In this essay we will discuss about terrorism and India. After reading this essay you will learn about:- 1. India’s Struggle for Freedom and Terrorism 2. Line of Action and Work of Terrorists 3. Terrorist Activities Abroad 4. Revolutionary Leftism in India 5. Failure of Terrorism in India.
List of Essays on Terrorism and India
Essay Contents:
- Essay on India’s Struggle for Freedom and Terrorism
- Essay on the Line of Action and Work of Terrorists
- Essay on Terrorist Activities Abroad
- Essay on Revolutionary Leftism in India
- Essay on the Failure of Terrorism in India
1. Essay on India’s Struggle for Freedom and Terrorism:
In India’s freedom struggle the terrorists played their own part. According to many critics if India could win her freedom it was not because of non-violent means and methods of Gandhiji, but on account of violent and terrorists methods.
These critics believe that the British government, the mightiest empire of the world, would not have in any way left India simply because the people courted arrest and few laws were violated here and there.
They feel that such movements and violation of laws would certainly have been crushed and the masses were not capable of bearing sufferings and undergoing miseries. Certainly they would have bowed to pressures and repressions and left the idea of swaraj.
They opine, that it was only due to terror created by the terrorists that the British government thought in terms of giving independence to India. These terrorists created a very tense atmosphere in the country. They were patriots who were prepared to undergo every suffering. They propagated and practised the cult of violence not only in India but abroad as well.
In addition to this, they formed revolutionary organisations outside the country. For them non-violence had no meaning and nation could not win freedom simply by courting arrests and following the path of truth and non-co-operation or by launching disobedience movements and non-co-operation.
The very fact that Indian National Congress never owned the terrorists and yet they could show their impact during freedom struggle amply demonstrates that these people had some intrinsic value and inherent qualities which could appeal the people. They had good following though that was from behind the curtain. Without such co-operation that would not have been in a position to carry on then- activities.
2. Essay on the Line of Action and Work of Terrorists:
The terrorists believed that there was no country in the world which had won freedom by non-violent means. According to them history is a witness that governments in all the countries are over-thrown and the subjugated people all over the globe have to take amis to win their freedom. According to them the main strength behind their action is disillusionment of the people.
They approach the people with a very clear question as to what the Liberals and the Extremists have achieved in the past in spite of their cordial relations with British government. The country could get no constitutional reform of any great significance. With every passing day there has been increased poverty and misery and every demand for constitutional reforms has been replied by bullets and gun shots.
In the words of A.R. Desai, “The disillusionment about the efficacy of the programmes and methods of the Liberals together with the study of the revolutionary movements of European nations for freedom and the methods of, conspiratorial terrorism adopted by Russian Nihilists and other European underground groups influenced a section of the Indians and build up and operate like organisations and methods in India.â€
Why Terrorism?
Terrorist movement in India could not have gained ground had the British government not adopted and followed excessive and reactionary policy. The Moderates in the Congress also pushed them to the point where they found that they had no scope to work within the organisation with their own methods.
More zealous patriots preferred to go out of the organisation. They were disillusioned with the programmes and policies of the Liberals but had all praise for the revolutionary movements of European nations for freedom and methods which the terrorists followed for achieving their objectives.
They were particularly inspired by Russian Nihilists as well as other European underground groups. They wanted to follow like methods in India as well. They were driven to extreme action of terrorism because of repressive policies of Lord Curzon.
Some thinkers, however, have tried to find the cause of terrorism to orthodox Hindu revivalism. Chirol in his ‘Indian Unrest’ has called it essentially a Brahaminical reaction against the west.
Some of the thinkers are of the view that the roots of terrorism go to the exploitation of Indians by the Britishers which fiery nationalists could not tolerate. Lala Lajpat Rai in his ‘Young India’ has, however, said that terrorism spread because “The Congress failed to create that spirit of self sacrifice, that willingness to suffer without which no national movement can grow, prosper and inspire.”
