Modern History Notes : Chapter-13 : First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) Arora IAS Class Notes (Arora IAS)

Chapter-13 : First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917)

Modern History Notes

Arora IAS Class Notes

Surge of Revolutionary Activity:

• Fallout of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement.
• Frustration with failed leadership (both Moderate and Extremist) to find new forms of struggle.
• Government repression closing peaceful avenues of protest.
• Belief in forceful expulsion of British as the only path to independence.

Revolutionary Program:

• Not aiming for mass revolution or subversion of the army (initially).
• Inspired by Russian nihilists and Irish nationalists.
• Methods:
  • Assassinations of officials, traitors, and informers.
  • “Swadeshi dacoities” (armed robberies) to fund activities.
  • Military conspiracies during World War I (seeking enemy help).
• Goals:
  • Terrorize rulers.
  • Arouse the people and remove fear of authority.
  • Inspire mass action through individual acts of heroism.
• Missed Opportunity:
  • Extremist leaders failed to offer a clear ideological alternative, allowing individualistic violence to take root.

 

A Survey of Revolutionary Activities (Pre-WWI & WWI)

Bengal:

• Early 20th Century: Rise of revolutionary groups (Anushilan Samiti, Jugantar Party).
• 1906-1907:
  • Newspapers advocated violence (Yugantar).
  • Secret societies formed (Rashbehari Bose, Sachin Sanyal).
  • Abortive attempt to assassinate Sir Fuller (Lt. Governor).
• 1907-1908:
  • Bomb thrown at carriage targeting British judge (Prafulla Chaki, Khudiram Bose).
  • Alipore Conspiracy Case (Aurobindo Ghosh acquitted, Barindra Ghosh sentenced).
• 1909-1910:
  • Public prosecutor and police officer assassinated in Calcutta.
  • Barrah dacoity (fundraising for revolutionaries).
• 1912: Bomb attack on Viceroy Hardinge in Delhi (Rashbehari Bose, Sachin Sanyal).
• WWI:
  • Jugantar Party planned “German Plot” (arms import, uprising).
  • Jatindranath Mukherjee (“Bagha Jatin”) led the effort.
  • “Taxicab” and “boat dacoities” for funding.
  • Plot leaked, revolutionaries confronted police in Balasore (Jatin Mukherjee killed).

Impact:

• Substantial legacy of Swadeshi Bengal.
• Inspired educated youth for a generation.
• Overemphasis on Hinduism alienated Muslims.
• Limited by lack of mass involvement and narrow social base.
• Ultimately unsuccessful against state repression.

 

Maharashtra

• Early Activity (1879):
  • Vasudev Balwant Phadke formed Ramosi Peasant Force.
  • Aimed for armed revolt and disruption of communication lines.
  • Suppressed prematurely.
• 1890s:
  • Bal Gangadhar Tilak promoted militant nationalism through festivals and journals.
  • Chapekar brothers assassinated British officials (1897).
• Late 19th-Early 20th Century:
  • Savarkar brothers and others formed secret societies (Mitra Mela, Abhinav Bharat).
  • Anant Kanhere assassinated British official (1909).
  • Savarkar sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiracy.

Punjab

• Fuel for Extremism:
  • Famines, rising taxes, exploitation by landlords.
  • Influence of events in Bengal.
• Early Leaders:
  • Lala Lajpat Rai (Newspaper: Punjabee)
  • Ajit Singh (Anjuman-i-Mohisban-i-Watan, Bharat Mata journal)
  • Others: Aga Haidar, Syed Haider Raza, Bhai Parmanand, Lalchand Falak
• Government Crackdown (1907):
  • Ban on meetings, deportation of leaders (Lajpat Rai, Ajit Singh).
• WWI and Beyond:
  • Ajit Singh and others became revolutionaries.
  • Rashbehari Bose involved in Ghadr Revolution.
  • Collaboration with Bengal on all-India uprising plans.
  • Bose escaped to Japan after failed revolution (1915).

 

Revolutionary Activities Abroad

Motivations:

• Escape British censorship (Press Acts).
• Publish revolutionary literature (“India House”).
• Secure arms for rebellion.

Centers:

• London (1905): “India House” by Shyamji Krishnavarma.
  • Members: Savarkar, Hardayal (later deemed too dangerous).
  • Assassination of British official (Madanlal Dhingra, 1909).
• Paris and Geneva: Madam Bhikaji Cama (“Bande Mataram” journal), Ajit Singh.
• Berlin (post-1909): Virendranath Chattopadhyaya.

The Ghadr Party (1913):

• Base: San Francisco (branches along US/Canadian west coast).
• Members: Mainly Punjabi ex-soldiers and peasants seeking work abroad.
• Leaders: Lala Hardayal, Ramchandra, Bhagwan Singh, Kartar Singh Saraba, Barkatullah, Bhai Parmanand.
• Goals:
  • Assassinations of officials.
  • Anti-imperialist publications.
  • Incite rebellion among Indian troops abroad.
  • Procure arms.
  • Simultaneous revolt in all British colonies.

The Komagata Maru Incident (1914):

• Ship carrying Punjabi immigrants denied entry to Canada.
• Returned to India, sparking outrage.

Ghadr Activity in WWI:

• Encouraged by Komagata Maru and war.
• Recruited fighters in India (Rashbehari Bose, Sachin Sanyal).
• Political dacoities for funding (targeted moneylenders in some cases).
• Planned armed revolt (February 1915) foiled by leaks.

British Crackdown:

• Defence of India Act (1915): detentions, harsh sentences, court-martials.
• Leaders arrested, deported, or hanged.
• Rashbehari Bose fled to Japan.

Evaluation of Ghadr:

• Spread secular militant nationalism.
• Failed to achieve lasting success due to:
  • Lack of organized leadership.
  • Insufficient preparation (organization, ideology, finances, tactics).
  • Hardayal’s limitations as an organizer.

 

Revolutionaries in Europe (WWI)

• Berlin Committee (1915):
  • Founded by Virendranath Chattopadhyay, Bhupendranath Dutta, Lala Hardayal (with German support).
  • Aimed to mobilize Indian citizens abroad for rebellion.
  • Sent missions to western Asia to incite anti-British sentiment.
  • Established a “provisional Indian government” in Kabul.

Mutiny in Singapore (1915)

• Punjabi Muslim soldiers (5th Light Infantry, 36th Sikh battalion) rebelled.
• Led by Jamadar Chisti Khan, Jamadar Abdul Gani, Subedar Daud Khan.
• Crushed by British forces (many killed).
• 37 executed, 41 imprisoned for life.