Extremist Phase (1905-1917)

Extremist Phase (1905-1917)

Reasons for the Emergence of Extremists

1. Realization that the true nature of British rule was exploitative.

2. International influences and events that demolished the myth of White/European supremacy.
   These included:

   • Abyssinia/Ethiopia's victory over Italy (1896)

   • Boer Wars (1899–1902), in which the British faced reverses

   • Japan's victory over Russia (1905)

3. Dissatisfaction with the achievement of Moderates.

4. Reactionary policies of Curzon, such as:

   • Calcutta Cooperation Act (1904)

   • Indian Universities Act (1905)

   • Partition of Bengal (1905)

5. Existence of a militant school of thought and emergence of a trained leadership.

Prominent Extremist Leaders

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

• 'Lokmanya' Tilak was the uncompromising leader of extremists.

• Influenced by Agarkar, Ranade, and Naoroji.

• Launched newspapers: Kesari (in Marathi) and The Maratha (in English).

• Organised:

  • Ganpati Festival (1893)

  • Shivaji Festival (1895)

• Deported to Mandalay Jail (Burma) for writing seditious articles.

• Started the Home Rule League in 1916.

• Wrote Gita Rahasya.

• Asserted:

"Swaraj is my birthright and I will have it."

Lala Lajpat Rai

• Extremists from Punjab.

• Influenced by Arya Samaj, founded the National School at Lahore.

• Presided over AITUC in 1920.

• Boycotted the Simon Commission and demonstrated against it in Lahore.

• Brutally assaulted by police and succumbed to injuries.

Bipin Chandra Pal

• Discarded orthodox Hinduism; entered the Brahmo Samaj.

• Visited England and America.

• Founded the English weekly New India.

• Led the Swadeshi movement.

• Promoted:

  • Boycott

  • Swadeshi

  • National Education

  • Swaraj

  • Passive Resistance

• Founded Vande Mataram.

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh

• Passed ICS exam with record marks in Greek and Latin.

• Had a European upbringing.

• Worked with secret societies in Bengal and Maharashtra.

• Started Bengali daily Jugantar.

• Wrote seditious articles in Vande Mataram.

• Tried in the Maniktalla Bomb Conspiracy Case.

• Retired to a life of Yoga at Pondicherry.

Other Extremist Leaders

• Chakravarthi Viji Raghvachariar

• Aswini Kumar Dutta

• Raj Narayan Bose

• T. Prakasham

• Chidambaram Pillai

Methods of Extremists

1. Passive Resistance – Non-cooperation with the British Government by boycotting:

   • Government services

   • Courts

   • Schools and colleges

2. Promotion of Swadeshi and boycott of foreign goods.

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

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

• Created a new province of East Bengal (later East Pakistan, now Bangladesh).

• British claimed it was to develop the Eastern region.

• True motive: Divide and Rule, to reduce the influence of the Bengali intelligentsia.

• Created a communal gulf between Hindus and Muslims.

• INC unanimously condemned the partition.

Boycott and Swadeshi Movement

• Originating from the Anti-Partition Movement.

• Marked a major leap forward in the Indian National Movement.

• INC adopted Swadeshi at the Benaras Session (1905), presided over by G.K. Gokhle.

Role of Extremists

• Led by Lal-Bal-Pal (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal) and Aurobindo Ghosh.

• Advocated mass political struggle beyond boycott and Swadeshi.

Events and Spread

• August 7, 1905 – INC resolution in Calcutta to boycott British goods.

• Bonfires of foreign goods in major cities.

• Tilak spread the movement in Pune and Mumbai.

• Ajit Singh and Lala Lajpat Rai promoted it in Punjab and North India.

• Syed Haidar Raza in Delhi.

• Rawalpindi, Kangra, Jammu, Multan, and Hardwar saw active participation.

• Chidambaram Pillai and Bipin Chandra Pal galvanized the South.

Muslim League (1906)

• Established in December 1906 by Nawab Salimullah of Dacca.

• Supported the Partition of Bengal.

• Opposed the Swadeshi Movement.

• Demanded:

  • Special safeguards for Muslims

  • Separate electorates

Calcutta Session of INC (1906) – Swaraj Declared

• Held in December 1906, led by Dada Bhai Naoroji.

• Adopted Swaraj as the national goal.

• Naoroji defined Swaraj as self-government like that of the UK.

• Deepened divide between Moderates and Extremists.

Surat Split (1907)

• Held in 1907 on the banks of the river Tapi, Surat.

• Split of INC into:

  • Extremists (Tilak, Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal)

  • Moderates (Gopal Krishna Gokhle)

Consequences

• Extremists offered cooperation; Moderates refused.

• Government capitalized:

  • Suppressed newspapers

  • Arrested Tilak and jailed him for 6 years in Mandalay

• Extremists couldn’t sustain an alternative movement:

  • Aurobindo Ghosh retired to Pondicherry

  • Bipin Chandra Pal temporarily left politics

  • Lajpat Rai went to Britain

After 1908, the national movement declined.

Morley-Minto Reforms (1909)

• Introduced during the Viceroyalty of Lord Minto.

• Introduced:

  • Separate electorate for Muslims

  • Other constitutional measures

• Aimed to:

  • Win over Moderates

  • Create a rift between Hindus and Muslims

• Politicians were dissatisfied with the reforms.

Home Rule Movement (1915–16)

• Tilak founded the Indian Home Rule League at Pune – April 28, 1916.

• Annie Besant started her movement – September 1916.

• Spread rapidly; branches established all over India.

• Tilak joined forces with Annie Besant.

• Muslim League supported the programme.

• In 1920, the League renamed Swarajya Sabha.

Lucknow Pact – Congress-League Pact (1916)

• Congress and Muslim League sessions at Lucknow, 1916.

• United against British rule.

• Congress accepted separate electorates.

• Jointly demanded Dominion Status.

• Hindu-Muslim unity alarmed the British.

Montagu Declaration / August Declaration (1917)

• Promised a gradual transfer of power to Indians.

• Announced in response to the Hindu-Muslim unity seen in the Lucknow Pact.

• Proposed increased Indian association in governance.

Indian Revolutionary Organisations (India)

Indian Revolutionary Organisations (Abroad)

Revolutionary Events / Cases

Final Thoughts

The Extremist Phase (1905–1917) marked a significant shift in India’s freedom struggle. Patriotism turned assertive, and leaders like Tilak, Lajpat Rai, and Aurobindo brought new energy to the movement. Their demand for Swaraj ignited national consciousness across classes and regions.

Mass mobilization, boycotts, and Swadeshi redefined resistance beyond petitions. Though met with repression, their ideas laid a powerful foundation. The split at Surat and the Home Rule Movement highlighted growing political maturity.

This phase bridged early moderation and later mass agitation, making it a crucial turning point in India’s path to independence.