History of armed revolution against British Rule (contd-8)

Anushilan Samiti (Bengali: অনুশীলন সমিতি "Self-Culture Association", meaning to follow the teachings of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee) was an armed anti-British organisation in Bengal and the principal secret revolutionary organisation operating in the region in the opening years of the 21st century. This association, like its offshoot the Jugantar, operated under the guise of suburban fitness club. The members were committed towards the path of armed revolution for independence of India from British rule. Kolkata and, later, Dhaka were the two major strongholds of the association. However, the group succeeded in penetrating rural Bengal and

Political activities began taking an organised form in Bengal at the beginning of the 20th century. By 1902, Calcutta had three societies working under the umbrella of Anushilan Samity, a society earlier founded by a Calcutta barrister by the name of Pramatha Mitra. These included Mitra's own group, another led by a Bengalee lady by the name of Sarala Devi, and a third one led by Aurobindo Ghosh- one of the strongest proponents of militant nationalism of the time. The Anushilan Samiti had Sri Aurobindo and Deshabandhu Chittaranjan Das as the vice-presidents, Suren Tagore the treasurer. Jatindra Nath Banerjee (Niralamba Swami), Jatindra Nath Mukherjee (Bagha Jatin), Bhupendra Nath Datta (Swami Vivekananda's brother), Barindra Ghosh younger brother of Aurobindo Ghose, were among other initial leaders. By 1906, the works of Aurobindo and his brother Barindra Ghosh allowed Anushilan Samity to spread through Bengal. The controversial 1905 partition of Bengal had a widespread political impact: it stimulated radical nationalist sentiments in the Bhadralok community in Bengal, and helped Anushilan acquire a support base amongst of educated, politically conscious and disaffected young in local youth societies of Bengal. The Dhaka branch of the Anushilan Samiti was formed by Pulin Behari Das, who was once a teacher in the Dhaka Government College and, later, a founding headmaster of 'National School' (Dhaka), along with his followers, in 1906. He, like Barindra Ghosh, believed in a highly centralised one-leader organisation. Under their leadership, respectively in Dhaka and elsewhere, in a spirit of a boastful showdown, Anushilan Samiti slowly adopted untimely terrorism programmes during the first decade of 20th century, with 1905 Partition of Bengal acting as a major catalyst. The Dhaka branch of Anushilan was led by Pulin Behari Das and spread branches through East Bengal and Assam.^[9] Aurobindo and Bipin Chandra Pal, a Bengali politician, began in 1907 the radical Bengali nationalist publication of Jugantar (Lit:Change), and its English counterpart Bande Mataram. Among the early recruits who emerged noted leaders where Rash Behari Bose, Jatindranath Mukherjee, and Jadugopal Mukherjeehad branches all over Bengal and also other parts of India.
Satish Chandra  Basu was a student of General Assembly Institution ( At present Scottish Church College). Gourhari Mukherjee established an Excercise Club for the students. Satish Chandra was one of the members of the club. He selected a place for excercise in the college compound.  As a result he secured strong hold amongst the students. That was in the year 1901. Which was ultimately converted to Anushilan Samity. The word " Anushilan" had been coined from the novel of Bankim Chandra.
In 1902, 24th March Anushilan Samity was formally inaugurated in Calcutta at a meeting presided over by Pramatha Nath Mitra. He became the first president of the organisation.'
In 21 Madan Mitra Lane, there was an Excercise Club of the Samity and its office was in a house near its excercise club. In 1905, office was shifted to 49 Cornwllis Street, Calcutta.  

History of armed revolution against British Rule (contd-7)

Swami Vivekananda had strong influence on the youths of India at the end of the nineteenth Century. In Chicago and in Western countries Vivekananda acted as an ambassador of India to propagate India's cause of future. His speeches in different parts of India roused the youths to uplift their humanity and to stand against all ills. Vivekananda had thrown a new idea about the development human society.  

