Extremist Phase (1905–17) of Freedom Struggle

Reasons for the Rise of Extremism

Disillusionment with British Rule

• Growing belief that British administration functioned mainly for economic exploitation rather than Indian welfare.

Global Influences

• Foreign developments inspired Indian nationalism:
  
  • Ethiopia’s victory over Italy (1896)
  • Boer resistance against Britain (1899–1902)
  • Japan’s victory over Russia (1905)

Government Repression

• Enactment of restrictive measures such as:
  
  • Indian Universities Act (1904)
  • Partition of Bengal (1905)

Rise of Assertive Leadership

• Emergence of a younger generation advocating self-reliance, mass mobilisation, and direct political action.

Prominent Extremist Leaders

1. Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Role

• Widely regarded as ‘Lokmanya’ and the foremost leader of the Extremist movement.
• Initially influenced by Agarkar, Ranade, and Naoroji, but later pursued a more assertive path.

Journalism

• Edited:
  
  • Kesari (Marathi)
  • Mahratta (English)

Mass Mobilisation

• Introduced:
  
  • Ganapati Festival (1893)
  • Shivaji Festival (1895)

Political Activities

• Deported to Mandalay Jail (Burma).
• Founded the Home Rule League (1916).
• Published Gita Rahasya during imprisonment.

Famous Declaration

• “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.”

2. Lala Lajpat Rai

Background

• Prominent Punjab leader.
• Influenced by the Arya Samaj.

Activities

• Led movements against the Punjab Colonisation Bill.
• Presided over the AITUC in 1920.
• Sustained injuries during the Simon Commission protest, which later proved fatal.

3. Bipin Chandra Pal

Contribution

• Rejected constitutional politics in favour of active nationalism.
• Associated with Brahmo Samaj.

Publications

• Started newspapers:
  
  • New India
  • Vande Mataram

Promotion

• Popularised:
  
  • Swadeshi
  • National Education
  • Boycott Movement

4. Sri Aurobindo Ghosh

Career

• Served in Baroda State before entering nationalist politics.

Journalism

• Edited Vande Mataram.

Revolutionary Activities

• Implicated in the Alipore (Maniktala) Bomb Case.
• Later withdrew from politics and devoted himself to spiritual life at Pondicherry.

Other Extremist Leaders

• • C. Vijayaraghavachariar
  • Aswini Kumar Dutta
  • Raj Narayan Bose
  • T. Prakasam
  • Chidambaram Pillai

Methods of the Extremists

Passive Resistance

• Refusal to cooperate with British authorities.

Boycott

• Avoidance of:
  
  • Government employment
  • Law courts
  • Educational institutions
  • Foreign goods

Promotion of Swadeshi

• Encouragement of indigenous industries and use of Indian-made products.

The Partition of Bengal (1905) & Boycott–Swadeshi Movement (1905–08)

Partition of Bengal

Implementation

• Came into force on 16 October 1905 through a Royal Proclamation.

Administrative Change

• Bengal was divided by creating Eastern Bengal & Assam, leaving the remaining western region as Bengal.

Official Explanation

• Claimed to improve administrative efficiency and facilitate governance of the eastern region.

Actual Objective

• Intended to weaken the politically active Bengali middle class.
• Followed the strategy of “Divide and Rule” by encouraging communal divisions.

Congress Response

• The INC unanimously opposed the partition.

Swadeshi & Boycott Movement

Origin

• Emerged from the agitation against the Partition of Bengal.

Objectives

• Encourage Swadeshi goods.
• Boycott foreign products.
• Strengthen national industries.

Congress Support

• Officially endorsed during the Banaras Session (1905) under Gopal Krishna Gokhale.

Spread of the Movement

Leadership

• • Expanded under the famous trio:
    
    • Lal–Bal–Pal
  • Aurobindo Ghosh advocated extending it beyond economic protest into a mass political movement.

Boycott Resolution

• On 7 August 1905, a formal resolution supporting the boycott of British goods was adopted at Calcutta.

Mass Participation

Public Campaigns

• Large-scale bonfires of foreign goods were organised across major towns.

