Indian National Movement- 3 | History for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


Indian National 
Movement
Page 2


Indian National 
Movement
First World War 
and the 
Revolutionaries’ 
Resonse
The nationalist response to British participation in the War was three-fold: 
? the Moderates supported the empire in the War as a matter of duty
? the extremists, including Tilak (who was released in June 1914), supported the war 
efforts in the mistaken belief that Britain would repay India's  loyalty with gratitude in 
the form of self-government
? the revolutionaries decided to utilize the opportunity to wage a war and liberate  the 
country
The revolutionary activity was carried out through the Ghadr Party in North America, Berlin 
Committee in Europe and  some scattered mutinies by Indian soldiers
The Ghadr:
? The Ghadr Party was a revolutionary group organized around a weekly newspaper The 
Ghadr with its headquarters at San Francisco and branches along the US west coast 
and in the Far East
? Pre-Ghadr revolutionary activity had been  carried on by Ramdas Puri, G.D. Kumar, 
Taraknath Das, Sohan Singh Bhakna and Lala Hardayal who reached there in 1911. 
? To carry out  revolutionary activities, the earlier activists had set up a  'Swadesh Sevak 
Home' at Vancouver and 'United India House' in Seattle. Finally in 1913, the Ghadr
was established.
? The Ghadr programme was to organize assassinations  of officials, publish 
revolutionary and anti-imperialist literature,  work among Indian troops stationed 
abroad, procure arms  and bring about a simultaneous revolt in all British colonies. 
? The moving spirits behind the Ghadr Party were Lala Hardayal, Ramchandra, Bhagwan
Singh, Kartar Singh Saraba, Barkatullah and Bhai Parmanand. 
Page 3


Indian National 
Movement
First World War 
and the 
Revolutionaries’ 
Resonse
The nationalist response to British participation in the War was three-fold: 
? the Moderates supported the empire in the War as a matter of duty
? the extremists, including Tilak (who was released in June 1914), supported the war 
efforts in the mistaken belief that Britain would repay India's  loyalty with gratitude in 
the form of self-government
? the revolutionaries decided to utilize the opportunity to wage a war and liberate  the 
country
The revolutionary activity was carried out through the Ghadr Party in North America, Berlin 
Committee in Europe and  some scattered mutinies by Indian soldiers
The Ghadr:
? The Ghadr Party was a revolutionary group organized around a weekly newspaper The 
Ghadr with its headquarters at San Francisco and branches along the US west coast 
and in the Far East
? Pre-Ghadr revolutionary activity had been  carried on by Ramdas Puri, G.D. Kumar, 
Taraknath Das, Sohan Singh Bhakna and Lala Hardayal who reached there in 1911. 
? To carry out  revolutionary activities, the earlier activists had set up a  'Swadesh Sevak 
Home' at Vancouver and 'United India House' in Seattle. Finally in 1913, the Ghadr
was established.
? The Ghadr programme was to organize assassinations  of officials, publish 
revolutionary and anti-imperialist literature,  work among Indian troops stationed 
abroad, procure arms  and bring about a simultaneous revolt in all British colonies. 
? The moving spirits behind the Ghadr Party were Lala Hardayal, Ramchandra, Bhagwan
Singh, Kartar Singh Saraba, Barkatullah and Bhai Parmanand. 
First World War 
and the 
Revolutionaries’ 
Resonse
Komagata Maru Incident: 
? The importance of this event lies in the fact that it created an explosive situation in the  
Punjab.
? Komagata Maru was the name of a ship which was  carrying 370 passengers, mainly 
Sikh and Punjabi Muslim would-be immigrants, from Singapore to Vancouver.
? They  were turned back by Canadian authorities after two months of privation and 
uncertainty.
? The ship finally anchored at Calcutta (Budge Budge) in September  1914. The inmates 
refused to board the Punjab-bound train.  In the ensuing clash with the police at Budge 
Budge near Calcutta, 22 persons died.
