mobilise the masses or sustain a nationwide movement.

Background: Indian immigrants (mostly Sikh farmers from Punjab) settled in the Pacific Coast of North America (California, Oregon, British Columbia) in the early 1900s. They faced racist laws, discrimination, and humiliation in Canada and the USA, which radicalised them against British rule.

Formation of the Gadar Party:

• Founded in 1913 in San Francisco by Lala Har Dayal, Sohan Singh Bhakna, and others.
• The party published the Gadar newspaper in multiple languages (Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati) from 1913.
• The word "Gadar" means "mutiny" or "revolt" — the newspaper called for an armed uprising against British rule.

The Gadar Conspiracy (1914–1915):

• When World War I broke out in 1914, the Gadarites saw an opportunity — Britain was preoccupied with the war.
• They planned to incite a mutiny among Indian soldiers and launch an armed revolt.
• Hundreds of Gadarites returned to India by ship, expecting a popular uprising.
• However, British intelligence had infiltrated the movement. Returning Gadarites were arrested at ports.
• The planned revolt in Punjab was suppressed. Many Gadarites were tried in the Lahore Conspiracy Case and sentenced to death or long imprisonment.
• The Komagata Maru incident (1914) further inflamed revolutionary sentiment but also showed the ruthlessness of British repression.

Significance: 1. First organised armed revolt from abroad: The Gadar Movement was the first major attempt to organise an armed revolt against British rule from outside India. 2. Diaspora nationalism: It showed that Indians abroad were deeply committed to India's freedom. 3. Inspiration for future movements: The courage and sacrifice of the Gadarites inspired later revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh. 4. Exposure of racism: The movement highlighted the racial discrimination faced by Indians in British colonies and North America. 5. Limitations: The movement failed because it lacked coordination with revolutionary groups inside India, British intelligence had infiltrated it, and it could not mobilise the masses.

Background: After the Surat Split (1907), the INC was weakened. The Moderate faction dominated but lacked mass support. The Extremists were sidelined. World War I (1914–1918) created new conditions — Britain needed India's support, and nationalists saw an opportunity to demand concessions.

Formation of the Home Rule Leagues: Two separate leagues were formed in 1916:

1. Tilak's Home Rule League (April 1916, Belgaum):

• Operated in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Central Provinces
• Used popular festivals (Ganapati, Shivaji) and tours to spread the message
• Published Kesari (Marathi) and Maratha (English)
• More radical in approach

2. Besant's Home Rule League (September 1916, Adyar/Madras):

• Operated in the rest of India, especially Madras Presidency
• Used newspapers (New India, Commonweal) and lectures
• More moderate and educational in approach
• Besant was a prominent theosophist and social reformer

Objectives: 1. Self-government (Home Rule) for India within the British Empire 2. Constitutional reforms and greater Indian representation 3. Revival of the national movement and unity between Moderates and Extremists 4. Political education of the masses

Activities:

• Organised tours, public meetings, and lectures across India
• Distributed pamphlets and newspapers demanding Home Rule
• Enrolled thousands of members — including women and students
• Pressured the British government to announce political reforms

Achievements: 1. Revival of the national movement: The Home Rule Leagues brought the INC out of its post-Surat Split decline. 2. Reunification of Moderates and Extremists: Tilak and Besant's efforts led to the readmission of Extremists into the INC at the Lucknow Pact (1916). 3. Mass political education: The leagues took the demand for self-government to ordinary Indians — students, women, and the middle class. 4. Montagu Declaration (1917): The British government announced that the "gradual development of self-governing institutions" was the goal of British policy in India — a direct response to Home Rule pressure. 5. Women's participation: Besant's league particularly encouraged women's involvement in politics.

Limitations: 1. The movement was largely urban and middle class. 2. It did not address the concerns of peasants and workers. 3. It was divided into two separate leagues rather than a single organisation. 4. Besant's arrest (1917) and Tilak's focus on the Congress-Reform debate diluted the movement.

Annie Besant (1847–1933) was an Irish-born theosophist who became a major figure in the Indian national movement:

Early Life and Arrival in India:

• Born in Ireland; became a theosophist and moved to India in 1893
• Settled in Adyar, Madras, and founded the Central Hindu College (1898) in Banaras
• Founded the newspaper New India (1914) to advocate Home Rule

Home Rule Movement:

• Founded the Home Rule League at Adyar in September 1916
• Conducted nationwide tours, delivering lectures on self-government
• Enrolled thousands of members and created a political organisation
• Was interned (jailed) by the British in June 1917 for her political activities — the arrest provoked nationwide protests and forced the government to release her in September 1917

INC Presidency (1917):

• Became the first woman president of the INC at the 1917 Calcutta session
• Her presidency symbolised the growing role of women in the national movement

Contributions: 1. Revived the national movement after the Surat Split through the Home Rule League 2. Brought the demand for self-government to the masses through lectures and newspapers 3. Encouraged women's participation in politics 4. Promoted education — Central Hindu College (later Banaras Hindu University) 5. United Moderates and Extremists through her mediation

Limitations: 1. Opposed the Non-Cooperation Movement — she believed in constitutional methods 2. Gradually moved towards a more moderate position, losing Extremist support 3. Could not sustain the Home Rule movement after 1917

Both movements contributed to the national movement in different ways — the revolutionaries through sacrifice and inspiration, the Home Rule Leagues through mass political education and organisational revival.