1. Concept, Methodology and Ideology of Extremist.

 The rise of the Extremist movement in India during the early 20th century marked a
significant turning point in the country's struggle for independence. The Extremists, led by fiery
and passionate leaders, sought more assertive and radical means to challenge British colonial
rule. Their approach stood in contrast to the earlier Moderate phase of the Indian National
Congress. Let’s explore the emergence of the Extremist movement, its key leaders, aims and
objectives that defined this crucial period in India's fight for freedom.

The rise of extremism on the Indian political scene was not sudden. In fact it had been
growing steadily since the uprising of 1857. The extremist idea of ‘Swadharma’ and
‘Swaraj’ were prominent in INC. The prominent leaders of Extremist thoughts were Lala
Lajpat Rai (punjab), Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Maharashtra) and Bipin Chandra Pal (Bengal).
Together the above leaders were referred to as the Lal-Bal-Pal triumvirate of assertive
nationalists. Along with them Aurobindo Ghosh, Rajnarayan Bose, and Ashwini Kumar
Dutt are also the member of extremist thought.

 Lala Lajpat Rai Known as the Lion of Punjab. He found the National School at Lahore
under the influence of Arya Samaj
 Bal Gangadhar Tilak, was also known as Lokamanya Tilak. He found the Deccan
Education Society and was the co-founder of Fergusson College. He gave the slogan,
”Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it” Kesari(Hindi) and Mahratta(English) were the
newspapers started by him. He started the All India Home Rule League in 1916
 Bipin Chandra Pal was also known as the father of revolutionary thoughts in India.

The ‘peaceful’ methods used by the moderate leaders were not effective in making the
British Government accept their demands.
As a result a number of politically conscious people became frustrated and disillusioned.
At the end of the 19th century, a strong feeling arose among the people that more
radical political action was needed to force the British to accept popular demands.

Various international events also gave impetus to the growth of extremism in India.
Revolutionary movements in Ireland, Russia, Egypt, Turkey, China and the Boer War in
South Africa made the Indian leaders aware that the British rule could only be
challenged by putting a united stand against it
The defeat of the Italian Army by the Ethiopians in 1896, and the Russian Army by the
Japanese in 1905, showed that the Europeans were not invincible.
All these instilled a sense of self-respect and self-confidence in the Indian Nationalists.
A very prominent event happened during this time, which was the partition of Bengal in
1905. Their radical ideology and programme became popular during the movement
against Partition of Bengal, also known as the ‘Swadeshi Movement’.

 Ideologies and Methodologies of Extremist:

Unlike moderates, the extremist leaders neither believed in the goodness of the British
rule nor in their sense of justice and fair play.
Since exploitation of India was the chief motive of the British, the extremists did not
expect them to take a sympathetic view of the popular demands of the Indian people.
 Therefore, it was necessary to use pressure to make them accept the demands, not by
petitioning or praying like the moderates, but by openly agitating against them
The Extremist programme involved the following activities:
1. ‘Boycott’ of foreign goods and promotion of ‘Swadeshi’ goods to give impetus to the
growth of indigenous industry and commerce.
2. Non-cooperation with the bureaucracy; this included ‘boycott’ of governmental
activities.
3. Establishment of schools and colleges that gave education in the Indian languages and
instil in the students pride for the glorious heritage of India, make the students
nationalistic and public spirited in character and knowledgeable, self-reliant and
independent in spirit
4. ‘Passive Resistance’ to British rule by non-payment of revenue and taxes and by
organising separate ‘indigenous administrative institutions’ parallel to those of the
British at the level of villages, talukas and districts
5. Public meetings and processions emerged as major methods of mass mobilisation.
Simultaneously they were forms of popular expression
6. The swadeshi spirit also found expression in the establishment of swadeshi textile mills,
soap and tanneries, banks, insurance companies, shops, etc. These enterprises were
based more on patriotic zeal
7. Further, The Extremist leaders disfavored the use of violence against British rule and did
not approve the methods of political murder and assassination used by the Indian
revolutionaries.
8. However, they did take a sympathetic view of the activities of the revolutionaries.

In Conclusion, the Extremists in India's struggle for freedom took a more forceful
approach, with leaders like Lal-Bal-Pal leading the way. They believed in using mass
protests and not obeying unfair laws to push for independence, making the movement
more dynamic. Their collaboration with the Moderates, who had a more peaceful
approach, helped India gain independence in 1947, showing their determination in the
face of British rule.