Several leaders of 20th Century India and philosophers have acknowledged Vivekananda's influence. The first governor general of independent India, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, said "Vivekananda saved Hinduism, saved India." According to Subhash Chandra Bose, Vivekananda "is the maker of modern India"^[135] and for Mohandas Gandhi, Vivekananda's influence increased his "love for his country a thousandfold." National Youth Day in India is held on his birthday, January 12.
Swami Vivekananda is widely considered to have inspired India's freedom struggle movement. His writings inspired a whole generation of freedom fighters including Subhash Chandra Bose, Aurobindo Ghose and Bagha Jatin.Vivekananda was the brother of the revolutionary freedom fighter, Bhupendranath Dutta. Subhash Chandra Bose, one of the most prominent figures in Indian independence movement said

“

I cannot write about Vivekananda without going into raptures. Few indeed could comprehend or fathom him even among those who had the privilege of becoming intimate with him. His personality was rich, profound and complex... Reckless in his sacrifice, unceasing in his activity, boundless in his love, profound and versatile in his wisdom, exuberant in his emotions, merciless in his attacks but yet simple as a child, he was a rare personality in this world of ours

”

Aurobindo Ghose considered Vivekananda as his spiritual mentor.

“

Vivekananda was a soul of puissance if ever there was one, a very lion among men, but the definitive work he has left behind is quite incommensurate with our impression of his creative might and energy. We perceive his influence still working gigantically, we know not well how, we know not well where, in something that is not yet formed, something leonine, grand, intuitive, upheaving that has entered the soul of India and we say, "Behold, Vivekananda still lives in the soul of his Mother and in the souls of her children Anandamath (Bangla: আনন্দমঠ Anondomôţh. First English publication title: The Abbey of Bliss) is a Bengali novel, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterji and published in 1882. Set in the background of the Sannyasi Rebellion in the late 18th century, it is considered one of the most important novels in the history of Bengali and Indian literature. Its importance is heightened by the fact that it became synonymous with the struggle for Indian independence from the British Empire. The novel was banned by the British. The ban was lifted later by the Government of India after independence. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (Bengali: বঙ্কিমচন্দ্র চট্টোপাধ্যায় Bôngkim Chôndro Chôţţopaddhae) (27 June 1838  – 8 April 1894) was a famous Bengali writer, poet and journalist. He was the composer of India’s national song Vande Mataram, originally a Bengali and Sanskrit stotra personifying India as a mother goddess and inspiring the activists during the Indian Freedom Movement. Bankim Chandra wrote 13 novels and several ‘serious, serio-comic, satirical, scientific and critical treaties’ in Bengali. His works were widely translated into other regional languages of India as well as in English. Bankim Chandra was born to an orthodox Brahmin family at Kanthalpara, North 24 Parganas. He was educated at Hoogly College and Presidency College, Calcutta. He was one of the first graduates of the University of Calcutta. From 1858, until his retirement in 1891, he served as a deputy magistrate and deputy collector in the Government of British India. Bankim Chandra is widely regarded as a key figure in literary renaissance of Bengal as well as India. He is still held to be one of the timeless and brightest figures of not only Bengal, but also of the entire literati of India. Some of his writings, including novels, essays and commentaries, were a breakaway from traditional verse-oriented Indian writings, and provided an inspiration for authors across India. When Bipin Chandra Pal decided to start a patriotic journal in August 1906, he named it Vande Mataram, after Bankim Chandra's song. Lala Lajpat Rai also published a journal of the same name

Haindava Keralam - global community of dedicated Hindu Keralites with a peace mission

Haindava Keralam - global community of dedicated Hindu Keralites with a peace mission

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar-part-1/19

History of armed revolution against British Rule (contd-6)

