Revolutionary Activities In Bengal’s Struggle

Revolutionary Activities In Bengal’s Anti-Colonial Uprising: A Revolutionary Legacy

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Bengal Province witnessed a rise in Revolutionary Activities In Bengal against British colonial rule. Secret societies like Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar played a crucial role in promoting resistance through acts of violence and uprisings. These activities faced government oppression and were limited by the absence of widespread popular support. The movement left a lasting impact on the region’s history of anti-colonial struggle.

Anushilan Samiti: Revolutionary Activities In Bengal’s Vanguard

Some basic key points about Anushilan Samiti are given below:

• Formation: Founded in 1902 by Promotha Mitter in Calcutta, Anushilan Samiti was a prominent revolutionary organization aiming to achieve independence through revolutionary means.
• Objectives: Anushilan Samiti sought to cultivate patriotism and self-sacrifice among its members, promoting armed resistance against British colonial rule.
• Activities: Initially focused on moral and physical training, Anushilan Samiti expanded its activities to include revolutionary actions, such as sabotage and assassination of key British officials.
• Yugantar and Propaganda: Anushilan Samiti’s inner circle, Yugantar, led by Barindra Kumar Ghosh and Bhupendranath Dutta, launched the newspaper Yugantar to spread revolutionary ideas and inspire the masses.
• Military and Political Training: Some members, like Hemachandra Kanungo, underwent military and political training abroad, while Rashbehari Bose and Sachin Sanyal established a secret society to cover remote areas and expand the revolutionary movement.
• Revolutionary Actions: Anushilan Samiti orchestrated unsuccessful assassination attempts on British officials and made efforts to derail trains carrying important colonial figures.
• Muzaffarpur Bomb Case: In 1908, revolutionaries Prafulla Chaki and Khudiram Bose targeted a British judge but unintentionally killed two British women instead. While Khudiram Bose was being tried and hanged, Prafulla Chaki shot himself to death (1908).
• Legacy and Contributions: Anushilan Samiti inspired future revolutionaries and left a lasting impact on India’s freedom struggle, emphasizing armed resistance and using propaganda through Yugantar.

Alipore Conspiracy Case (1908): Turning Point in India’s Struggle

The Alipore Conspiracy Case, also known as the Manicktolla bomb conspiracy or the Muraripukur conspiracy, was a significant event in the Indian independence movement during the early 20th century. Here are some key points related to the case:

• Ghosh Brothers and the Anushilan Group: The Ghosh brothers, Aurobindo and Barindra, were prominent leaders of the Anushilan Samiti, a secret Revolutionary Activities In Bengal, India. They were part of the entire Anushilan group that was detained during the case.
• Charges of High Treason: The Ghosh brothers were charged with “conspiracy” or “waging war against the King,” which were considered acts of high treason under British colonial rule in India. These charges carried the penalty of death by hanging.
• Defence of Aurobindo Ghosh: Aurobindo Ghosh, one of the accused in the case, was defended by Chittaranjan Das, a prominent lawyer and political leader. Aurobindo Ghosh was eventually cleared of all charges, and the court criticized the prosecution for presenting a weak case.
• Death Penalty and Commutation: Barindra Ghosh and Ullaskar Dutt, two other accused individuals, were initially sentenced to death. However, their sentences were later commuted to life imprisonment.
• Acts of Revenge: Ullaskar Dutt, who was responsible for making the bombs used in the conspiracy, and Barindra Ghosh, the leader of the revolutionary secret society, sought revenge during the trial. Two co-accused, Satyendranath Bose and Kanailal Dutta, shot and killed Narendra Gosain (also known as Goswami). Gosain had turned approver and became a Crown witness.
• Assassinations: As a result of the tensions surrounding the Alipore Conspiracy Case, there were instances of assassinations related to the trial. In February 1909, the public prosecutor in Calcutta was assassinated. In February 1910, a deputy superintendent of police died in a similar manner while leaving the Calcutta High Court. These incidents demonstrated the intense atmosphere of political unrest and resistance prevailing at the time.
• Impact: The Alipore Conspiracy Case played a significant role in the nationalist movement in India and became a symbol of the revolutionary struggle against British colonial rule. It brought attention to the demands for self-governance and independence and marked a turning point in the trajectory of the freedom movement in India.