The terrorists had their own programme of action. From all accounts it is clear that their main aim also was to throw the Britishers away from the soil of India as quickly as possibly that could be done. Their first weapon, was that of political assassination.
They wanted to kill all those officers who were committing atrocities on the people of India. They also proposed to adopt policy of blood and iron so as to create terror in the minds of people and their name had become really a horror. By removing these people they wanted to uplift the morale of their own people.
They wanted to create discontentment among the armed forces. They brought to focus every political assassination. They did not hesitate to loot the wealthy British or pro-British traders and others and forcibly take away their wealth. They committed organised dacoities as well.
In order to accomplish their task they did not mind getting arms from outside India. In fact, the terrorists organised their activities in Germany, London and in the USA from where arms were smuggled into India and supplied to revolutionaries here to continue their activities
Work of the Terrorists:
In Maharashtra terrorist movement started as early as in 1899 when much hated Plague Commissioner Mr. Rand was murdered but Shyamji Krishna Verma who was held responsible for his murder somehow managed to escape to London where he lived in obscurity upto 1905.
In that year he started Indian Home Rule Society and also a monthly journal ‘Sociologist’ with the help of one S.R. Rana of Paris. In order to attract young revolutionaries from India and to train them in violent means of struggle he instituted travelling scholarships.
It was under this scheme that V.D. Savarkar came to London. When Shyamji Krishna Vemia had to leave London, Savarkar took charge of revolutionary activities there. In 1909, he sent a parcel of 20 pistols in the bottom of luggage of Chaturbbuj Amin to be used by the members of Abhinav Bharat Society being guided by his brother Ganesh Savarkar.
But before the parcel reached India and could be received by him, he and several other members of the society were arrested and transported from outside India for life.
The members who could not be way laid decided to murder Mr. Jackson, the District Magistrate of Nasik who was responsible for awarding this sentence and he was actually shot dead on 21st December, 1909. The police also discovered Nasik Conspiracy plot. In this connection it arrested about 40 persons, 27 of whom were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment and three Brahmins were executed.
In Maharashtra Lokmanya Tilak, through his paper Kesari, preached that Indians should organise themselves on Russian model to quickly win freedom of Mother India.
In November 1909, in Ahmedabad an attempt was made on the life of Lord and Lady Minto by blowing off their carriage, but they escaped unhurt because of non-explosion of time bomb.
Revolutionaries were also very active in Bengal. The leaders of the movement were Barindra Kumar Ghosh, younger brother of Sri Aurobindo and Bhupindra Nath Datta, brother of Swami Vivekananda. The former started a newspaper Yugantar, through which he propagated his cause. He inspired the people of India through several ways.
His programme of action included:
(a) Creation of hatred against British regime in the mind of Indians;
(b) Assassination of unpopular English officials with a view to striking terror in white bureaucracy;
(c) Creation of an atmosphere favourable for an armed revolt;
(d) Formenting mutiny in the ranks of armed forces;
(e) Glorifying the deeds of heroes with the help of patriotic songs and by injuring sense of pride among the people ending fear of unemployment and starvation;
(f) Diverting the attention of government by staging demonstrations and organising processions, etc.;
(g) By disciplining young men and training them in the use of weapons;
(h) By preferably manufacturing weapons in the country, but if need be importing these from outside as well;
(i) By raising money by way of looting the rich and organising dacoities in their houses.
The leaders reminded the people of India of their past glory and said that in accordance with the teachings of Gita a time had now come when ‘die devil had committed maximum sins in India and God incarnation had appeared to kill the British Devil.
To the Bengalis they said, “Will the Bengalis, the worshippers of Shakti, shirk from the shedding of blood ? The number of Englishmen in this country is not above one lac and a half and what is the number of English officials in each district? If you are firm in your resolution, you can in a single day bring British rule to an end. Lay down your life but first take a life. The worship of Goddess will not be consummated if you sacrifice your lives at the shrine of independence without shedding blood.”