2. Bal Gangadhar Tilak

 Bal Gangadhar Tilak, born in 1856 in Maharashtra, was a prominent Indian freedom fighter,
scholar, and journalist. He earned the title "The Father of Indian Unrest" for his fearless
advocacy of Indian rights, through his newspaper "Kesari." Tilak's call for Swaraj (self-rule) and
his famous slogan, "Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it," inspired mass mobilization and
civil disobedience in the Indian freedom movement. He also championed social and cultural
causes, promoting unity through Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Tilak's legacy endures as a
symbol of unwavering commitment to India's independence and societal betterment.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak, born as Keshav Gangadhar Tilak in 1856 in Ratnagiri, which is in modern-
day Maharashtra, hailed from a middle-class Hindu family. He earned a bachelor's degree from
Pune and began his career as a mathematics teacher. However, he later transitioned into
journalism and actively joined India's freedom movement.

Tilak was also one of the founders of Fergusson College in Pune, where he made significant
contributions to education. He passed away in 1920 at the age of 64, leaving behind a
remarkable legacy as a freedom fighter, scholar, and journalist who played an important role in
India's journey towards independence.

 The Political Life of Bal Gangadhar Tilak:

Bal Gangadhar Tilak's life was characterized by an unwavering commitment to India's struggle
for independence. He made his entry into the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1890, marking
the beginning of his political journey. Tilak adopted a radical and aggressive stance, in stark
contrast to the moderate approach advocated by some leaders. He was one of the earliest
proponents of "Swaraj," firmly believing that India's progress could only be achieved through
self-governance.

As a prominent leader within the Extremist faction of the INC, Tilak actively supported boycotts
and the Swadeshi movement to challenge British rule. His fearless journalism through
newspapers like "Kesari" (in Marathi) and "Mahratta" (in English) became a powerful tool to
criticize the British government and rally the masses.

Tilak's unwavering dedication led him to face legal battles, including an 18-month prison
sentence on charges of Sedition. He defended those who retaliated against oppressive British
measures during the bubonic plague episode in Bombay.

Notably, Tilak was part of the 'Lal-Bal-Pal' trio of extremist leaders, alongside Bipin Chandra Pal
and Lala Lajpat Rai. He faced several sedition trials and even spent six years in Mandalay prison
from 1908 to 1914. In 1916, Tilak re-joined the INC after a previous split, emphasizing his
enduring commitment to the cause.

Tilak's influence extended beyond politics; he drew heavily from ancient Hindu scriptures for his
political ideology, encouraging pride in India's rich heritage and traditions. His efforts included
transforming private Ganesh Puja into a public festival, using celebrations like Ganesh Chaturthi
and Shiv Jayanti to foster unity and a national spirit among the people, although this approach
somewhat alienated non-Hindus.

One of his most enduring contributions was the popularization of the "Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav"
(public Ganesh festival) since 1894, which remains one of Maharashtra's most significant cultural
celebrations, underlining the lasting impact of his legacy.

 Opinions of Bal Gangadhar Tilak on Society:

Despite being a nationalist radical leader, Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s social views were conservative.
He was against Hindu women getting modern education.

He was opposed to the age of consent bill initially in which the age of marriage of girls was
proposed to be raised from 10 to 12. Even though he was okay with this raising of age, he saw
this act as interference in the social and religious life of Indians by the British.

In conclusion, Bal Gangadhar Tilak's life stands as a testament to persivering dedication to India's
struggle for independence. His radical stance, advocacy of Swaraj, and fearless journalism left an
indelible mark on the fight against British rule. Despite legal battles and imprisonments, Tilak's
influence extended beyond politics, promoting pride in India's heritage and cultural unity.

3. Revolutionary Movements
 The Revolutionary Phase in the Indian National Movement was characterized by a militant
form of nationalism. This phase can be divided into two periods. The first phase of Revolutionary
nationalism emerged as a consequence of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement and extended
until 1917. The second phase, which began as a result of the Non-Cooperation Movement,
followed.

Revolutionary nationalists were committed to individual sacrifice and employed various

methods, including the assassination of unpopular officials, swadeshi dacoities (robberies for
nationalist causes), and military conspiracies. Their goal was to strike fear into the
authorities while simultaneously instilling a sense of fearlessness among the general
population. Through their patriotic actions, they aimed to inspire the nation's youth and the
wider populace. There were three major regions of Revolutionary movements they
wereMaharashtra, Punjab and Bengal.

Factors caused rise of Revolutionary Nationalism:

The rise of revolutionary attitudes among Indian nationalists was driven by several key factors.
First, oppressive economic policies and the controversial Partition of Bengal played a significant
role in fueling discontent and resistance. Secondly, the inability of both Moderate and Extremist
leaders to achieve tangible progress in favor of Indians eroded the trust of young nationalists in
their methods and leadership. Many began to lose faith in parliamentary and constructive work,
believing that violent means were the only path to Indian freedom.

