Militant and Revolutionary Activities
Overview
The Indian freedom struggle witnessed two parallel streams—the mainstream non-violent movement led by Gandhi and the revolutionary militant movement that believed in armed resistance against British rule. For TNPSC Group II, understanding the revolutionary activities is crucial as questions frequently test knowledge of key revolutionaries, their organizations, famous incidents, and the ideological differences with the Congress approach.
This topic covers the period from the early 20th century revolutionary organizations through to the Indian National Army (INA) during World War II. Students must know the chronology of major events, the philosophies driving these movements, and the contributions of stalwarts like Bhagat Singh and Subhas Chandra Bose. Tamil Nadu's own revolutionaries like V.O. Chidambaram Pillai also form part of this narrative, connecting state history with national movements.
Key Concepts
- Two streams of nationalism: Revolutionaries rejected the idea that non-violence alone could end British rule; they drew inspiration from Irish, Russian, and Italian revolutionary movements.
- Swadeshi Movement (1905-1908) as catalyst: The Partition of Bengal sparked the first organized revolutionary activity—secret societies, bomb-making, and political assassinations emerged during this period.
- Revolutionary ideology: Influenced by socialism, anarchism, and nationalism; leaders like Bhagat Singh evolved from mere nationalists to socialist revolutionaries who wanted social transformation alongside political freedom.
- Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) formed in 1924: Later renamed Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928 to emphasize socialist goals—key figures included Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.
- Forward Bloc and INA: Subhas Bose's departure from Congress led to the Forward Bloc (1939) and eventually the Indian National Army, which attempted armed liberation with Axis powers' support during World War II.
- Regional revolutionary organizations: Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar in Bengal, Abhinav Bharat in Maharashtra, and Ghadar Party among overseas Indians in North America.
Key Facts
| Event/Organization | Year | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Anushilan Samiti | 1902 | Founded in Calcutta by Pramathanath Mitra; two branches—Dhaka and Calcutta |
| Abhinav Bharat | 1904 | Founded by V.D. Savarkar in Maharashtra |
| Muzaffarpur bombing | 1908 | Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki targeted Magistrate Kingsford; Khudiram executed at age 18 |
| Ghadar Party | 1913 | Founded in San Francisco by Lala Har Dayal; published "Ghadar" newspaper |
| Kakori Train Robbery | 1925 | HRA members looted government treasury; Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan executed |
| Lahore Conspiracy Case | 1929 | Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru hanged on March 23, 1931 |
| Central Assembly bombing | April 8, 1929 | Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt threw bombs; did not intend to kill—wanted to "make the deaf hear" |
| Chittagong Armoury Raid | 1930 | Surya Sen (Masterda) led attack on British armouries |
| INA formed | 1942 | First by Mohan Singh, then reorganized by Subhas Bose in 1943 |
| Azad Hind Government | October 21, 1943 | Provisional government declared by Bose in Singapore |
| INA trials | 1945 | Red Fort trials of INA officers sparked nationwide protests |
Important Personalities
Bhagat Singh (1907-1931)
- Joined HSRA; avenged Lala Lajpat Rai's death by killing J.P. Saunders (1928)
- Famous statement: "Inquilab Zindabad" (Long Live Revolution)
- Studied socialism extensively; wrote "Why I am an Atheist" in jail
- 63-day hunger strike in jail demanding political prisoner status
Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945)
- ICS officer who resigned to join freedom struggle
- Elected Congress President twice (1938, 1939); resigned after differences with Gandhi
- Escaped from house arrest (1941); reached Germany via Kabul
- Raised INA with "Jai Hind" slogan; "Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom"
- Rani of Jhansi Regiment—first female combat regiment under Captain Lakshmi Sahgal
Chandrashekhar Azad (1906-1931)
- Commander-in-chief of HSRA
- Never caught alive; died fighting at Alfred Park, Allahabad
- Adopted name "Azad" meaning "free"
Surya Sen (Masterda) (1894-1934)
- Led Chittagong Armoury Raid with Pritilata Waddedar and Kalpana Dutta
- Executed in 1934
Worked Examples
Q1: Arrange in chronological order—(i) Kakori Train Robbery (ii) Chittagong Armoury Raid (iii) Central Assembly bombing (iv) Formation of Ghadar Party
Solution:
- Ghadar Party: 1913
- Kakori Train Robbery: 1925
- Central Assembly bombing: April 1929
- Chittagong Armoury Raid: April 1930
Answer: (iv) → (i) → (iii) → (ii)
Q2: The slogan "Jai Hind" was given by: (a) Bhagat Singh (b) Subhas Chandra Bose (c) Chandrashekhar Azad (d) Lala Hardayal
Solution: "Jai Hind" was adopted as the salutation for the Indian National Army by Subhas Chandra Bose. "Inquilab Zindabad" was popularized by Bhagat Singh.
Answer: (b)
Common Mistakes
- Confusing HRA with HSRA: HRA (1924) became HSRA (1928) after adding "Socialist"—the renaming reflected ideological evolution toward socialism.
- Wrong execution dates: Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were hanged on March 23, 1931 (not 1929, which was when they threw bombs).
- Mixing up INA formations: Mohan Singh formed the first INA in 1942; Bose reorganized it in 1943—questions often test who "founded" versus who "led" the INA.
- Attributing wrong slogans: "Delhi Chalo" and "Jai Hind" belong to Bose; "Inquilab Zindabad" to Bhagat Singh; "Do or Die" to Gandhi.
- Confusing Chittagong with Kakori: Kakori (1925) was a train robbery by HSRA in UP; Chittagong (1930) was an armoury raid in Bengal—different decades, different groups.
Quick Reference
- March 23: Martyrdom Day—Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru executed (1931)
- Ghadar = "Revolt": Newspaper and party name; headquarters in San Francisco
- INA had three brigades: Gandhi Brigade, Nehru Brigade, Azad Brigade
- Azad Hind Radio: Bose's broadcast station from Germany/Southeast Asia
- Red Fort Trials (1945): Defended by Bhulabhai Desai, Nehru, and Tej Bahadur Sapru; sparked mass protests
- Bose's titles: Netaji (leader), given by Hitler according to some accounts; used widely by Indians