The First Phase of the Revolutionary Movement in India (1907-1917)
The early 20th century marked a crucial phase in India’s struggle for independence. With the decline of the mass phase of the Swadeshi movement and a lull in political activity, a new form of resistance emerged—revolutionary nationalism.
Inspired by the Russian Nihilists and Irish nationalists, young Indian revolutionaries adopted individual heroic actions, including assassinations and armed rebellion, to challenge British rule.
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Reasons for the Rise of Revolutionary Trends
Several factors contributed to the growth of revolutionary activities in India:
- Futility of Constitutional Methods: The extremist critique of the moderates made revolutionaries realize that petitions and prayers would not convince the British to grant self-rule.
- Disappointment with Extremist Leadership: The inability of extremist leaders to organize large-scale mass movements and reverse the partition of Bengal led young revolutionaries to take direct action.
- Brutal Repression of the Swadeshi Movement: The Surat Split (1907) weakened nationalist unity and allowed the British to repress extremists without fearing a backlash from moderates.
- Carrot and Stick Policy: While the British government pacified moderates with promises of constitutional reforms, they brutally suppressed revolutionaries. Leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak were exiled, and Aurobindo Ghosh was arrested.
Early Revolutionary Activities
Though revolutionary activities peaked around 1907-08, earlier incidents foreshadowed this phase:
- In 1897, the Chapekar brothers—Damodar and Balkrishna—assassinated Plague Commissioner Rand in Poona.
- In 1899, V.D. Savarkar and his brother founded Mitra Mela, which later merged with Abhinav Bharat in 1904.
Major Revolutionary Activities in Bengal
Bengal became the epicenter of revolutionary activities, with secret societies like Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar Group leading the movement.
Anushilan Samiti
- Formed in 1902 in Midnapore by Jnenendranath Basu and in Calcutta by Promotha Mitter, Jatindranath Banerjee, and Barindra Kumar Ghosh.
- Published Yugantar, a weekly advocating revolutionary action.
- Rashbehari Bose and Sachin Sanyal expanded its operations beyond Bengal to Punjab, Delhi, and the United Provinces.
- Alipore Conspiracy Case (1908):
- Prafulla Chaki and Khudiram Bose attempted to assassinate Kingsford, an unpopular judge in Muzaffarpur, but accidentally killed two British women.
- Khudiram was hanged, and the British used the incident to crack down on revolutionaries, arresting Aurobindo Ghosh and others.
- Delhi Conspiracy Case (1912): Rashbehari Bose orchestrated a bomb attack on Viceroy Lord Hardinge, who survived.
Jugantar Group
- Led by Jatindranath Mukherjee (Bagha Jatin), who played a key role in the Indo-German Conspiracy (Zimmerman Plan) during World War I.
- The plan failed due to British intelligence infiltrating the movement, leading to the death of Bagha Jatin in a battle at Balasore, Orissa (1915).
Revolutionary Activities in Punjab
Punjab witnessed a surge in revolutionary activities due to increased land revenue, famines, and forced labor by zamindars.
- Key Leaders:
- Ajit Singh and Lala Lajpat Rai published the newspaper Punjabee and organized Anjuman-i-Mohisban-i-Watan.
- Lala Hardayal joined revolutionary efforts after the British banned political activities.
Revolutionary Activities Outside India
Revolutionary movements also gained traction outside India, where leaders sought arms, training, and support for the cause.
- India House (London, 1905): Founded by Shyamji Krishna Verma, it became a hub for revolutionaries like V.D. Savarkar and Lala Hardayal.
- Madan Lal Dhingra (1909): Assassinated Curzon Wylie, an Indian Office official in London.
- Madam Bhikaji Cama (Paris): Published Bande Mataram and developed ties with French socialists.
- Virendranath Chattopadhyay (Berlin): Part of the Indo-German Conspiracy.
The Ghadar Movement (1913-1915)
The Ghadar Party was formed by Indian expatriates in the USA and Canada to overthrow British rule through armed revolt.
- Headquarters: San Francisco.
- Leaders: Lala Hardayal, Barkatullah, Kartar Singh Sarabha, and Bhagwan Singh.
- Published the weekly newspaper The Ghadr to inspire revolutionaries.
Komagata Maru Incident (1914)
- The Komagata Maru, carrying Indian immigrants, was denied entry into Canada.
- After being forced back to India, a violent clash with British police led to the deaths of 18 passengers.
- This incident fueled the revolutionary fervor.
Failure of the Ghadar Movement (1915)
- Lacked popular support in Punjab.
- Attempted mutiny in February 1915 was foiled by British intelligence.
- Leaders like Rasbehari Bose escaped to Japan, while others were arrested or executed.
Evaluation of the Revolutionary Movement
Achievements
- Inspired patriotic fervor and self-confidence among Indians.
- Created legendary figures like Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki.
- Highlighted the oppressive nature of British rule on the global stage.
Limitations
- Lack of Mass Base: Revolutionary actions were individual efforts, failing to mobilize the masses.
- Justification for British Repression: Violent methods gave the British an excuse to implement harsher laws.
- Weak Organizational Structure: Lack of centralized leadership and coordination led to failures.
- Underestimation of British Strength: Many revolutionaries miscalculated their ability to take on the British Empire.
The Decline of Revolutionary Activities
- The British cracked down on revolutionaries using stringent laws.
- The release of political prisoners and the Montagu Declaration (1917) promising constitutional reforms pacified some nationalists.
- The emergence of Mahatma Gandhi and his non-violent movement shifted the focus away from armed rebellion.
The first phase of the Revolutionary Movement in India (1907-1917) played a crucial role in the freedom struggle. Though ultimately unsuccessful in overthrowing British rule, it created a lasting impact by fostering a spirit of defiance and nationalism.
The revolutionaries’ sacrifices laid the foundation for future mass movements, proving that the fight for independence required unwavering dedication and strategic leadership.
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FAQ’s on Revolutionary Movement
1. Why did revolutionary activities rise in India (1907-1917)?
Frustration with failed constitutional methods and brutal British repression led young revolutionaries to adopt armed resistance.
2. Who were the key leaders of the Bengal revolutionary movement?
Leaders like Barindra Kumar Ghosh, Aurobindo Ghosh, Khudiram Bose, Prafulla Chaki, and Jatindranath Mukherjee (Bagha Jatin) played major roles.
3. What was the Ghadar Movement?
A revolutionary movement by Indian expatriates (1913) aiming to overthrow British rule through armed rebellion.
4. How did the British suppress revolutionaries?
They used arrests, executions, and harsh laws like the Defense of India Act (1915) to crush revolutionary activities.
5. Why did revolutionary activities decline after 1917?
Heavy British crackdown, the Montagu Declaration (1917), and the rise of Gandhi’s non-violent movement reduced revolutionary momentum.