On his return to India in 1893, he joined the service of the Baroda Estate. The period of stay in Baroda, from 1894 to 1896, was significant in several ways for Sri Aurobindo. It was here that he started working for India's Freedom, behind the scenes.He perceived the need for broadening the bse of the  movement and for creating a mass awakening.He went to Bengal and Madhyapradesh, contacted the secret groups working in this directiom, and became a link between many of them. He established close contact with Lokmanya Tilak and Sister Nivedita. He arranged for the military training of Jatin Banerjee ( Bagha Jatin) in the Baroda army and then sent him to organise the revolutionary work in Bengal.
He was stirred by the writings of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and became an advocate of violent revolution against the British rule. His planning  of secret societies of in Maharashtra and Bengal created a terror among the British officers. He started a daily "Jugantar".
Aurobindo joined Bipin Chandra Pal in running another daily  "Vandemataram" This reflected his edeas of revolutionary activities in the editorials of Vandemataram and "Karmayog".
In Puna, he became the President of the secret organisation founded by Thakur Saheb.The members of the Secret organisation of Maharashtra used to go to different places of Bombay, Puna,  Berar and Madhyapradesh to report about the different revolutions and to organise different revolutionary groups.In Wardah, "Aryabandhab Samaj was the main centre of revolutionary activities. Tilak was one of the leaders of this organisation.This organisation had influence on the whole of Maharashtra state. In the state of Nizam the revolutionary activities was also spread. Sadasib Nilkantha Joshi ( Baba Saheb) had important role in the organisation.
At the same time, revolutionary organisation also developed in Maharashtra. In 1872, Vasudeo Balwant Phadke, a Marathi Brahmin, devoted himself for the cause of mother land and formed a secret organisation..but he was arrested in 1879 and acquitted for revolutionary activities against the King and executed for life imprisonment. He died in the jail being attacked in TB on 17th Feb 1883. He organised low caste ordinary men . After his death, in 1895, the two brothers of Chapekar ( damodar and Balkrishna). In 1897, the two brothers killed a high British official and were hanged by the British. Their sacrifice inspired the revolutionries of Maharashtra.

 Vasudeo Balwant Phadke  (4 November 1845 – 17 February 1883) was an Indian revolutionary and is widely regarded as the father of the armed struggle for India's independence. Phadke was moved by the plight of the farmer community during British Raj. Phadke believed that ‘Swaraj’ was the only remedy for their ills. With the help of Kolis, Bhils and Dhangars communities in Maharastra, Vasudev formed a revolutionary group called as Ramoshi. The group started an armed struggle to overthrow the British Raj. The group launched raids on rich English businessmen to obtain funds for their liberation struggle. Phadke came into limelight when he got control of the city of Pune for a few days when he caught the British soldiers off guard during one of his surprise attacks  

The Chapekar brothers alternatively spelt as Caphekar or Chaphekar (Marathi चाफेकर), Damodar Hari, Balkrishna Hari (also called Bapurao) and Vasudeo Hari (also spelt Wasudeva or Wasudev) belonged to Chinchwad, then a village, near the former Peshwa capital Pune, in the state of Maharashtra, India.
In late 1896, Pune was hit by bubonic plague; by the end of February 1897, the epidemic was raging, with a mortality rate twice the norm, and half the city's population having left.
A Special Plague Committee was formed, under the chairmanship of W. C. Rand, an Indian Civil Services officer, and troops were brought in to deal with the emergency. The measures employed included forced entry into private houses, examination of occupants, evacuation to hospitals and segregation camps, removing and destroying personal possessions, and preventing plague cases from entering or leaving the city. By the end of May, the epidemic was under control.
On 22 June 1897, the Diamond Jubilee of the coronation of Queen Victoria, Rand, the Special Plague Committee chairman and his military escort Lt. Ayerst were shot while returning from the celebrations at Government House. Both died, Ayerst on the spot and Rand of his wounds on 3 July. The Chapekar brothers and two accomplices were charged with the murders in various roles, as well as the shooting of two informants and an attempt to shoot a police officer. All three brothers were found guilty and hanged, an accomplice was dealt with similarly, another, then a schoolboy, was sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment.