Furthermore, the absence of effective organization and innovative political strategies to channel
these revolutionary impulses, coupled with international influences like the Russian Revolution
of 1917, contributed to the growth of revolutionary activity in India. Along with that the political,
economic and social policies of the British are also exploitative which enlarged the fury among
the Indians. The emergence of a more self-confident and politically conscious generation of
young nationalists who rejected the notion of the "White Man's Burden" ultimately played a
vital role in shaping the revolutionary phase of India's struggle for independence.

A) Maharashtra:

I) Vasudev Balwant Phadke:

Vasudev Phadke was born into a Hindu Brahmin family in Shirdhon village, in Raigad
district in present-day Maharashtra. He graduated from Bombay University in 1862,
worked at government institutions in Mumbai. He later moved to Pune and worked
as a clerk in the Military Finance Office. He was inspired by the work of M.G Ranade.
Vasudev Balwant Phadke was deeply moved by the suffering of farmers during the
1876-77 famines in Maharashtra under British rule. He believed that the only
solution was to free India from British control and became an early advocate of
Swaraj, or self-rule.
Even though his calls for rebellion and inspiring speeches in Pune didn't get the
response he wanted, he chose to begin a secret revolution. He formed an army of
revolutionaries from different castes, including Koli, Bhil, Dhangar and kunbis
communities in Maharashtra. This revolutionary army, established in February 1879,
was one of the first in India. Phadke criticized British economic policies in a
proclamation and sent it to government officers, including the Governor. To fund
their military efforts, Phadke and his men looted British establishments, leading to a
 bounty on his head. He had to seek refuge in Andhra Pradesh, attempting to
organize a new rebellion with the help of Rohillas, Arabs, and Sikhs from the Nizam's
army. Unfortunately, he was betrayed, arrested in July 1879, and tried in Pune.
Phadke was then transported to Aden (Yemen) for a life sentence, where he
contracted tuberculosis and passed away on February 17, 1883, at the age of 37.

II) zVinayak Damodar Savarkar:

He was born in 1883 in Nashik's Deolali district, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a
staunch nationalist. In 1899, he co-founded 'Mitra Mela' with his colleagues,
including Ganesh Damodar Savarkar, to create a secret organization aimed at uniting
people and disseminating revolutionary literature. In 1904, along with his brother,
he initiated 'Abhinav Bharat' with the objective of achieving independence from
British rule and mobilizing the masses.
In 1906, he left for London, where he openly discussed revolutionary activities and
authored significant works like “The Indian War of Independence 1857”. However, in
1910, he was arrested in London and imprisoned in the Andaman Jail. Upon his
release in 1924, Savarkar shifted his focus towards religious matters and played a
leadership role in the Hindu Mahasabha. He died on 26th February 1966 due to
fasting on his own wish of death.

III) Chapekar Brothers:

On 22 June 1897, Brothers Damodar Hari Chapekar and Balkrishna Hari Chapekar
assassinated British official W. C. Rand and his military escort Lieutenant Ayerst at
Pune, Maharashtra. This was the first case of militant nationalism in India after the
1857 Revolt.
This act was prompted by the oppressive measures taken during a devastating
plague outbreak. The government's Special Plague Committee, led by W. C. Rand,
ignored people's religious sentiments and used forceful tactics, employing soldiers
instead of medical professionals to implement containment measures. Reports of
property damage and restrictions on funeral rites fueled public resentment.

To sum it up, the revolutionary spirit in Maharashtra, shown by people like Phadke,
the Chapekar brothers, and V.D. Savarkar, played a crucial role in India's struggle for
independence. Their strong dedication, actions, and sacrifices became a powerful
symbol of resistance against the British. These brave individuals made a lasting
impact on the fight for self-rule and are remembered for their unwavering
determination in the face of colonial rule.
B) Bengal:

The Partition of Bengal in 1905, a controversial decision by the British colonial government,
led to widespread protests and discontent in India. This discontent found expression in
various forms, including the emergence of revolutionary societies and secret organizations,
collectively known as "Samiti," in Bengal. One of the earliest and most prominent
revolutionary organizations to arise during this period was the Anushilan Samiti.

Anushilan Samiti:
 The Anushilan Samiti was a revolutionary group with key leaders such as Barindra Kumar
Ghosh and Aurobindo Ghosh. To propagate their revolutionary ideas, they published
numerous writings in their periodicals, "Jugantar" and "Sandhya." The British authorities
viewed these publications as a direct challenge to their rule.

The activities of the Anushilan Samiti were considered a significant threat to British
authority. Members of the Samiti often engaged in daring actions against the British,
including attacking British banks, offices, and treasuries. Some members even traveled
abroad to acquire training in explosives and then returned to train others in the
organisation.

One notorious incident involved revolutionaries Kunjiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki, who
attempted to assassinate Judge Kingsford. Unfortunately, the attack resulted in the
accidental deaths of two English women. This event is known as the Muzaffarpur Conspiracy
Case and occurred on August 11, 1908. For this contempt Kundiram Bose was hanged on 11
August 1908 and Prafulla Chaki shoot himself at the spot on 1 May 1908.

