Extremists of the indian nationalism in indian history

The extremist era of indian national movements

1. THE EXTREMISTS/ RADICALS/ MILITANT NATIONALISTS IN THE INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT

2. Introduction Extremists made significant contributions to the national movement, widened its political base and give it a more militant character. The era of extremist phase begins in the Indian National Congress from 1905.

3. Introduction The group was known as extremists or militant nationalists/ radicals because : Their political cousins, better known as the Moderates were milder and more modest in political programme and action. The extremists demanded more militant forms of struggle against the British.

4. Causes for the rise of Extremism (1) Frustration with moderate politics : Unhappy with the functioning of the moderates. Moderates were functioning under an undemocratic constitution. The constitution drafted by Tilak was never given a proper trial. Congress was also financially broke. The social reformism of the Moderates, inspired by western liberalism, also went against popular orthodoxy.

5. Causes for the rise of Extremism Moderate politics had reached a dead end, as most of their demands remained unfulfilled. Extremists criticised the Moderates for looking to Britain for the political salvation of India. They scoffed at the political mendicancy of the Moderates . Radical politics was required but the Moderates were not up to the task .

6. Causes for the rise of Extremism According to Tilak: “Political rights will have to be fought for. The Moderates think that these can be won by persuasion. We think that they can only be got by strong pressure. ”

7. Causes for the rise of Extremism (2) The Curzonian Administration: High-handed measures of Lord Curzon. Three administrative policies: changes in the Calcutta Corporation in 1899, the Universities Act of 1904, and the Partition of Bengal in 1905.

8. Causes for the rise of Extremism The Calcutta Corporation Act was an attempt to strike at the local self-government of the people, the Indian Universities Act was an endeavour to limit higher education, and the Partition of Bengal was a measure to disrupt the political unity of the Bengali people.

9. Causes for the rise of Extremism (3)Partition of Bengal: The province of Bengal was partitioned in 1905 on the apparent reason of administrative convenience. In reality, it was an attack on Indian nationalism. It was designed to weaken the Bengali nationalists who allegedly controlled the Congress.

10. Causes for the rise of Extremism The Curzonian measures acted as a magic potion to revitalise the Congress. Direct and belligerent confrontation with the colonial rule.

11. Causes for the rise of Extremism (4) Socio-economic conditions: Mass poverty and unemployment. Severe famine in the year 1896-97. Epidemic of bubonic plague in the Bombay Presidency. Inadequate and unsympathetic relief machinery of the government.

12. Causes for the rise of Extremism (5) International events: Peoples’ struggles in Ireland, Turkey and China. Defeat of Italy at the hands of Ethiopia (1896) and the defeat of Russia by Japan in 1904. Explosion of the myth of “white man's supremacy.”

13. Causes for the rise of Extremism (6) Inspiration from the literary works of Indians: Inspiration from the literary works of writers like Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya and religious leaders like Vivekananda and Dayananda. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya eulogised Lord Krishna, his basic message of karma yoga in Bhagavad Gita . His novel Anandmath and the inspiration derived from Vande Mataram .

14. Causes for the rise of Extremism Dayananda Saraswati and Arya Samaj . Lala Lajpat Rai was a follower of Arya Samaj . Vivekananda and the World Religious Conference in 1893.

15. Three schools of Extremism Lal- Bal-Pal. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal. Later joined by Aurobindo Ghosh and a host of other leaders. Tilak was active in Maharashtra, Lajpat Rai in Punjab and Bipin Chandra in Bengal.

16. Three schools of Extremism The Bengal school of militant nationalism was led by Bipin Chandra Pal and Aurobindo Ghosh. Influenced by the neo-Vedantic movement of Swami Vivekananda. Wanted to establish a democratic society and state and a modern capitalist economy. Bipin Chandra and “New India.” – a journal.

17. Three schools of Extremism The Maharashtra school of new nationalism was led by Tilak. While resuscitating the memory of the cultural past of India and castigating the liberals / the Moderates for what was considered their cultural capitulation to the West, Tilak did not clothe the movement for swaraj in any mystical-religious garb.

