The abrupt withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement disillusioned many; they began to question the fundamental strategy of nationalist leadership. Because they were not drawn to the Swarajists' parliamentary work or the No-changers' patient, undramatic, constructive work, these younger nationalists were drawn to the idea that only violent methods could free India. As a result, revolutionary terrorism was resurrected. In this article, we will discuss the Revolutionary Activities During the 1920s which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Revolutionary Activities During 1920s - Background

• Frustration over the failure of the political struggle in the early twentieth century, as well as government repression, led to the rise of revolutionary terrorism.
• The revolutionary terrorists believed that passive resistance could not achieve nationalist goals, so they adopted the bomb cult.
• During the First World War, revolutionary terrorists were subjected to harsh repressive measures, and their movement suffered a setback.
• The majority of them were released from prisons in late 1919 and early 1920s, as the government sought to create a favourable environment for the Montagu reforms. In 1920, the Non-Cooperation Movement was founded.
• Many of the revolutionary terrorist leaders were met by Mahatma Gandhi and C.R. Das, who urged them to join the nonviolent mass movement or, at the very least, to halt their activities.
• The revolutionaries recognised that the country had entered a new political era. Many of the leaders attended the National Congress session in Nagpur and joined the Congress.
• The abrupt suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement in early 1922 following the Chauri-Chaura incident caused a wave of disappointment and discontent among the movement's young participants.
• Many of them became disillusioned with Gandhi's leadership and embarked on a very simple strategy of nonviolent struggle. They returned to the idea of a violent overthrow of British rule.
• In this regard, they were also inspired by revolutionary movements and uprisings in Russia, Ireland, Turkey, Egypt, and China.
• While the old revolutionary leaders resurrected their organisations, a slew of new revolutionary terrorist leaders emerged from the ranks of eager non-cooperators.

Revolutionary Activities in Punjab, UP, Bihar

• The Hindustan Republican Association/Army, or HRA, dominated revolutionary activity in this region.
• Ramprasad Bismil, Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee, and Sachin Sanyal founded the HRA in Kanpur in October 1924.
• Its goal was to organise an armed revolution to destabilise the colonial government.
• And in its place, establish a Federal Republic of the United States of India, the basic principle of which would be adult franchise.
• Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, or HSRA, was later renamed.

Hindustan Republican Association (1924)

• The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) was a revolutionary party founded by Ram Prasad Bismil and his associates to fight British colonial rule in India and, if necessary, achieve independence for the country through an armed rebellion.
• The main impetus for the formation of the party was Mahatma Gandhi's decision to call off the non-cooperation movement in 1922 as a result of the Chauri Chaura incident.
• While some leaders of the Indian National Congress split off to form the Swaraj Party, some of the younger nationalists and workers became disillusioned with the idea of nonviolence and looked to revolutionary movements to achieve freedom.
• Bismil had spoken out against Gandhi at the INC's Gaya session in 1922.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Hindustan Republican Association(1924)

Yugantar

• The Yugantar (Jugantar) Party was colonial Bengal's most powerful revolutionary terrorist organisation.
• Barindra Kumar Ghosh established Yugantar (also known as Jugantar). He was Aurobindo's younger brother and a revolutionary and journalist in India.
• In April 1906, an inner circle of the Calcutta anushilan samiti led by Barindrakumar Ghosh and Bhupendranath Datta (with Aurobindo Ghosh's advice) launched the weekly Jugantar (New Era).
• The organisation is named after the Jugantar, the militant nationalists' mouthpiece.
• Barindra vowed to free India from British colonial rule through religious inspiration tempered by acts of violence, justifying Ksatriya murders in the name of human happiness.
• He launched a ferocious anti-Partition movement with revolutionary zeal.
• He and his twenty-one followers gathered weapons and explosives and built bombs, laying the groundwork for the Jugantar terrorist organisation.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Yugantar - Revolutionary Activity During 1920s

Kakori Robbery (1925)

• The Kakori train robbery was the HRA's most significant action.
• The men boarded the 8-Down train in Kakori, a remote village near Lucknow, and stole the train's official railway cash.
• Many people were arrested as a result of the government's response to the Kakori robbery.
• 17 were imprisoned, four were sentenced to life in prison, and four were hanged: Bismil, Ashfaqullah, Roshan Singh, and Rajendra Lahiri.
• As a result, Kakori proved to be a setback.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Kakori Robbery (1925)