In the aftermath of the Muzaffarpur Conspiracy Case, many members of the Anushilan
Samiti went underground, as the British authorities intensified their crackdown on
revolutionary activities. The authorities arrested 34 individuals associated with the
organization, including the Ghosh brothers.

Notably, one member of the Anushilan Samiti, Narendra Nath Goswami, decided to
collaborate with the British authorities against his own associates. However, his cooperation
came to a tragic end when he was killed in his prison cell. This event is known as the Alipore
Conspiracy Case, which highlighted the intense conflict between Indian nationalists and the
British colonial rulers during this period.

The Anushilan Samiti and similar organizations played a pivotal role in India's struggle for
independence and significantly contributed to the growing momentum against British
colonial rule.

C) North India Revolution:

The Kakori Conspiracy, implemented by members of the Hindustan Republican Association

(later renamed the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association), aimed to achieve two main
objectives:
 Gain funds for the organization by forcefully taking money from the British
Administration.
 Foster a positive image of the organization among Indians by targeting a high-profile
British government entity with minimal collateral damage.

The robbery was planned by leaders like Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan and
executed by a group of revolutionaries, including Bismil, Khan, Chandrashekhar Azad,
Rajendra Lahiri, Shachindra Bakshi, Keshab Chakravarty, Murari Lal Khanna (Gupta), Banwari
Lal, Mukundi Lal Gupta, and Manmathnath Gupta. Their target was the guard cabin, which
held money collected from various railway stations for deposit in Lucknow. Unfortunately,
one passenger named Ahmed Ali lost his life in the crossfire, leading to a manslaughter case.

Key Events:

 August 8, 1925: The decision to rob the government treasury to purchase arms was
made at an HRA meeting.
 August 9, 1925: Revolutionaries intercepted the Number 8 down train near Kakori,
looting Rs. 8000 from the guard cabin.
 September 26, 1925: Ram Prasad Bismil was arrested by colonial authorities.

In mid-1926, Ashfaqulla Khan and Shachindra Bakshi were arrested after the trial's
conclusion.
After the incident, the revolutionaries fled to Lucknow. According to official records, 40
people were arrested during the trial. Chandrashekhar Azad who could not be captured
reorganized the HRA and ran the organization till 1931. He shot himself after being
grievously injured and down to his last bullet at Chandrashekhar Azad Park (then known as
Alfred Park) in a shootout with the police on 27 February 1931.

 Hindustan Socialist Republican Association:

Formation of HSRA Bismil drafted the HRA's constitution in 1923 with support
from Lala Har Dayal. Other notable members included Sachindra Nath Sanyal and
Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee from the Anushilan Samiti. The HRA established centers
in various cities and had bomb manufacturing units in Calcutta and Deogarh. They
circulated a manifesto written by Sanyal, encouraging youth to join and engage in
the freedom struggle, criticizing Gandhi's methods. Their goal was to create a
'Federal Republic of the United States of India' after ending British rule, with
universal suffrage and a focus on socialism. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and
Chandrasekhar Azad joined the party in 1924-25.

Activities of HSRA  The organization carried out numerous robberies and raids to
raise funds for acquiring arms and ammunition. One of the most well-known
incidents was the Kakori conspiracy on August 9, 1925, when party members looted
a train carrying government funds near Lucknow. Tragically, an innocent passenger
was killed during the operation. Those involved included Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan,
Rajendra Lahiri, and Thakur Roshan Singh, all of whom were eventually hanged by
the government in 1927.

Chandrasekhar Azad, although involved, managed to evade arrest. In 1928, the party
changed its name to the Hindustan Republican Socialist Association (HSRA), largely
due to Bhagat Singh's insistence. The arrival of the Simon Commission in India in
1928, led to widespread condemnation and protests.

National leader Lala Lajpat Rai's in severe lathi charge ordered by British officer
James A Scott resulted in Rai's death a few days later, infuriating many
revolutionaries who vowed to avenge him. Bhagat Singh and Rajguru mistakenly
shot police officer John Saunders in an attempt to target Scott but claimed that they
had achieved their revenge.

The next significant activity of the HSRA was the Central Assembly bombing in Delhi
on April 8, 1929, by Bhagat Singh and BK Dutt, aiming to draw attention without
causing harm. Subsequently, both were sentenced to 'transportation for life,' and
the Saunders murder case was linked to Bhagat Singh, leading to his execution in
1931, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev.

In 1929, the HSRA also bombed a train carrying Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India, who
remained unharmed. Azad met his end in a police shootout in Allahabad in 1931. By
1931, most party leaders had been killed or imprisoned, leading to the party's
disintegration due to a lack of leadership.