Indian Independence Committee: Anti-British Mission, Objectives, Challenges, and Conclusion

Indian Independence Committee: A Catalyst for Freedom

In the wake of the First World War, It was founded in 1915 by Virendranath Chattopadhyay, Bhupendranath Dutta, Lala Hardayal and others. Other important personalities associated with the committee were Dr. Jnanendra Das Gupta, Chempakaraman Pillai and Abinash Bhattacharya. It was first known as the Berlin-Indian Committee and eventually became a crucial component of the Hindu-German Conspiracy. 

Objectives Of The Indian Independence Committee: Anti-British Initiatives Abroad

It played a major role in spreading anti-British feelings among Indians abroad. It was formed with the following objectives:

• To raise funds, arms and ammunition from the Germans.
• Assist in the return of Indian patriots to Europe, and in the event of failure, offer shelter.
• To organize a mission to Afghanistan, to make Afghanistan a base for a military attack on Britishers in India.
• To establish an Indo-German committee to German’s support in ousting Britishers from India.

Challenges Faced: Internal Strife and Global Setbacks

The committee failed to gain the desired momentum. The following were the important reasons for its failure:

• Internal Frictions: Differences in the outlook of the members towards the situation in India and religious viewpoints caused internal conflicts among the members.
• Formation of branches: In the later stages of the struggle, the individual committee members opened separate branches in different parts of the world.
• Berlin lost importance: Towards the end of the First World War, Berlin as a centre for anti-colonial activities lost importance. This led to the dissolution of the Berlin committee.

Conclusion

The history of the Berlin Indian Independence Committee sheds light on German foreign policy during the First World War as well as Indian anti-colonial movements outside of the South Asian subcontinent. Throughout its life, the committee members worked to strengthen anti-colonial sentiments amongst Indians outside India.

The Indian Independence Committee In Berlin FAQs

Q1. What was the Indian Independence Committee in Berlin famous for?

Ans. It was founded in 1915 by Virendranath Chattopadhyay and Lala Hardayal. This committee was famous for fuelling anti-imperialist feelings among the Indians abroad.

Q2. When was the Indian Independence Committee formed in Berlin?

Ans. It was formed in 1915. Earlier it was named Berlin Committee but later its name changed to The Indian Independence Committee in Berlin.

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