Indian Revolutionary Nationalism: Global Struggles for Independence

The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 gave new life to the nationalist movement in India, which had been relatively dormant since the energetic days of the Swadeshi Movement. The war created an “opportunity” for India because of Britain’s difficulties. This opportunity was seized by different groups abroad in various ways, each with varying degrees of success. The Ghadar revolutionaries, based in North America, attempted a violent overthrow of British rule. Indian revolutionaries sought refuge abroad for various reasons, including the need for shelter, the desire to produce revolutionary literature free from the constraints of Press Acts, and the pursuit of arms. This led to the establishment of several centers and networks outside India.

Revolutionary Activities in Various Parts of the World

Indian Home Rule Society: 

• Foundation: Shyamji Krishnavarma initiated the Indian Home Rule Society, known as ‘India House,’ in London in 1905. 
• Objective: It served as a hub for Indian students, offered a scholarship program to bring radical youth from India, and published the journal “The Indian Sociologist.” 
• Prominent Figures: Revolutionaries like Savarkar and Hardayal became members of India House. 
  • One notable act associated with this group was the assassination of India Office bureaucrat Curzon-Wyllie in 1909 by Madanlal Dhingra. 
• Risks and Consequences: However, London became increasingly dangerous for revolutionaries, particularly after Savarkar’s extradition in 1910 and his life sentence in the Nasik conspiracy case.

New Centres in Europe

• Bande Mataram: New centres emerged on the European continent, notably in Paris and Geneva. Madam Bhikaji Cama, a Parsi revolutionary who had established connections with French socialists and published “Bande Mataram,” operated from these locations.
• Circular-e-Azadi: In early 1907, Ramnath Purl, a political exile on the West Coast, issued a Circular-e-Azadi (Circular of Liberty) in which he also pledged support to the Swadeshi Movement.
• Free Hindustan: Tarak Nath Das in Vancouver started the Free Hindustan and adopted a very militant nationalist tone. 
• Swadesh Sevak Home: G.D. Kumar set up a Swadesh Sevak Home in Vancouver on the lines of the India House in London and also began to bring out a Gurmukhi paper called Swadesh Sevak which advocated social reform and also asked Indian troops to rise in revolt against the British.
• United India House: In 1910, Tarak Nath Das and G.D. Kumar Set up the United India House in Seattle in the US, where every Saturday they lectured to a group of twenty-five Indian labourers. 
  • Also, they developed Close links between the United India House group, consisting mainly of radical nationalist students, and the Khalsa Diwan Society.
• Berlin Committee: The Berlin Committee for Indian Independence was founded in 1915 with the involvement of Virendranath Chattopadhyay, Bhupendranath Dutta, Lala Hardayal, and others, with assistance from the German foreign office under the ‘Zimmerman Plan.’ 
  • The primary objective of these revolutionaries was to mobilize the Indian diaspora living abroad to send volunteers and arms to India, to incite rebellion against British rule and liberate the country.
• Mission to Various Regions: To further their cause, Indian revolutionaries based in Europe sent missions to various locations, including Baghdad, Persia, Turkey, and Kabul. 
  • These missions had multiple objectives, such as working among Indian troops, reaching out to Indian prisoners of war (POWs), and stirring anti-British sentiments among the local populations in these regions. 
  • One notable mission, led by individuals like Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, Barkatullah, and Obaidullah Sindhi, traveled to Kabul to organise a ‘provisional Indian government’ there. 
  • They received support from the crown prince, Amanullah, in their efforts to establish a government in exile to secure India’s independence from British rule.

Mutiny in Singapore

• During this period, there were several scattered mutinies, with one of the most significant occurring in Singapore on February 15, 1915. This mutiny involved the Punjabi Muslim 5th Light Infantry and the 36th Sikh Battalion under the leadership of Jamadar Chisti Khan, Jamadar Abdul Gani, and Subedar Daud Khan. 
• Suppression and Sentencing: The mutiny was suppressed after a fierce battle in which many individuals lost their lives. 
  • Subsequently, 37 persons were executed, and 41 were sentenced to transportation for life as a result of their involvement in the mutiny.

Decline of Revolutionary Activities 

Following the conclusion of the First World War, there was a temporary respite in revolutionary activity for several reasons. 

• Easing Tensions: The release of prisoners who had been detained under the Defence of India Rules had a calming effect on the passions of the time. 
• A Shift Towards Reconciliation: There was an atmosphere of conciliation after the August 1917 statement by Montagu, the Secretary of State for India, and the discussions surrounding constitutional reforms. 
• Renewed Hope and Strategic Shift: The arrival of Mahatma Gandhi and his program of non-violent non-cooperation brought a renewed sense of hope and direction to the Indian freedom struggle. 
  • This led to a brief period of reduced revolutionary activity as a new approach was being explored.

Conclusion

The revolutionary activities demonstrate the willingness of some nationalists to resort to violent means to achieve their objectives. These objectives were primarily centered around the idea of freeing India from British colonial rule, with a strong focus on promoting nationalism and independence. The centers of revolutionary activities extended beyond India’s borders, reaching places like the United States and Canada, where Indian immigrants played a crucial role in disseminating nationalist ideas and mobilizing support. Despite the British attempts to discredit and suppress these movements, there was an enduring impact on early nationalist leaders like Har Dayal, Aurobindo Ghose, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Their contributions laid the groundwork for a broader nationalist consciousness in India, marked by secularism, democracy, and egalitarianism.

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