Murder of Saunders (Lahore, December 1928)

• Just as the HSRA revolutionaries were beginning to shift away from individual heroic action, the death of Sher-i-Punjab Lala Lajpat Rai as a result of lathi blows received during a lathi-charge on an anti-Simon Commission procession (October 1928) prompted them to return to individual assassination.
• Saunders, the police official responsible for the Lahore lathicharge, was shot dead by Bhagat Singh, Azad, and Rajguru.
• They had misidentified Saunders as Superintendent of Police James Scott, who was in charge of the lathi charge against Lala Lajpat Rai and his followers.
• When Chandrashekhar Azad attempted to pursue Bhagat Singh and Rajguru as they fled, he was shot dead by an Indian constable.

Bomb in Legislative Assembly (1929)

• The HSRA leadership has now decided to inform the public about its new objectives and the need for a mass revolution.
• On April 8, 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt were asked to throw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly in protest of the passage of the Public Safety Bill and Trade Disputes Bill, both of which aimed to limit the civil liberties of citizens in general and workers in particular.
• The bombs had been purposefully designed to be harmless in order to make "the deaf hear."
• The goal was to be arrested and use the trial court as a forum for propaganda in order for people to become acquainted with their movement and ideology.
• In the Lahore conspiracy case, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were tried.
• In jail, these revolutionaries fasted in protest of the deplorable conditions and demanded honourable and decent treatment as political prisoners.
• On the 64th day of his fast, Jatin Das became the first martyr.
• In December 1929, Azad was involved in an attempt to blow up Viceroy Irwin's train near Delhi.
• In February 1931, Azad was killed in a police encounter in a park in Allahabad. On March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were hanged.

Chittagong Armoury Raid (April 1930)

• Surya Sen and his associates decided to organise an armed rebellion to demonstrate that it was possible to challenge the mighty British Empire's armed might.
• They intended to seize and supply arms to the revolutionaries by occupying two major armouries in Chittagong.
• They also intended to destroy telephone and telegraph lines, as well as the railway line connecting Chittagong to the rest of Bengal.
• The raid took place in April 1930, and it was carried out by 65 activists under the banner of the Indian Republican Army—Chittagong Branch.
• Sen hoisted the national flag, saluted, and declared a provisional revolutionary government after the raid was successful.
• They later dispersed into nearby villages and raided government targets.
• Surya Sen was arrested in February 1933 and hanged in January 1934, but the Chittagong raid fired the revolutionary-minded youth's imagination, and recruits poured into revolutionary activist groups in droves.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Chittagong Armoury Raid (1930)

Conclusion

Even though the revolutionary terrorists of the 1920s and 1930s failed to achieve their stated goal of leading a mass-based struggle, or even to establish contact with the masses, they made a significant contribution to the ongoing national struggle against colonialism. Their bravery and sacrifice, as well as their deep patriotism, inspired the Indian people, particularly the youth, and instilled pride and self-confidence in them. In northern India, Bhagat Singh and his comrades sowed the seeds of socialist thought and movement.

FAQs

Q1: What were the primary causes of revolutionary activities in India during the 1920s?

Q2: Who were some notable revolutionaries active in the 1920s?

Q3: What was the significance of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA)?

Q4: How did the British government respond to revolutionary activities during the 1920s?

Q5: What was the impact of revolutionary activities on the Indian independence movement?

MCQs

1. What was the main objective of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA)?

A) Establish a monarchy in India

B) Attain independence through armed struggle

C) Promote non-violent resistance

D) Establish a socialist state without revolution

2. Which revolutionary figure was involved in the assassination of John Saunders?

A) Sukhdev Thapar

B) Chandra Shekhar Azad

C) Bhagat Singh

D) Rajguru

3. The execution of which revolutionary leader led to widespread protests against British rule in India?

A) Chandra Shekhar Azad

B) Sukhdev Thapar

C) Bhagat Singh

D) Lala Lajpat Rai

4. Which act was passed by the British government in response to revolutionary activities in India?

A) Indian Independence Act

B) Rowlatt Act

C) Government of India Act

D) Cripps Mission

5. What role did youth play in the revolutionary movements during the 1920s?

A) They were largely passive participants.

B) They were the primary leaders and motivators.

C) They opposed the revolutionary activities.

D) They supported British rule.

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1. Examine the role of revolutionary activities in shaping the Indian independence movement during the 1920s.

