UPSC CSEMAINSGS 1MOERN HISTORY18) Revolutionary Extremism The First Phase

18) Revolutionary Extremism The First Phase

🚩 Revolutionary Extremism: The First Phase (1900–1915)

1. Background and Origins 📜

Revolutionary heroism was a byproduct of the growth of militant nationalism. It was not a sudden occurrence but a reaction to specific political failures.

  • Period: 1900–1915.
  • The Catalyst: The fallout of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement (post-1907) led younger nationalists to seek more activist avenues.
  • Failure of Leadership: Both Moderates and Extremists failed to provide a concrete plan to tap into the energy of the youth after the open movement declined. 📉
  • Surat Split (1907): The division in Congress left the youth without a clear political direction, leading them toward underground activities. ⚡
  • Reactionary Rule: Policies of Lord Curzon further fueled the fire.

2. The Revolutionary Programme & Objectives 🔫

The youth felt that peaceful protest was closed due to government repression. They believed the British must be expelled by force.

🎯 Key Objectives:

  • Strike terror into the hearts of the British rulers. 😨
  • Arouse the masses and remove the "fear of authority" from their minds.
  • Inspire patriotism through personal sacrifice.

🛠️ The Programme:

  1. Assassinations: Targeted killings of unpopular British officials.
  2. Swadeshi Dacoities: Armed robberies to raise funds for revolutionary work. 💰
  3. Military Conspiracies: Organizing revolts within the army, often seeking help from Britain’s enemies.

3. Revolutionary Activities in India: Regional Hubs 📍

A. Bengal: The Epicenter 🌊

  • Anushilan Samiti (1902): Founded by Promotha Mitter.
  • Yugantar Group: Led by Aurobindo Ghosh, Barin Ghosh, and Bhupendranath Dutt.
  • Journals: Yugantar and Sandhya advocated for revolutionary violence.
  • Key Events:
    • 1908 Alipore/Manicktolla Conspiracy: Prafulla Chaki and Khudiram Bose threw a bomb at Judge Kingsford’s carriage (killing two British ladies instead). Khudiram was hanged; Aurobindo retired to Pondicherry. 🏛️
    • 1912 Delhi Conspiracy: Rashbehari Bose and Sachin Sanyal staged a bomb attack on Viceroy Hardinge. Bose successfully escaped.

B. Maharashtra: The Early Stirrings 🏔️

  • Mitra Mela: A secret society organized by the Savarkar brothers, which merged with Abhinav Bharat in 1904.
  • Journals: Kal.
  • Key Event: In 1909, Anant Lakshman Kanhere (Abhinav Bharat) assassinated A.M.T. Jackson, the Collector of Nasik. 🔫

C. Punjab: The Land of the Lion 🦁

  • Anjuman-i-Mohisban-i-Watan: Founded by Ajit Singh in Lahore.
  • Journals: Bharat Mata (Ajit Singh) and Punjabee (Lala Lajpat Rai).
  • Context: After the 1907 ban on political meetings, leaders like Lala Hardayal developed into full-scale revolutionaries.

4. Revolutionary Activities Abroad 🌏

The movement extended globally to secure arms and international support.

  • London: Shyamji Krishnavarma founded the Indian Home Rule Society (1905) and the journal The Indian Sociologist. Madanlal Dhingra assassinated Curzon-Wyllie in 1909. 🇬🇧
  • Paris & Geneva: Madam Bhikaji Cama and Ajit Singh. Madam Cama unfurled the first tricolor flag in Stuttgart, Germany (1907) and published Bande Mataram. 🇫🇷
  • Berlin: Virendranath Chattopadhyay formed the Berlin Committee for Indian Independence (1915). 🇩🇪
  • USA (Ghadr Party): Based in San Francisco. Led by Lala Hardayal, Sohan Singh Bhakna, and Barkatullah. They published the weekly The Ghadr. 🇺🇸
  • Kabul: Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh and Barkatullah set up a 'Provisional Indian Government' in Afghanistan. 🇦🇫

5. The Zimmerman Plan (The German Plot) 🇩🇪

During WWI (1914-15), revolutionaries planned a national insurrection with German help.

  • Plan: Import German arms and seize Fort William.
  • Failure: The plot was leaked by a traitor. Jatin Mukherjee (Bagha Jatin) died in a gunfight with police; Rashbehari Bose fled to Japan.

6. Evaluation and Decline 📉

✅ Positive Impact:

  • Inspired the educated youth and kept the spirit of nationalism alive during a "political vacuum."
  • Spread the message of freedom globally.

❌ Weaknesses/Negative Impact:

  • Religious Tone: Overemphasis on Hindu symbols kept Muslims aloof. 🕉️
  • Lack of Mass Base: It was a movement of the elite/upper-caste youth, not the common people.
  • Impracticality: Individual heroism could not withstand the massive power of State repression.

🛑 Reasons for Decline:

  1. Stern government repression.
  2. Release of prisoners after WWI ended.
  3. Discussion on new Constitutional Reforms (Montagu-Chelmsford).
  4. The Arrival of Mahatma Gandhi: Provided a new, mass-based non-violent alternative. 🧘‍♂️

🎓 UPSC Exam Perspectives

📌 Prelims Pointers:

  • Match the Following: Anushilan Samiti (Promotha Mitter), Mitra Mela (Savarkar), Ghadr Party (Lala Hardayal).
  • Timeline: Chronology of bomb outrages (Alipore vs. Delhi Conspiracy).
  • Journals: Yugantar (Bengal), Kal (Maharashtra), The Indian Sociologist (London), Bande Mataram (Paris).
  • Madam Cama: Often called the "Mother of the Indian Revolution."

📝 Mains Related Questions:

  • Analyze the shift: "The failure of the Moderate and Extremist methods of politics led to the birth of Revolutionary Terrorism." Discuss.
  • Global Linkages: Evaluate the role of the Indian diaspora and foreign help (Germany/USA) in the first phase of the revolutionary movement.
  • Critique: Discuss why the first phase of revolutionary activities remained confined to a narrow social base and ultimately failed to involve the Indian masses.
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