It was as a result of their efforts that both in Dacca and Calcutta Anusilan Samitis were formed and organised on the lines of secret societies of Russia and Italy. These people tried to blow off the train on 6th December, 1907, in which Lt. Governor was travelling. A few days later on 23rd December an attempt was made on the life of Mr. Allen, formerly District Magistrate of Dacca.
On 30th April, 1908, by mistake Mrs. and Miss Kennedy were murdered, though actual target was Mr. Kingsford who had inflicted heavy punishments on those who had participated in Swadeshi movement. Those involved in the killing included Profulla Chakie who immediately shot himself dead whereas the other one Khudi Ram was arrested, tried and hanged.
But both these became the heroes among the masses of Bengal.
In the words of Chirol, “So far the nationalists of Bengal, he became a martyr and a hero. The students and many others put on mourning for him and schools were closed for two or three days as a tribute to his memory. His photographs had an immense sale and by and by the young bloods took to wearing dhotis with Khudi Ram Bose’s name woven into the borders of the garments.”
It was also in Calcutta that a conspiracy was unearthed in which 39 persons, including Aurobindo Ghosh and his brother B.K. Ghosh were arrested. The others arrested included Ram Chandra Das, Narendra Gosain, K.L. Datt and S.N. Bose. The last mentioned two persons were executed, whereas remaining were inflicted heavy punishments. But the terrorists did not spare anyone.
Nareudra Gosain who had turned approver was shot dead in jails by the terrorists whereas Nandlal, the Sub-Inspector who had arrested Khudi Ram Bose was murdered. In Alipur Conspiracy and Gosain murder cases Asutosh Bose had acted as public prosecutor.
He was also shot dead. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Shamsul Alam who was handling Alipur Conspiracy case was also shot dead. In fact, in Bengal revolutionaries did not spare anybody whether he be a witless, lawyer or an approver who betrayed the movement, and was shot dead.
They even did not spare the Lt. Governor of Bengal. In Bengal’ Navashakti and ‘Sandhya” preached gospels of violence. It was from here that Hem Chandra went to France to learn the technique of manufacturing explosives.
In Madras revolutionary activities were carried on by B.C. Pal, who was sentenced for 6 months for not giving evidence against Aurobindo Ghosh. On his return some of his followers celebrated his release by hoisting flag of Swaraj and they were arrested by the government.
This led to riots in which several government offices were attacked. 27 persons were arrested in these riots and sentenced to different terms of imprisonment. In Pondicherry M.P. Tirumal Acharya and V.V.S. Aiyer organised revolutionary activities. Aiyer trained young people in the use of revolvers and one of his trainees Vanchi Aiyer shot dead. Ashe the District Magistrate of Tinnevelley. Several of his companions were arrested and executed.
The terrorists had their activities in U.P. as well. The famous Kakori Decoity case was Organised in U.P. in which Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah, SukhdeV, Chandra Sekhar and others were involved.
In Punjab the people under the leadership of Lala Lajpat Rai protested against Punjab Colonisation Bill which aimed at further fragmentation of land in Punjab Colony. When he was deported his work was, earned by a group of Arya Samajists like Lala Har Dayal and Amir Chand.
The Nav Jawan Bharat Sabha founded in 1925 by Sardar Bhagat Singh became one of the most important organisations of Punjab. Subsequently it was named as Hindustan Republican Army and then Hindustan Socialist Republic.
They party believed that, “Terrorism shatters the spell of superiority of ruling class and raises the status of the subject race in the eyes of the world, because it is the most convincing proof of a nation’s hunger for freedom.” They also believed that terrorism is necessary and inevitable phase in the revolution.
It will develop into revolution and then to independence. The Sabha believed that terrorism is not complete revolution but revolution cannot be complete without terrorism.
3. Essay on Terrorist Activities Abroad:
Terrorists had their activities abroad as well. Madan Lal Dhingra who was in England shot Sir William Curzon Wyllie on 1st July, 1909, who was then Political ADC in India office. He was subsequently executed. V.D. Savarkar who was at the time in London was also transported for life. Indian Home Rule Society, as already pointed out, was set up in London in 1905.