? The Ghadr leaders decided to launch a violent attack on British rule in India. 
? They urged fighters to go to India. Kartar Singh Saraba and Raghubar Dayal Gupta left 
for India. 
? Bengal revolutionaries were contacted; Rashbehari Bose and Sachin Sanyal were 
asked to lead the movement. Political dacoities were committed to raise funds. 
? The Ghadrites fixed 21 February 1915 as the date for an armed revolt in Ferozepur, 
Lahore and Rawalpindi garrisons but the  plan was foiled at the last moment due to 
treachery. 
? The authorities took immediate action, aided by the Defence of India Rules, 1915. 
? Rebellion regiments were disbanded, leaders  arrested and deported and 45 of them 
hanged. 
? Rashbehari Bose fled to Japan from where he and Abani Mukherji made many efforts 
to sen while Sachin Sanyal was transported for life. 
Page 4


Indian National 
Movement
First World War 
and the 
Revolutionaries’ 
Resonse
The nationalist response to British participation in the War was three-fold: 
? the Moderates supported the empire in the War as a matter of duty
? the extremists, including Tilak (who was released in June 1914), supported the war 
efforts in the mistaken belief that Britain would repay India's  loyalty with gratitude in 
the form of self-government
? the revolutionaries decided to utilize the opportunity to wage a war and liberate  the 
country
The revolutionary activity was carried out through the Ghadr Party in North America, Berlin 
Committee in Europe and  some scattered mutinies by Indian soldiers
The Ghadr:
? The Ghadr Party was a revolutionary group organized around a weekly newspaper The 
Ghadr with its headquarters at San Francisco and branches along the US west coast 
and in the Far East
? Pre-Ghadr revolutionary activity had been  carried on by Ramdas Puri, G.D. Kumar, 
Taraknath Das, Sohan Singh Bhakna and Lala Hardayal who reached there in 1911. 
? To carry out  revolutionary activities, the earlier activists had set up a  'Swadesh Sevak 
Home' at Vancouver and 'United India House' in Seattle. Finally in 1913, the Ghadr
was established.
? The Ghadr programme was to organize assassinations  of officials, publish 
revolutionary and anti-imperialist literature,  work among Indian troops stationed 
abroad, procure arms  and bring about a simultaneous revolt in all British colonies. 
? The moving spirits behind the Ghadr Party were Lala Hardayal, Ramchandra, Bhagwan
Singh, Kartar Singh Saraba, Barkatullah and Bhai Parmanand. 
First World War 
and the 
Revolutionaries’ 
Resonse
Komagata Maru Incident: 
? The importance of this event lies in the fact that it created an explosive situation in the  
Punjab.
? Komagata Maru was the name of a ship which was  carrying 370 passengers, mainly 
Sikh and Punjabi Muslim would-be immigrants, from Singapore to Vancouver.
? They  were turned back by Canadian authorities after two months of privation and 
uncertainty.
? The ship finally anchored at Calcutta (Budge Budge) in September  1914. The inmates 
refused to board the Punjab-bound train.  In the ensuing clash with the police at Budge 
Budge near Calcutta, 22 persons died.
? The Ghadr leaders decided to launch a violent attack on British rule in India. 
? They urged fighters to go to India. Kartar Singh Saraba and Raghubar Dayal Gupta left 
for India. 
? Bengal revolutionaries were contacted; Rashbehari Bose and Sachin Sanyal were 
asked to lead the movement. Political dacoities were committed to raise funds. 
? The Ghadrites fixed 21 February 1915 as the date for an armed revolt in Ferozepur, 
Lahore and Rawalpindi garrisons but the  plan was foiled at the last moment due to 
treachery. 
? The authorities took immediate action, aided by the Defence of India Rules, 1915. 
? Rebellion regiments were disbanded, leaders  arrested and deported and 45 of them 
hanged. 