Answer: Revolutionary activities in the 1920s significantly influenced the Indian independence movement by introducing radical ideologies and methods of resistance. The period was marked by the emergence of groups like the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), which aimed for complete independence through armed struggle. Revolutionary leaders like Bhagat Singh and his associates inspired many young Indians to reject non-violent methods and embrace a more militant approach to combat British colonialism. Their actions, including high-profile assassinations and protests, not only drew attention to the cause but also ignited a sense of urgency among the masses. The widespread repression faced by these revolutionaries, including executions and harsh penalties, led to increased public sympathy for their cause and galvanized support for the broader independence movement. This era of radicalism complemented the more moderate efforts of leaders within the Indian National Congress, ultimately creating a multifaceted struggle that paved the way for India’s eventual independence in 1947.

Q2. Discuss the impact of British repressive measures on the revolutionary activities in India during the 1920s.

Answer: British repressive measures during the 1920s had a profound impact on revolutionary activities in India, often serving to intensify resistance rather than quell it. Acts such as the Rowlatt Act and the brutal crackdown following events like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre galvanized public outrage and propelled young revolutionaries toward more radical means of protest. The harsh responses, including mass arrests and the execution of prominent leaders like Bhagat Singh, not only drew national attention to the revolutionary cause but also fostered a sense of martyrdom among the youth. The severe suppression faced by the revolutionaries inspired many Indians to join the struggle for independence, leading to a growing momentum that united various factions of the movement. This period of repression revealed the lengths to which the British would go to maintain control, ultimately strengthening the resolve of those committed to achieving freedom and laying the groundwork for the collective push towards independence.

Q3. Analyze the contribution of youth in the revolutionary movements of the 1920s in India.

Answer: The youth played a transformative role in the revolutionary movements of the 1920s in India, emerging as key leaders and catalysts for change. Figures such as Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru became symbols of resistance against British rule, advocating for radical approaches to achieving independence. The enthusiasm and idealism of the youth led to the formation of revolutionary organizations like the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), which sought to inspire a mass uprising against colonial rule. The involvement of young individuals in activities ranging from protests to violent confrontations demonstrated their willingness to sacrifice for the nation. The revolutionary fervor also spurred broader participation among young people across India, uniting them in a common cause. This generation not only challenged the status quo but also set a precedent for future struggles, highlighting the importance of youth engagement in social and political movements. Their contributions during this crucial decade laid the foundation for subsequent waves of activism leading to India's independence.

Previous Year Questions on  Revolutionary Activity

1. UPSC CSE 2019

Question. "Discuss the revolutionary activities in India during the 1920s and their impact on the freedom struggle." 

Answer: The revolutionary activities in India during the 1920s were pivotal in shaping the trajectory of the freedom struggle. Fueled by discontent with British colonial rule, these activities were marked by the emergence of youth-led organizations like the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). Key figures, such as Bhagat Singh, were instrumental in advocating for armed resistance against British oppression, symbolizing a shift from moderate to radical methods of protest. The assassination of British officials and the subsequent execution of revolutionary leaders sparked widespread outrage, leading to increased public sympathy and support for the independence movement. The revolutionary fervor galvanized the masses, highlighting the urgent need for self-determination. The period underscored the complexity of the struggle for independence, showcasing the interplay between moderate and radical factions. Ultimately, the revolutionary activities of the 1920s contributed significantly to the growing momentum towards India's eventual independence in 1947, inspiring future generations of freedom fighters.

2. UPSC CSE 2018

Question. "Examine the role of youth in the Indian independence movement, particularly in the context of revolutionary activities during the 1920s." 

Answer: The youth played a critical role in the Indian independence movement during the 1920s, particularly through their involvement in revolutionary activities. Disillusioned by the failures of moderate politics and the harsh realities of colonial rule, young leaders like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru became prominent figures advocating for armed resistance. The establishment of organizations such as the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) represented a collective resolve to fight against British oppression through direct action. The revolutionary activities not only showcased the willingness of youth to sacrifice their lives for the nation but also inspired a broader demographic to join the struggle for freedom. The execution of prominent revolutionaries drew national attention and sympathy, serving to unite various factions of the independence movement. Overall, the contributions of the youth in the 1920s were instrumental in shifting the narrative of the freedom struggle, emphasizing the need for immediate action and leading to a legacy of activism that influenced subsequent generations.