In the U.S.A. Lala Hardayal organised Ghadar Party of India in California in 1911. The party also started both in Panjabi and Urdu a newspaper called Hindustan Ghadar in which Indians were instigated to rise in rev against the foreign government. The party was a great success in producing disciplined patriots.
In its constitution the party made it clear that its aim was “To encourage the establishment and maintenance of a system of government in India which shall be free from all foreign controls and which shall have as its aim the greatest good of the greatest number.” The party also promised freedom of thought, speech and press and assured all that it would provide minimum basic needs to everybody.
The party felt that freedom could be won only with the help of armed revolt. They also believed in secrecy and promptness in action.
They tried to foment rebellion and discontentment among armed forces and welcomed material assistance from all sources. Some of them like Kartar Singh Saraba, Pt. Jagat Ram and Prithvi Singh infiltrated in the cantonments and convinced armed forces personnel of the need of rebellion.
They distributed literature and smuggled arms and ammunition into India. Some of the members of the party, however, proved treacherous and thus many of their plan leaked out. Moreover, American government also allowed British officers to arrest the members of the party and whereas some of these were executed many other were given life imprisonment and jailed in Andamans.
Students, mostly from Bengal, founded Indo-American Association and Young India Association. These associations printed large quantities of seditious leaflets and other propaganda material.
Were revolutionaries in any way blood thirsty or did they derive an> joy or pleasure out of murders? The reply is definitely in the negative.
When Bhagat Singh was arrested after throwing a bomb in the Central Hall of the Assembly he forcefully said, “We respect human life. And still we admit having deliberately thrown bombs into the Assembly Hall. However, the facts speak for themselves and intention should be judged from result.”
When J.P. Saunders was murdered at that time also the terrorists said, “The shedding of human blood grieves us but there comes a time when it becomes unavoidable in the quest for freedom.”
They were not at all blood thirsty but were equally not hesitant to shed blood for the sake of freedom of Mother India. They knew that for getting freedom some blood will have to be shed.
4.
Essay on Revolutionary Leftism in India:
In India revolutionaries did quite significant work though because of popularity of Gandhian philosophy of non-violence their work and also their sacrifices were not given due place by the then Congress leadership. The revolutionaries in India, being both patriots and full of actions were very much influenced with the major happenings all over the world.
But they were most affected by revolution in Russia which was then taking place in that country under the leadership of Lenin. 1917 Revolution of that country infused a new vigour in working classes struggle on the one hand and freedom struggle against colonial powers on the other, India being no exception.
It also considerably broadened the base of country’s freedom struggle Mahatma Gandhi considered 1905 Revolution which had earlier taken place but had succeeded as a great event of the present century. Dadabhai Naoroji drew the attention of Indians in 1906 about the revolutionary changes which were taking place in that country and said that how could the citizens of British Indian empire remain subject to British despotism.
Russian Revolution was considerably responsible for the growth and spread of terrorism in India. Tilak and his followers appreciated Russian methods of struggle. The Young Revolutionaries preferred the use of bomb for achieving the objectives for emancipation of India. Several young leaders secretly sailed to India and it is said that Tilak was in correspondence with Lenin.
These leaders wanted to learn the art of manufacturing bombs and other explosives. Tilak published several inflammatory articles in his paper ‘Kesari’ which were considered by the government as libellious. For these he was arrested and sent to Mandlay jail in 1908. Lenin criticised violently this action of the British government. In addition several other leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai, B.C. Pal and Ajit Singh Sarhadi were also arrested and deported because their revolutionary views but fiery patriotism in India could not be checked.
Lala Har Dayal joined Indian revolutionaries in England and established contacts with Russian Nihilists. Hemchandra Kanungo, a Calcutta revolutionary went to England to familiar himself with revolutionary techniques of struggle. He joined Shyamji Krishna Verma, among others. In order to check the activities of revolutionaries in 1907 British government passed Prevention of Seditious Meetings Act which restricted the right of holding public meetings. In 1908, The Explosive Substance Act was passed.