? Rashbehari Bose fled to Japan from where he and Abani Mukherji made many efforts 
to sen while Sachin Sanyal was transported for life. 
First World War 
and the 
Revolutionaries’ 
Resonse
Revolutionaries in Europe: 
? The Berlin Committee for Indian Independence was established in 1915 by 
Virendranath Chattopadhyay, Bhupendranath Dutta, Lala Hardayal and others with 
the help of the German foreign office under ‘Zimmerman Plan’.
? These revolutionaries aimed to mobilize Indian settlers abroad to send volunteers and 
arms to India to incite rebellion among Indian troops there and to even organize an 
armed invasion of British India to liberate the  country. 
? The Indian revolutionaries in Europe sent missions to  Baghdad, Persia, Turkey and 
Kabul to work among Indian troops and the Indian prisoners of war (POWs) and to incite  
anti-British feelings among the people of these countries. 
? One mission under Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, Barkatullah and  Obaidullah Sindhi 
went  to Kabul to organize a provisional Indian government there with the help of the 
crown prince. 
Mutiny in Singapore:
? Among the scattered mutinies  during this period, the most notable was in Singapore on  
February 15, 1915 by Punjabi Muslim 5th Light Infantry and the 36th Sikh Battalion 
under Jamadar Chisti Khan, Jamadar Abdul Gani and Subedar Daud Khan. 
Revolutionary Activity in India during War:
? The revolutionary activity in India in this period was concentrated in Punjab and Bengal
? The Bengal plans were part of a far-flung  conspiracy organized by Rashbehari Bose and 
Sachin Sanyal in cooperation with returned Ghadrites in Punjab. 
? Bengal groups were organized under Jatin Mukherji (or Bagha Jatin) and planned 
disruption of railway lines, seizure of Fort William and landing of German arms. These 
plans were ruined  due to poor coordination, and Bagha Jatin died a hero's death
Page 5


Indian National 
Movement
First World War 
and the 
Revolutionaries’ 
Resonse
The nationalist response to British participation in the War was three-fold: 
? the Moderates supported the empire in the War as a matter of duty
? the extremists, including Tilak (who was released in June 1914), supported the war 
efforts in the mistaken belief that Britain would repay India's  loyalty with gratitude in 
the form of self-government
? the revolutionaries decided to utilize the opportunity to wage a war and liberate  the 
country
The revolutionary activity was carried out through the Ghadr Party in North America, Berlin 
Committee in Europe and  some scattered mutinies by Indian soldiers
The Ghadr:
? The Ghadr Party was a revolutionary group organized around a weekly newspaper The 
Ghadr with its headquarters at San Francisco and branches along the US west coast 
and in the Far East
? Pre-Ghadr revolutionary activity had been  carried on by Ramdas Puri, G.D. Kumar, 
Taraknath Das, Sohan Singh Bhakna and Lala Hardayal who reached there in 1911. 
? To carry out  revolutionary activities, the earlier activists had set up a  'Swadesh Sevak 
Home' at Vancouver and 'United India House' in Seattle. Finally in 1913, the Ghadr
was established.
? The Ghadr programme was to organize assassinations  of officials, publish 
revolutionary and anti-imperialist literature,  work among Indian troops stationed 
abroad, procure arms  and bring about a simultaneous revolt in all British colonies. 
? The moving spirits behind the Ghadr Party were Lala Hardayal, Ramchandra, Bhagwan
Singh, Kartar Singh Saraba, Barkatullah and Bhai Parmanand. 
First World War 
and the 
Revolutionaries’ 
Resonse
Komagata Maru Incident: 
? The importance of this event lies in the fact that it created an explosive situation in the  
Punjab.
? Komagata Maru was the name of a ship which was  carrying 370 passengers, mainly 
Sikh and Punjabi Muslim would-be immigrants, from Singapore to Vancouver.
? They  were turned back by Canadian authorities after two months of privation and 
uncertainty.