The Delhi Bomb Case (1912): Plot Against Viceroy’s Survival

The Delhi Bomb Case, also known as the Delhi Conspiracy, was a significant event that occurred in December 1912 during the British colonial rule in India. Here are some key points regarding the case:

• Targeting Viceroy Hardinge: Viceroy Charles Hardinge, the representative of British imperial rule in India, was the target of a bomb attack. Rashbehari Bose and Sachin Sanyal orchestrated the attack during Hardinge’s official entrance into the new capital of Delhi. The attack took place as a procession passed through Chandni Chowk. Although Hardinge was injured in the incident, he survived the assassination attempt.
• Delhi Conspiracy Trial: Following the attempted assassination of Viceroy Hardinge, extensive investigations were carried out, leading to the Delhi Conspiracy trial. The trial aimed to identify and punish those involved in the conspiracy.
• Guilty Verdicts and Executions: During the trial, three individuals named Basant Kumar Biswas, Amir Chand, and Avadh Behari were found guilty of their involvement in the conspiracy. They were executed for their roles following the conclusion of the trial. Their convictions and subsequent executions were seen as a stern response by the British authorities against those attempting to undermine their rule.
• Rashbehari Bose’s Escape: Rashbehari Bose, who was suspected of being the mastermind behind the assassination plan, allegedly managed to escape arrest by disguising himself. He avoided capture and went on to play a significant role in the Indian independence movement, eventually becoming one of the key leaders of the armed struggle against British rule.

Jugantar or Yugantar (April 1906): Revolutionary Activities In Bengal’s Epoch

Jugantar or Yugantar was a revolutionary organization in India during the early 20th century, particularly Revolutionary Activities In Bengal. Here are some key points about Jugantar based on the information you provided:

• Leadership and Expansion: Jatindranath Mukherjee, also known as Bagha Jatin, emerged as a prominent leader and successfully led the western branch of the Anushilan Samiti, which later came to be known as Jugantar or Yugantar. Under Jatin’s leadership, the organization revitalized its connections with various locations in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
• Collaboration with Germany: During World War I, the Jugantar party collaborated with supporters and revolutionaries abroad to import German weapons and ammunition. This collaboration was part of the larger “German Plot” or “Zimmerman Plan.” Jatin Das requested Rashbehari Bose to take control of Upper India to incite an uprising across the entire country.
• Dacoities for Financing: To finance the investigation of the Indo-German conspiracy, the Jugantar party engaged in several dacoities (robberies), which later became known as “taxicab dacoities” and “boat dacoities.”
• The Plot Exposed: Unfortunately, the plot was exposed by a traitor, leading to a setback for the revolutionaries. The police learned that Bagha Jatin was in Balasore while waiting for the delivery of German arms. During a gunfight, Jatin and his comrades were either killed or taken into custody. The German plan ultimately failed.
• Revolutionary Publications: In Revolutionary Activities In Bengal, publications like Sandhya, Yugantar, and Kal played a significant role in encouraging revolutionary activity. Kal was also published in Maharashtra.
• Legacy and Constraints: The Revolutionary Activities In Bengal influenced educated youth for at least a generation, but there were limitations. The emphasis on the Hindu religion alienated Muslims, and the movement had a limited upper-caste social base. The lack of widespread involvement from the masses and government oppression constrained the potential for revolutionary activity.

Conclusion

These revolutionary activities in Bengal Province left a significant impact on India’s fight for independence. Through violence, propaganda, and foreign collaboration, they challenged British colonial rule, inspiring future generations. However, their efforts faced limitations and government oppression.

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