In the same year, The News Papers (Incitement to Offences) Act was passed which put many restrictions on the circulation of news of some kinds. In 1910, much hated Press Act was passed. Circulation of very popular vernacular news papers like Kesari, Sandhya, Yugantar and Bande Matram was banned. But even then freedom fighters in India were not deterred. Both the Moderates and the Extremists were influenced by Russian methods of the struggle and so was the case with western educated Indians.
For the rise of terrorism in India the extremists, however, threw all blame on the government, which according to them had driven the youth of India to follow the example of Russian intelligentsia in its revolt against the autocracy in India as brutal as that of Russia. When in 1917, Lenin succeeded in bringing successful revolution in Russia, freedom fighters in India fell inspired. Many in India felt that it was the victory of liberty over despotism, oppression and exploitation. The revolution in Russia, however, became a matter of great concern for Britain. Both Secretary of State for India in London and Governor-General Lord Chelmsford got worried and thought in terms of re-defining their colonial policy.
In order to check the influence and fall out of Russian Revolution over India British government decided to start an intensive propaganda against Bolshevik philosophy which was equated by Britain with chaos and aggression. It was propagated that in Soviet Union after revolution there was complete anarchy.
There was neither any government nor authority. Efforts were also made to touch religious sentiments of the people. Along with propaganda the British government intensified policy of repression. In 1921, Central Intelligence Bureau was set up. A strict eye began to be kept on peasant movements and about disturbances etc., which, it was feared could be fertile ground for Bolshevik activities. Indian princes were taken into confidence and their co-operation was sought for checking Bolshevik activities.
But the steps taken did not produce the desired results. A good number of young educated persons continued to be lured by Bolshevik methods of over throwing a despotic regime and British colonial powers. They even favoured extending both financial and non-financial assistance to new Soviet regime. Almost every Indian political leader involved in national movement was influenced by Marxian philosophy to a varying degree.
As the time passed young revolutionaries got convinced that revolutionaries in India were working for world revolution and regarded their revolution as a part of it. On their part Russians supported Indian struggle for freedom. In 1920, Trotsky declared that freedom struggle in India had not subsided even for a day. Several left minded radical revolutionaries like Raja Mahindra Partap, Ali Zakaria, Dalip Singh Gill, Mohd. Shafiq of Peshwar took shelter in Russia to get training of Bolshevik Revolution in India. The Mujahids studied at the Military School at Tashkent and subsequently they organised Communist movement in the country.
Lenin appealed to the Socialists that they should offer their maximum support to the revolutionary and national liberation movements going on in India against imperialist powers. In October, 1920 Russians established a military school for training of Indians and an India House was set up at Tashkent where towards the end of the year a Communist party was formed.
This meant an attempt for capturing leadership of the movement by challenging authority of Mahatma Gandhi. S.A. Dange a young Communist lauded Tilak as the moving spirit, inspirer and organiser of working classes but he criticised Gandhiji for his spinning economy, moral reforms and weak methods of political struggle. A Conference of working classes was held at Lahore with the object of organising a party of working classes.
M.N. Roy wrote a manifesto for Gaya Congress of 1922 in which he laid stress that both trade unions and peasant unions should make their own separate demands. The Congress should not depend merely on demonstrations. He was of the view that potential role of workers and peasants in country’s freedom struggle in no way should be under-estimated. He said that economic position of the workers was very much linked with country’s political liberty.
The Communist Party of India was advised to bring trade union movement under its control. M.N. Roy was of the view that task before Trade Union Congress is not reform but revolution. He further said that it should free itself from the leadership which believes in piecemeal reforms. He further said that our object is economic freedom of producing classes and for the purpose organisation of masses is very essential.
The movement received a set back during Peshwar Conspiracy case 1922-24 when several top level Communist leaders were arrested but it came to its full in 1925 in a more militant form.