This action of Chaphekar brothers was the first reaction of Indian revolutionaries against British atrocities in India during plague epidemic and was first political murder in Indian freedom struggle

History of armed revolution against British Rule (contd-5)

The revolutionary movement for the independence of a country is often less-highlighted aspect of the Indian Independence movement -- movement of the underground revolutionary factions. The groups believing in armed revolution against the ruling British fall into this category.
The revolutionary groups were mainly concentrated in Bengal, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, Orissa, Bihar, Uttarpradesh and Punjab.
There are two theories of the Independence Movements of a country against the ruling class. One of which is, i) maximum sacrifice by the minimum number of persons, and the other, ii) minimum sacrifice by the maximum number of persons of a country. The first one is obviously armed revolution.
In Bengal :
Rajnarayan Basu , in 1861, developed the idea of revolution within the minds of the youth of Bengal. Rajnarayan Basu was the the grandfather of the famous revolutionary Aurabindo Ghose. He became the president of the first secret revolutionary organisation, Sanjibani Sabha of which Jyotirindranath Tagore was the main organiser. Rabindranath Tagore was the youngset member of the organisation. The founders of this organisation were inspired from the activities of the revolutionaries of Italy, specially Mazzini and Russia. Indian revolutionaries were also inspired by the revolutionaries of Ireland.The articles published in the monthly magazine, "Aryadarshan" edited by Jogendranath Vidyabhushan in 1874 was also the source of inspiration of the youth revolutionaries.
With the death of his mother in 1875, Rabindranath passed into the guardianship of Jyotirindranath and his wife Kadambari Devi (1858-84)-both of whom, more than any others, helped his adolescent aspirations come into full flowering. This was the time when he was enrolled as the junior-most member of a short-lived secret society modelled after Mazzini’s Carbonari and named Sanjivani Sabha, of which Rajnarain Bose was the President.

Hence, under the leadership of Jyotirindranath and Rajnarayan Basu,   Sanjibani Sabha, a secret revolutionary one, was formed in Tagore's house. The sittings were held in a tumble down building in an obscure Calcutta lane. Its proceedings were shrouded in mystery. In fact, there was nothing in their deliberations or doings of which Govt or people needed to be afraid. Even Rabindranath became a member. Rabindranath wrote a song for this organisation, "Eksutre Bnadhiyavhi Sahasrati Jiban".

History of armed Revolution against British rule (contd-4)

Wahhabi Movement:

The Wahabi movement was a part of freedom struggle of India as it offered a serious threat to British supremacy in the 19th century. Ir lasted for quite a large period.The movement was led by one of the ex-military commander of Holkar named Syed Ahmed Barelbi (1786-1831) who was greatly influenced by the teaching of Abdul Wahab of Arabia.and the preaching of Delhi saint Wallulah He lodged war against those coming from other countries and occupied their motherland.The farmers of Bengal Bihar and artisans of the cities and small business man came forward at his response. They also wanted to establish the social justice within the country.. After being driven out of Bihar they gathered in tribal areas of Pashtoons. There Syed Ahmed lost his life in the fight between Sikh and Wahhabi. In 1831, 3-4 thousand armed Wahhabi occupied a small city at Barasat and proceeded to Calcutta . But the gatherings was dispersed after stiff fighting.The movement was mainly concentrated in Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai..

Pharaji movement was a branch of Wahabi Movement whose leader was Hazi Sariyat.This was a farmers movement of medieval era. In 1852 these movements got wide support from the army. The British took up brutal measures during the period 1863-1865

Vasudeo Balwant Phadke (Marathi: वासुदेव बळवंत फडके  pronunciation (help·info)) (4 November 1845 – 17 February 1883) was an Indian revolutionary and is widely regarded as the father of the armed struggle for India's independence. Phadke was moved by the plight of the farmer community during British Raj. Phadke believed that ‘Swaraj’ was the only remedy for their ills. With the help of Kolis, Bhils and Dhangars communities in Maharastra, Vasudev formed a revolutionary group called as Ramoshi. The group started an armed struggle to overthrow the British Raj. The group launched raids on rich English businessmen to obtain funds for their liberation struggle. Phadke came into limelight when he got control of the city of Pune for a few days when he caught the British soldiers off guard during one of his surprise attacks.

Historian Dr. Amalendu De , recently wrote a long essay titled , " Role of revolutionary movement in the early years of the struggle of Indian Independence". In this essay he mentioned struggle of Vasudeo Balawant Phadke.