Revolutionary Movements

Introduction

While Gandhi championed non-violence, a parallel stream of Indian nationalism chose armed struggle. From the bomb-makers of Bengal to the guerrilla fighters of the Eastern Ghats, revolutionary nationalists believed that freedom could only be won through direct action against colonial power. Their average age at martyrdom was under 25. Their organisations — Anushilan Samiti, Hindustan Republican Association, HSRA — were hunted relentlessly by British intelligence. Their sacrifices — Bhagat Singh at 23, Khudiram Bose at 18, Alluri Sitaramraju at 27 — electrified the nation and demonstrated that the desire for freedom was not limited to petitions and peaceful marches. For AP Group 2, Alluri Sitaramraju's Rampa Rebellion is the most important revolutionary episode in Andhra history.

Historical Context

Revolutionary nationalism emerged alongside moderate and extremist politics in the early 1900s. The partition of Bengal (1905) radicalised a generation of young Bengalis who believed that constitutional methods were too slow. The execution of revolutionaries by the British — rather than deterring the movement — created martyrs who inspired more recruits. After World War I, returning soldiers with military training joined revolutionary organisations. The Russian Revolution (1917) introduced socialist ideology, transforming the movement from purely nationalist to nationalist-socialist by the late 1920s.

Core Content

Early Revolutionary Groups (Pre-1920)

Anushilan Samiti (1902): Founded by Satish Chandra Basu in Kolkata — one of the earliest revolutionary organisations. It established branches in Banaras (1908) and Patna (1913) and engaged in armed actions against British officials.

Yugantar Group (1906): Established in Kolkata by Aurobindo Ghosh, Barindra Ghosh, and others. They published the weekly journal "Yugantar" and focused on collecting weapons and explosives for armed revolution.

Muzaffarpur Conspiracy (1908)

Khudiram Bose (age 18) and Prafulla Chaki targeted Magistrate Douglas Kingsford in Muzaffarpur on 30 April 1908. The bomb hit the wrong carriage, killing two British women (Mrs. Kennedy and her daughter). Prafulla Chaki committed suicide to avoid arrest. Khudiram Bose was hanged on 11 August 1908 at age 18 — making him one of the youngest martyrs of the freedom movement.

Alipore Bomb Case (1908)

After the Muzaffarpur incident, the British raided the Maniktala garden in Calcutta and discovered bomb-making materials. Aurobindo Ghosh and 34 others were arrested. Chittaranjan Das defended Aurobindo and won his acquittal. Naren Gosain (approver/informer) was murdered inside jail; Kanailal Dutt was hanged for this act.

Delhi-Lahore Conspiracy (1912)

Rash Behari Bose and Sachin Sanyal planned the assassination of Viceroy Lord Hardinge during his ceremonial procession in Delhi on 23 December 1912. Basanta Kumar Biswas threw the bomb — Hardinge was injured but survived. Rash Behari Bose escaped and later fled to Japan in 1915.

Nasik Conspiracy (1909)

Anant Laxman Kanhere assassinated District Magistrate A.M.T. Jackson in Nasik on 21 December 1909. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was implicated and sentenced to two life terms (50 years) at the Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands (1910).

Ghadar Movement (1913)

The Ghadar Party was founded in 1913 in San Francisco, USA by Lala Har Dayal — primarily involving Punjabi Sikh expatriates. They published the newspaper "Ghadar" (meaning revolt) in Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu. They attempted an armed uprising during World War I (1914-15) but the plan failed due to intelligence leaks.

Hindustan Republican Association (1924)

The HRA was founded in October 1924 by Ram Prasad Bismil, Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee, and Sachin Sanyal. Their aim was to establish a Federal Republic of the United States of India through armed revolution. They drafted a constitution called "The Revolutionary."

Kakori Conspiracy (1925)

On 9 August 1925, HRA members robbed a train carrying government treasury near Kakori, Lucknow, to fund their revolutionary activities. The plan was conceived by Ram Prasad Bismil. Participants included Ashfaqullah Khan, Chandrashekhar Azad, and Rajendra Lahiri.

The British crackdown was severe: 17 were arrested and 4 transported for life. Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Roshan Singh, and Rajendra Lahiri were hanged on 19 December 1927. Chandrashekhar Azad was the only member to escape arrest.

HSRA & Bhagat Singh (1928-1931)

The HRA was renamed the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) on 8-9 September 1928 under Bhagat Singh's influence, which added socialist ideology to the nationalist agenda. The HSRA declared its aim as "the establishment of a socialist society," influenced by Marxist ideology and the Russian Revolution.

Avenging Lala Lajpat Rai: After Lajpat Rai died on 17 November 1928 from injuries sustained during the Simon Commission protest, Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru assassinated police officer J.P. Saunders on 17 December 1928 — mistaking him for James Scott, who had ordered the lathi charge. Bhagat Singh left a note: "Lala Lajpat Rai's death is avenged."