Thereafter Indian Communists continued to take active part in Indian politics till the time when during Second World War the party decided to support British government in its efforts and thus went out of mainstream of country’s political struggle.
5. Essay on the Failure of Terrorism in India:
Terrorist movement did not last long in India, but during this short period the terrorists did a remarkable job. The terrorists exposed the myth of popularity of British rule in India. In addition, they created a sense of horror in the minds of British officers, who had to accept that there was some force to check their unjust decisions and their measures.
They awakened the masses by way of circulation of infiltratory leaflets and infiltrations, both in civil and military establishments.
But in spite of this, the movement could not make much headway. In order to check the activities of terrorists the government adopted repressive measures. It came with heavy hands on them and many people did not have the capacity to undergo sufferings and they better thought to disassociate themselves with terrorist activities rather than to endanger their lives by associating themselves with the terrorists.
Then another cause was that these activities were confined to only younger people of the society. In this way it can be said that it was a movement which was confined only to young people and thus could not become a mass movement. Obviously a movement which had no mass backing could not be a success. Not only this but only a very little friction of youth got attracted towards the terrorists.
Still another reason was that this type of movement needs courageous, well-equipped and trained people, who work with patriotic zeal. The number of such persons in every society is always limited and there can be no fountain head for continuous supply of such persons.
The people of India were not at all trained in guerilla methods. They were not welcome with the masses. The hiding places were not very many and training facilities extremely limited.
Still one great cause for their failure was that India is traditionally a peace loving country and the people of India, by and large, hate violence. Thus, when the stories of murder and hatred reached Indian masses, the action of the terrorists was not appreciated but directly or indirectly murders, bloodsheds and killing as well as dacoities and robberies were disliked by the masses.
Thus, the terrorists failed to get mass sympathy, which is very essential for the success of a movement.
The movement received a great set back with the popularity of Gandhiji. As he became undisputed leader of India and that of the Congress party, it became clear that in Indian politics there was no place for violence. He was blind follower of ahimsa and for him non-violence was a creed.
He was opposed to every kind of violence and under his leadership Congress party clearly denounced and disowned every violent activity. Alienation of Congress party support gave serious set back to their cause.
The movement also failed because there was no single centre of its activities. There was no leader to co-ordinate and to issue instructions, and1 master mind the whole plan. On the other hand, everyone acted in the way he liked. In the absence of proper planning and leadership the movement could not make much head way. The cause of movement would have been different had it a leader of popularity of Gandhiji.
This movement needed much which is usually lacking among women and as such women’s contribution to this method of struggle was absolutely missing. In fact, the women disassociated themselves from the terrorists and their activities.
There was no method of continuous inflow of young patriots who appreciated this approach so that there was no depleting of strength of the exiting force even though some were arrested and killed. With every arrest their number came down and the vigour of the movement slackened.
The terrorists were always short of finances. None openly came forward to extend financial support to them because each one was afraid of government repression. No movement can be a success without adequate regular financial resources and the terrorists had no such resources.
But cult of the bomb and extremist approach as a solution to India’s conditional problem did not last long. It was because on the whole people of India even at that time did not like militant approach for solving any problem. Thus, violence and reactionary approach which the terrorists preached did not appeal to Indian masses.
Then another reason was that violence -as replied and crushed by the government with more violence. In order to crush violent activities the government also used repressive measures and tried to suppress the whole movement with a heavy hand.
This could not be borne by the people. Most of them were not prepared to undergo tortures. The result was that they did not like this method of struggle. This method thus could not become popular.
When most of the leaders who believed in violent methods and violent activities were put behind the bars and not available for running the activities, the whole movement became leaderless. Those involved in such ‘activities were tortured and even their near relatives and friends were not spared.
This further more deterred the people of India from joining them. They showed hesitation to provide them shelter or even food.
Though not strictly a terrorist activity, yet INA also aimed at throwing Britishers out of India with the help of armed strength.