Regional Contributions

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak mobilised Maharashtra.
• Ajit Singh and Lala Lajpat Rai expanded the movement in Punjab.
• Syed Haidar Raza promoted it in Delhi.
• Strong participation was witnessed in Rawalpindi, Kangra, Jammu, Multan, and Hardwar.
• Chidambaram Pillai carried the movement to the Madras Presidency, aided by Bipin Chandra Pal’s lecture tours.

Muslim League (1906)

Formation

• Established in December 1906 at Dacca (Dhaka).

Founder

• Nawab Salimullah of Dacca played the leading role.

Objectives

• Supported the Partition of Bengal.
• Opposed the Swadeshi Movement.
• Demanded special safeguards and a separate electorate for Muslims.

Impact

• Deepened communal divisions between Hindus and Muslims.

Calcutta Session of INC (1906)

Leadership

• Presided over by Dadabhai Naoroji.

Major Resolution

• The Congress formally adopted “Swaraj” as its long-term objective.

Meaning of Swaraj

• Defined as self-government on the pattern of the United Kingdom.

Aftermath

• Increasing differences between the Moderates and Extremists over methods and pace of the movement eventually culminated in the Surat Split (1907).

Surat Split (1907)

Background

• The Indian National Congress (INC) formally split during the Surat Session (1907) into Moderates and Extremists.
• The session took place on the banks of the Tapti River.

Leadership

Extremist Group

• • Bal Gangadhar Tilak
  • Lala Lajpat Rai
  • Bipin Chandra Pal

Moderate Group

• • Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Immediate Cause

• Intense disagreement over the President’s election and the composition of the Working Committee.
• The Moderates insisted on Dr. Rash Behari Ghosh as President, which the Extremists opposed.

Consequences

• The Congress session ended amid disorder and confrontation.
• British authorities exploited the internal conflict.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak was arrested and transported to Mandalay Jail (Burma) for six years.
• The Extremist faction lost organisational momentum.
• Aurobindo Ghosh gradually withdrew from active politics and settled in Pondicherry.
• Bipin Chandra Pal temporarily distanced himself from politics.
• Lala Lajpat Rai travelled abroad.
• The National Movement entered a comparatively inactive phase until 1908.

Morley–Minto Reforms (1909)

Introduction

• Introduced during the tenure of Lord Minto, the then Viceroy of India.

Major Features

Separate Electorates

• • Introduced the principle of Separate Electorates for Muslims.

Political Objective

• Intended to:
  
  • Gain the support of Moderates.
  • Strengthen loyalty among Muslim elites.
  • Reduce the influence of Congress nationalism.

Long-term Effect

• Institutionalised communal representation.
• Encouraged the idea that political interests of different religious communities were distinct.
• Nationalist leaders criticised the reforms as divisive.

Home Rule Movement (1915–16)

Launch

   Bal Gangadhar Tilak

• • Established the Indian Home Rule League on 28 April 1916.

   Annie Besant

• • Inspired by the Irish Home Rule Movement, she launched another Home Rule League in September 1916.

Expansion

• The movement rapidly spread across different provinces.
• Numerous branches of the League were established.
• Tilak and Annie Besant worked together to popularise the demand for Self-Government.

Lucknow Pact (Congress–League Pact, 1916)

Significance

• Marked an important phase of Congress–Muslim League cooperation.
• Regarded as a milestone in Hindu–Muslim political unity.

Background

• International developments, especially Britain’s war with Turkey, influenced Muslim political opinion.
• Both organisations assembled at Lucknow in 1916.

Key Provisions

• Congress accepted the principle of Separate Electorates.
• Both organisations jointly demanded Dominion Status for India.

Impact

• Alarmed the British Government.
• Prompted announcements for constitutional reforms.
• Greater participation of Indians in administration was promised along with gradual expansion of local self-government.

Montagu Declaration /August Declaration 1917

Announcement

• Declared that administrative responsibility would gradually be transferred to Indian hands.

Importance

• Reflected the changing political climate after the Lucknow Pact.
• Became the foundation for future constitutional reforms.

Indian Revolutionary Organisations (India)

Indian Revolutionary Organisations (Abroad)