Central Legislative Assembly Bombing (8 April 1929): Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw deliberately non-lethal bombs in the Assembly to protest the Trade Disputes Bill and Public Safety Bill. Bhagat Singh's statement: "It takes a loud voice to make the deaf hear." Both surrendered voluntarily and used the trial to publicise revolutionary ideas.

Lahore Conspiracy Case: Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev were sentenced to death. They were hanged on 23 March 1931 at Lahore Jail. Bhagat Singh was 23 years old. 23 March is observed as Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs' Day).

Chandrashekhar Azad shot himself at Alfred Park, Allahabad on 27 February 1931 to avoid capture — he had vowed never to be taken alive. His death effectively ended the revolutionary movement in Northern India.

Chittagong Armoury Raid (1930)

Surya Sen ("Masterda") led the Chittagong Armoury Raid on 18 April 1930 with 65 revolutionaries. They captured the police armoury and auxiliary force armoury but failed to find ammunition. Surya Sen hoisted the national flag, took a military salute, and proclaimed a Provisional Revolutionary Government, naming his group the "Indian Republican Army, Chittagong Branch."

They retreated to Jalalabad hills and fought a pitched battle with British troops on 22 April — 12 revolutionaries and 80 British soldiers were killed. Surya Sen was arrested in February 1933 and hanged on 12 January 1934.

Pritilata Waddedar, a female revolutionary, led an attack on the Pahartali European Club and took cyanide to avoid capture — one of the most remarkable acts of revolutionary courage.

AP Connection

Alluri Sitaramraju (1897-1924) led the Rampa Rebellion — an armed tribal revolt in the Manyam forests of the Agency areas in the Eastern Ghats. This was the most significant revolutionary action in Andhra Pradesh. Sitaramraju organised tribal communities (Koyas, Konda Reddis, Konda Doras) into a guerrilla army and launched attacks on police stations at Chintapalli, Krishna Devi Peta, and Rampachodavaram. He used the jungle terrain to evade British forces for over two years before being captured and shot without trial in 1924. He earned the title "Manyam Veerudu" (Hero of the Jungle). His full story is covered in depth in the AP Freedom Movement chapter.

Telugu revolutionaries were inspired by the Bengal and Punjab movements. Several Andhra youth joined the HRA and later the Congress Socialist Party, carrying revolutionary ideals into the broader freedom struggle.

Key Points

1. Anushilan Samiti (1902) and Yugantar (1906) — earliest revolutionary organisations, both in Kolkata.
2. Khudiram Bose — hanged at age 18 (11 August 1908); one of the youngest martyrs.
3. Alipore Bomb Case (1908) — Aurobindo Ghosh arrested; C.R. Das won his acquittal.
4. Ghadar Party (1913) — founded in San Francisco by Lala Har Dayal; Punjabi Sikh expatriates.
5. HRA founded October 1924 by Ram Prasad Bismil — aimed at Federal Republic through armed revolution.
6. Kakori Train Robbery (9 August 1925) — Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Azad; 4 hanged (19 December 1927).
7. HSRA formed September 1928 — added socialist ideology; Bhagat Singh was key influence.
8. Bhagat Singh and Rajguru killed J.P. Saunders (17 December 1928) to avenge Lajpat Rai.
9. Assembly bombing (8 April 1929) — "It takes a loud voice to make the deaf hear."
10. Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev hanged 23 March 1931 — Shaheed Diwas.
11. Bhagat Singh was 23 years old at execution.
12. Chandrashekhar Azad — shot himself at Alfred Park, Allahabad (27 February 1931).
13. Chittagong Armoury Raid (18 April 1930) — Surya Sen ("Masterda"); proclaimed Provisional Government.
14. Savarkar sentenced to 50 years at Cellular Jail, Andaman (1910).
15. Alluri Sitaramraju — Rampa Rebellion (1922-24); "Manyam Veerudu"; shot without trial.
16. Delhi-Lahore Conspiracy (1912) — bomb thrown at Viceroy Hardinge; Rash Behari Bose escaped.
17. Pritilata Waddedar — female revolutionary; took cyanide after attacking European Club.

Exam Strategy

• Bhagat Singh dates are very commonly asked: Saunders killing (17 Dec 1928), Assembly bombing (8 Apr 1929), execution (23 Mar 1931 = Shaheed Diwas).
• Kakori Conspiracy (1925): Know the four who were hanged — Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Roshan Singh, Rajendra Lahiri.
• HRA vs. HSRA: HRA (1924) was purely nationalist; HSRA (1928) added socialist ideology. Know what triggered the name change.
• Azad's death: Alfred Park, Allahabad, 27 February 1931. He shot himself to keep his vow of never being captured alive.
• Surya Sen: "Masterda"; Chittagong; 18 April 1930; hanged 12 January 1934.
• For AP exam: Alluri Sitaramraju = Rampa Rebellion = Manyam Veerudu = 1922-24 = tribal uprising = Eastern Ghats.
• Match revolutionary to incident: Khudiram = Muzaffarpur; Bhagat Singh = Assembly bombing + Saunders; Surya Sen = Chittagong; Sitaramraju = Rampa.

Key Terms Glossary