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An
account of the armed struggle and resistance to the British Government,
by various Indian revolutionaries is presented here. Although unorganized
and a little sporadic, the individual armed efforts could convey the
rulers that all was not well. Indian revolutionaries range from the
simplest of the tribals to the most elite educated class.
The history of armed revolutionaries or such attempts unfolds
itself in India, throughout various states and also in other parts of
the world like France, U.S., Great Britain itself and Germany etc..
Japan and the far east also have their contributions to offer on this
regard.
Revolutionary activities before the 1st world war, in
most of the cases have their origin linked to the 'Swadeshi' movement.
In Bengal some of the youths, started 'Anushilan Samiti- a revolutionary
organisation. A great revolutionary later turned to spirituality, Sir
Auribindo Ghosh was
leading this movement. To their credit, the members for the first time
were sent, for training of bomb making. This organisation had an impact
on whole of India, and was an inspiration for the Indian youth. Apart
from organised activity during the years, 1907-1917, Bengal saw a great
deal of armed dacoities of government revenues,12 bomb outrages, and
3 attempts to wreck trains. Official records give details of 110 decoities
involving seven hundred thousand rupees. Several pistols, arms, and
ammunition arrived in Bengal, & rest of the India, through smuggling
organisations, patriotic merchant navy sailors.
During the same time Bihar & Orissa, also Punjab province could
witness a history of armed resistance. In particular Maharashtra state
has played a significant role. Along with usual killings, decoities
of government revenues, train wrecks and bomb outrages, it produced
a leadership capable of guiding the armed movement with foresighted
vision, better planning, crossing international boundaries. This was
an organisation called 'Abhinav Bharat' initiated by V.
D. Savarkar the
heart throb of Hindus. After starting this activity he proceeded to
London in 1906 and spear headed the activities from there. He along
with Shamaji Krishna Verma and Madam Kama, brought the British imperialism
on the international dias.
A
mention of Gadar Pary operating in U.S.A., in this regard would be worth
mentioning-their activities is enlisted in detail elsewhere. During
the first world war and even before the German government an embassy
had declared a support to the attempts of India for independence.
After
the first world war the armed struggle assumed a new dimension with
emergence of Hindustan Socialist Republican Army. Disciples of early
revolutionaries like, Ramprasad Bismli, who were educated young fellow,
from north India and Maharashtra took leadership. This included Chandrashekhar
Azad,
Bhagat
Singh, Bhagvaticharan Vora, Sukhdev, Rajaguru, Batukeshwar Datta. This
better planning & tightly wielded organisation fetched them better
results and they could rock the British Empire, although with the sacrifice
of their lives for mother India.
An
unparalleled example of the declaration of Independent Indian government
with a cabinet & its own army is seen in form of the Indian
National Army.
Whose founder was Subhash Chanda Bose.- Netaji as he was popularly known.
It literally had a military attack on British India & had confronted
them till Imphal. With the help from Germany & active support from
Japan, they shook the very foundation of the British Empire. The saga
of their valor is chronicled separately, under the head Indian
National Army.
The
real sons of the soil-the
tribal revolutionaries of
India distributed from far east to Andamans throughout the Indian subcontinent
also waged many mini-wars against the British rule.
In
no case the sole credit of achieving independence, goes to the non-violent
& peaceful way of Indian National Congress. A great deal of it has
come from the warring factions, the revolutionaries, the martyrs, Indian
National Army & mutiny of the British Naval soldiers.
©
2001 vandemataram.com All rights reserved.
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