RISE OF MILITANT NATIONALISM

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Introduction

The extremist ideology had been simmering ever since the revolt of 1857 and finally surfaced in 1905 during Bengal partition.
The new group demanded Swaraj as the goal to be achieved by militant and self-reliant methods.

Causes for rise of extremism

Recognition of true nature of British rule: Famines between 1896 and 1900

bubonic plague in Maharashtra
Natu brothers were deported without trial
Tilak was imprisoned on sedition charges.
Indian members in Calcutta Corporation were reduced; Official secrets act curbed freedom of press.
Indian Universities act ensured greater government control over universities.
Response to growing westernization: Intellectuals such as Swami Vivekananda, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee inspired young nationalists with their articulate arguments, painting India's past in more vivid colors than British ideologues.
Lord Curzon administrative measures: Calcutta Corporation Act (1899)
Official Secrets Act (1904)
Indian Universities Act (1904); Partition of Bengal (1905).

International influences: Despised humiliating treatment to Indians in South Africa

nationalist movements in Turkey, Egypt, Persia, Ireland and China

Progress made by Japan after 1868, defeat of Italian army by Ethiopians (1896), Boer wars (1899-1902) where British faced reverses and Japan’s victory over Russia (1905) demolished myths of European invINCibility.

Existence of Militant school of thought: Raj Narain Bose, Ashwini Kumar Datta, Aurobindo Ghosh and Bipin Chandra Pal in Bengal, Vishnu Shastrichiplunkar and Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Maharashtra and Lala Lajpat Rai in Punjab.

Ideology of Extremists

‘Swaraj’ or self-rule was the goal of Extremists.
Direct political action based on self-reliance, self-sacrifice and strong will.
Inspired by ideology of Swami Vivekanada, Dayanand Saraswati and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Moved beyond the constitutional methods to protest → resorted to strikes, boycotts, burning down of foreign items, etc. Confrontation was their method instead of Persuasion.
They wanted to set up parallel institutions outside the purview of the Raj.
They opposed westernization of Indian Society; Extremists never showed any loyalty to the British Crown.

Prominent Extremist Leaders

Bal Gangadhar Tilak:

He was an Indian nationalist, teacher and an independence activist conferred with the title of Lokmanya
He founded the Deccan Education Society in 1884 along with his associate Gopal Ganesh Agarkar and others to create a new system of education that taught young Indians nationalist ideas through an emphasis on Indian culture
Tilak helped found the All India Home Rule League in 1916–18 with G. S. Khaparde and Annie Besant
Tilak’s Home Rule League worked in Maharashtra, Central Provinces and Karnataka and Berar region. Besant’s League was active in the rest of India
Newspapers: Kesari (Marathi) and Mahratta (English)
Books: Shrimadh Bhagvad Gita Rahasya and Arctic Home of the Vedas.
Lala Lajpat Rai: Also called Punjab Kesari and Lion of Punjab
He was influenced by Swami Dayananda Saraswati and joined Arya Samaj in Lahore
He believed that the ideals in Hinduism combined with nationalism will lead to the establishment of a secular state
Along with Bipin Chandra Pal and Bal Gangadhar Tilak, he formed Lal-Bal-Pal trio of extremist leaders
He founded the Home Rule League of America in 1917 in New York
He was also elected President of the All India Trade Union Congress
He supported the non-cooperation movement of Gandhi at the Nagpur session of the Congress in 1920
He was elected deputy leader of the