? The ship finally anchored at Calcutta (Budge Budge) in September  1914. The inmates 
refused to board the Punjab-bound train.  In the ensuing clash with the police at Budge 
Budge near Calcutta, 22 persons died.
? The Ghadr leaders decided to launch a violent attack on British rule in India. 
? They urged fighters to go to India. Kartar Singh Saraba and Raghubar Dayal Gupta left 
for India. 
? Bengal revolutionaries were contacted; Rashbehari Bose and Sachin Sanyal were 
asked to lead the movement. Political dacoities were committed to raise funds. 
? The Ghadrites fixed 21 February 1915 as the date for an armed revolt in Ferozepur, 
Lahore and Rawalpindi garrisons but the  plan was foiled at the last moment due to 
treachery. 
? The authorities took immediate action, aided by the Defence of India Rules, 1915. 
? Rebellion regiments were disbanded, leaders  arrested and deported and 45 of them 
hanged. 
? Rashbehari Bose fled to Japan from where he and Abani Mukherji made many efforts 
to sen while Sachin Sanyal was transported for life. 
First World War 
and the 
Revolutionaries’ 
Resonse
Revolutionaries in Europe: 
? The Berlin Committee for Indian Independence was established in 1915 by 
Virendranath Chattopadhyay, Bhupendranath Dutta, Lala Hardayal and others with 
the help of the German foreign office under ‘Zimmerman Plan’.
? These revolutionaries aimed to mobilize Indian settlers abroad to send volunteers and 
arms to India to incite rebellion among Indian troops there and to even organize an 
armed invasion of British India to liberate the  country. 
? The Indian revolutionaries in Europe sent missions to  Baghdad, Persia, Turkey and 
Kabul to work among Indian troops and the Indian prisoners of war (POWs) and to incite  
anti-British feelings among the people of these countries. 
? One mission under Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, Barkatullah and  Obaidullah Sindhi 
went  to Kabul to organize a provisional Indian government there with the help of the 
crown prince. 
Mutiny in Singapore:
? Among the scattered mutinies  during this period, the most notable was in Singapore on  
February 15, 1915 by Punjabi Muslim 5th Light Infantry and the 36th Sikh Battalion 
under Jamadar Chisti Khan, Jamadar Abdul Gani and Subedar Daud Khan. 
Revolutionary Activity in India during War:
? The revolutionary activity in India in this period was concentrated in Punjab and Bengal
? The Bengal plans were part of a far-flung  conspiracy organized by Rashbehari Bose and 
Sachin Sanyal in cooperation with returned Ghadrites in Punjab. 
? Bengal groups were organized under Jatin Mukherji (or Bagha Jatin) and planned 
disruption of railway lines, seizure of Fort William and landing of German arms. These 
plans were ruined  due to poor coordination, and Bagha Jatin died a hero's death
First World War 
and Nationalist 
Response
In India –
Home Rule League 
Movement
Home Rule League Movement:
The Home Rule Movement was the Indian response to the  First World War. The 
Indian Home Rule Leagues were organized on the  lines of the Irish Home Rule 
Leagues and they represented  the emergence of a new trend of aggressive politics.  
Why?
? A section of nationalists felt that popular pressure was required to attain 
concessions from the Government.
? The Moderates were disillusioned with the Morley-Minto reforms.
? People were feeling the burden of wartime miseries caused by high taxation and a 
rise in prices and were ready to participate in any aggressive movement of protest.
? The War, being fought among the major imperialist powers of the day and backed 
by naked propaganda against each other, exposed the myth of white superiority.
? Tilak was ready to assume leadership after his release  in June 1914, and had 
made conciliatory gestures to reassure  the Government of his loyalty and to the 
Moderates that he  wanted, like the Irish Home Rulers, a reform of the 
administration and not overthrow of the government
? Annie Besant, the Irish theosophist based in India  since 1896, had decided to 
enlarge the sphere of, her activities  to include the building of a movement for 
Home Rule on the lines of the Irish Home Rule Leagues.