18. Three schools of Extremism To rouse the people --- it was essential for them to believe in the acts of heroism and self-sacrifice -- Tilak revived the memory of Shivaji. Utilised Ganpati festivals for political propaganda. Action as the raison d’etre of Bhagwat Gita . Nationalism in Maharashtra was not dressed in a religio - mystical philosophical garb as in Bengal.

19. Three schools of Extremism Kesari and the Maharatta magazines edited by Tilak. Lala Lajpat Rai was at the forefront of the Punjabi extremist movement . Follower of Arya Samaj . Active in the agitation against the partition of Bengal. Edited ‘Young India.’ For his anti-British activity, he was arrested and deported to Mandalay.

20. Philosophical basis of Extremism Drew inspiration from India‘s past, invoked the great episodes in the history of Indian people, and tried to infuse national pride and self-respect amongst the Indians. The functioning of moderates would engender an inferiority complex amongst the Indians.

21. Philosophical basis of Extremism Revived the memories of the Vedic past, Ashoka and Chandragupta, Rana Pratap and Shivaji. Believed in the special genius of India. Indians were endowed with a special spiritual consciousness. Ideological inspiration from the new regional literature which provided a discursive field for defining the Indian nation in terms of its distinct cultural heritage or civilization.

22. Philosophical basis of Extremism This was a revivalist discourse – it sought to invoke an imagined golden past from retrospectively reconstructed history to arouse nationalist passions. Also, a response to the gendered discourse of colonialism. The teleological connection between masculinity and political domination, stereotyping the colonised society as “effeminate” and therefore unfit to rule.

23. Philosophical basis of Extremism This created a psychological compulsion for the latter to try to recover their virility in Kshatriyahood in an imagined Aryan past, to establish the legitimacy of their right to rule. Considered the interests of Britain and India antagonistic to each other. Therefore, did not aim at mere administrative reforms or Indianization of services but rather aimed at attaining self-government.

24. Philosophical basis of Extremism They wanted to end and not to mend the system. Regarding constitutional agitation, the extremists declared that it was of no use in a country ruled autocratically by a foreign nation. The Constitution was not the creation of the Indian people. Therefore, constitutional agitation would not be effective in colonized India.

25. Goal of the Extremists Goal was Swaraj. Interpreted differently by different leaders. For Tilak, it meant Indian control over the administration, but not a total severance of relations with Great Britain. Bipin Chandra Pal -- swaraj was complete autonomy, free of British control.

26. Goal of the Extremists Aurobindo Ghosh in Bengal also visualised swaraj as absolute political independence. S waraj still meant self-rule within the parameters of British imperial structure. Swaraj -- motto and swadeshi, boycott and passive resistance as a means to achieve these objectives.

27. Methods used by the Extremists Swadeshi and Boycott : L ead to the salvation of the country. M ake Indians self-respecting, self-reliance, self-supporting and last, not least, manly.

28. Methods used by the Extremists Lala Lajpat Rai --“ought to teach us how to organise our capital, our resources, our labour, our energies, and our talents, to the greatest good of all Indians, irrespective of creed, colour or caste… In my opinion, swadeshi ought to be the common religion of the United India.”

29. Methods used by the Extremists W eapon forged by the people to achieve the industrial and general economic regeneration and advance for India. The positive side of boycott was a call for swadeshi --- vigorous drive for the production and sale of indigenous goods and services. Move to cottage industries and even large-scale enterprises of various sorts.

30. Methods used by the Extremists Tilak said that “self-help determination and sacrifice are needed” to fulfill the swadeshi program. B oycott movement conceived and organised by the militant nationalists was, on the other hand, openly and aggressively anti-British.

31. Methods used by the Extremists (2) National education: E ducation should be reorganised on national lines. 1906--the National Council of Education, an organisation was formed. Bengal Technical Institute and Bengal National College.

32. Methods used by the Extremists A ppeal to the British public was unrealistic. B roader question of Indians getting a larger share in the administration of the country and putting an end to British exploitation. For political agitation, peoples’ enthusiasm should be aroused.

