The movement of the revolution in India was an extreme reaction against British colonization. It started at the beginning of the 20th century and went through a two-stage development of pre-1914 nationalist-spurred activities and post-1920 movements rooted in the socialist thought. Organizations such as HRA, HSRA and Anushilan Samiti took refuge in bold activities such as assassinations, bombs, and propaganda. The movement gave birth to some of the legendaries such as Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad, and Surya Sen. Later forced underground, it was critical towards kick-starting a patriotic movement and rallying people in mass protests.

Key Highlights for RAS Mains

Definition & Phases

• Born in the first half of the 20 th century as revolutionary protest against the British rule it split into:
• First period (before 1914) - militant Swadeshi-flavored activism.
• Late phase (1920 and onward) - socialist/Marxist-inspired revolutionary revival.

Causes

• Early Phase:
  • British repression, division of Bengal and famines.
  • Foreign motivation (Japan-Russia war, Italy-Ethiopia).
  • Moderates and extremist failure in INC.
• Later Phase:
  • Change in ideology after the Russian revolution.
  • Disappointment in Non-Cooperation withdrawal of Gandhi.
  • Increasing student/youth protest and worker strife.

Methods

Major Movements & Events

• Abhinav Bharat (1904): set up by Savarkar brothers; was inspired by Mazzini
• Mumbai - London: the murdering of Curzon-Wyllie by Dhingra (1909)
• Nasik Conspiracy (1909): magistrate Jackson was murdered; savarkar involved
• Delhi 1912(Lahore Conspiracy): Unsuccessful attempt on Viceroy Hardinge
• Hindustan Republican Association (1924): Bismil et al founded it; transformed into HSRA with Bhagat Singh
• Kakori (1925): Train robbery at Lucknow in HRA
• Lahore Conspiracy (1927): Killing of Saunders by the group of Bhagat Singh  
• Assembly Bomb Case (1929): Bhagat Singh, and Batukeshwar Dutt propagandas  
• Bengal movements: Anushilan Samiti(1902) Yugantar, Muzaffarpur(1908), Howrah (1910), Chittagong Raid (1930)
• Foreign work: Indian Home Rule Society (1905), Ghadar Party (1913)      

Leaders

• Some notable revolutionaries: Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad, Surya Sen, Khudiram Bose, Ram Prasad Bismil, Lala Lajpat Rai, Savarkar, Rashbehari Bose and Madanlal Dhingra  

Decline

• Oppression by the British regime.
• The increasing power of Gandhi and explicit denouncement of violence.
• Arrests and widespread martyrdoms (Azad, Sen).
• Quite a number of revolutionaries moved towards becoming mainstream or left-wing parties  

Significance

• Mobilized the youth and politicized them.
• Inspired the approaches and perspectives of the subsequent mass movements.
• Brought in the socialist and Marxist ideas in the freedom struggle.
• Created enduring symbols and martyrs, bolstering national spirit  

Brief of major events

• 1904: Abhinav Bharat emanated
• 1908: Bomb attempt in Muzaffarpur
• 1924: Foundation of HRA (the HSRA)
• 1925 Kakori train robbery
• 1927: assassination of Souders-Bhagat Singh

Conclusion

The non mass based revolution brought by the revolutionary movement was stamped indelible in the history of India and the struggle to gain independence. It made immortal martyrs and it presented daring techniques of an opposition. Their martyrdom stirred up the feeling of patriotism and assisted it to determine the nationalist politics