33. Methods used by the Extremists T echnique of agitation – based on the pride in India's past glory and religious instinct of the people. P olitical field-- non-cooperation with the British Government of India and, if necessary, passive resistance. D evelopment of Indian languages and making extensive use of them for conducting political agitation.

34. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement Idea first floated in 1903 and finally implemented in 1905 by Lord Curzon. T he most precipitous cause for the sudden spurt and popularity of the extremist politics. In fact, the history of the swadeshi movement in Bengal (1905-11), may be described as the best expression of extremist politics.

35. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement Before the partition, Bengal consisted of the present Bengal, Bihar, Chhotanagpur and Orissa. Ostensibly, the partition was for better administration of an unwieldy province. 18,000,000 Muslims and 12,000,000 Hindus while the remaining province of Bengal would be having a population of 42,000,000 Hindus and 9,000,000 Muslims.

36. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement W as the partition really for administrative efficiency? In reality it was meant to curb the radical Bengali nationalism. In the garb of administrative convenience, there was a sinister design to create a Muslim majority province and there by create a rift between the Hindus and the Muslims.

37. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement C reate a solid Muslim bloc to placate the Muslims. C reate a division among the predominantly Hindu politicians of the West and the East Bengal. This was made clear by the British Home Secretary who observed, “Bengal united is a power; Bengal divided will pull in several different ways. This is perfectly true and is one of the merits of the scheme.”

38. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement T he partition was considered an insult and humiliation of Bengali nationalism. RC Majumdar-- the movement had the character of an “incipient rebellion, an undeclared war between the government and the people.”

39. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement The movement against the partition depicted the dissatisfaction with the moderate politics as well as the grievances related to racial discrimination and white arrogance. The Curzonian administration ignored the emerging Bengali identity.

40. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement D eveloped of variety of new and militant techniques. A ttracted larger number of people than before into the national movement and broadened into a national struggle for swaraj.

41. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement The British government did not expect such an intense reaction to the partition of Bengal. Sumeet Sarkar – four trends-- the moderate trend, constructive swadeshi, political extremism, and revolutionary terrorism .

42. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement The moderate trend : T he moderates initially relied on their conventional techniques. A fter the formal proclamation of the partition, for the first time the Congress, in a meeting in Calcutta on 17 July 1905, gave a call for the boycott of British goods and institutions.

43. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement But their political philosophy remained the same. Movement came into the hands of the extremist leaders. Moderates wanted the boycott movement to be confined only to Bengal whereas the Extremists really wanted to make it an All-India movement.

44. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement Constructive trend: As a reaction, a new trend developed with emphasis on self-reliance, village level organization and constructive programs to develop indigenous or swadeshi alternatives for foreign goods and institutions.

45. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement Constructive programme included amateurish attempts to manufacture daily necessities, national education, arbitration courts and village organization.

46. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement Political extremism: T he constructive trend was criticised. Without freedom no real regeneration of national life was possible. A brogation of the partition no longer the goal. Rather complete independence or swaraj.

47. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement No longer narrow Bengali sub-nationalism. Revolutionary terrorism: D id not have faith in the constitutional means adopted by both the Moderates and the Extremists. Terrorist groups which sprang up mainly in Bengal, Maharashtra and Punjab became active. Political dacoities and assassinations of officials took place during this time.

48. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement Techniques adopted during anti-partition movement B oycott and swadeshi. Boycott of foreign goods, government schools and colleges, courts, titles, government services, civil disobedience of unjust laws and even the organization of strikes.

49. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement P roduction and sale of indigenous goods and services. Revived handloom, silk weaving and some other traditional crafts. Swadeshi movement was also visible at the cultural level.

50. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement (2) Tilak revived religious political festivals like Ganpati and Shivaji festivals. (3) O rganised labour strikes. T he nationalist interest in labour slumped suddenly after the summer of 1908.

51. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement (5) Emergence of the samitis or ‘national volunteer’ movement. I ncipient terrorist societies. Till 1908, most samitis were quite open bodies. Engaged in various activities. Examples: Anti-Circular Society, Suhrid Society, the Dacca Anushilan Society.

52. Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement S amitis either disappeared or became terrorist secret societies.

53. CONCLUSION