The 1920s were a period marked by fervent revolutionary activities across the globe, as nations grappled with social, political, and economic upheaval following the aftermath of World War I. In this tumultuous era, various revolutionary movements emerged, fueled by discontentment with existing power structures, inequalities, and injustices. From the rise of nationalist movements in colonized regions to the spread of socialist ideologies in industrialized nations, the 1920s witnessed a surge in revolutionary fervor aimed at challenging entrenched systems of oppression and exploitation. This article delves into the revolutionary activities of the 1920s, exploring the diverse range of movements, their goals, tactics, and impact on shaping the course of history during this transformative period.
After the sudden end of the Non-Cooperation Movement, many people lost faith and started doubting the leaders’ strategies. They didn’t feel interested in the Swarajists’ work in the parliament or the No-changers’ slow and steady constructive efforts. Instead, they believed that only violent methods could bring freedom to India. This led to a resurgence of revolutionary terrorism.
Background
- People felt frustrated when the political struggles of the early 20th century didn’t work, and the government cracked down on them, leading to the rise of revolutionary terrorism.
- These terrorists believed that peaceful protests couldn’t achieve their goals, so they turned to using bombs.
- During World War I, the government took strong actions against revolutionary terrorists, which slowed down their movement.
- Many of them were let out of prison in the late 1919s and early 1920s because the government wanted to make things easier for the Montagu reforms. That’s when the Non-Cooperation Movement started in 1920.
- Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and C.R. Das tried to convince these revolutionaries to join their nonviolent movement or at least stop their violent actions.
- The revolutionaries realized that things were changing politically, so many of them went to the National Congress session in Nagpur and joined the Congress.
- When the Non-Cooperation Movement suddenly stopped in early 1922 after the Chauri-Chaura incident, many young people in the movement felt disappointed and upset. They lost faith in Gandhi’s leadership and went back to thinking that violence was the only way to get rid of British rule.
- They were also inspired by revolutions happening in other countries like Russia, Ireland, Turkey, Egypt, and China.
- As the old revolutionary leaders restarted their organizations, new leaders emerged from the ranks of eager non-cooperators.
Revolutionary Activities in Punjab, UP, Bihar
- The Hindustan Republican Association/Army, known as HRA, was the main group leading revolutionary actions in the region.
- Ramprasad Bismil, Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee, and Sachin Sanyal started the HRA in Kanpur in October 1924.
- Their aim was to plan a rebellion using weapons to weaken the colonial government.
- They wanted to create a new country called the Federal Republic of the United States of India, where everyone could vote.
- Later, the group was renamed the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, or HSRA.
Hindustan Republican Association (1924)
- The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) was a group started by Ram Prasad Bismil and his friends to fight against British rule in India. They were ready to use force if needed to make India independent.
- The main reason they formed the group was because Mahatma Gandhi decided to stop the non-cooperation movement in 1922 after the Chauri Chaura incident. This made some leaders of the Indian National Congress start the Swaraj Party, but it also made some younger people and workers lose faith in nonviolence and turn to revolutionary ways to gain freedom.
- Bismil disagreed with Gandhi openly during the INC’s Gaya session in 1922.
Yugantar
- The Yugantar (also known as Jugantar) Party was a powerful group of revolutionaries in colonial Bengal.
- Barindra Kumar Ghosh, who was Aurobindo’s younger brother, started the Yugantar Party. He was both a revolutionary and a journalist in India.
- In April 1906, Barindrakumar Ghosh and Bhupendranath Datta, with advice from Aurobindo Ghosh, started the weekly Jugantar (New Era), which became the mouthpiece of militant nationalists.
- The organization was named after Jugantar, the nationalist newspaper.
- Barindra was determined to free India from British rule using a mix of religious inspiration and violent acts. He justified violent actions, like murders, for the sake of India’s happiness.
- He led a strong movement against the Partition and gathered weapons, explosives, and made bombs with his followers, laying the foundation for the Jugantar terrorist organization.
Kakori Robbery (1925)
- The Kakori train robbery was a big event for the HRA.
- The men got on the 8-Down train in Kakori, a small village near Lucknow, and stole the train’s official money.
- Because of the government’s reaction to the robbery, many people were arrested.
- 17 were sent to prison, four got life sentences, and four were hanged: Bismil, Ashfaqullah, Roshan Singh, and Rajendra Lahiri.
- This setback showed that the Kakori incident didn’t go as planned for the HRA.
Murder of Saunders (Lahore, December 1928)
- Just as the HSRA revolutionaries were starting to move away from acting alone heroically, the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, known as Sher-i-Punjab, because of being hit by sticks during a protest against the Simon Commission in October 1928, made them go back to individual killings.
- Saunders, the police officer blamed for the lathi-charge in Lahore, was shot and killed by Bhagat Singh, Azad, and Rajguru. They thought Saunders was Superintendent of Police James Scott, who ordered the lathi-charge against Lala Lajpat Rai and his supporters.
- When Chandrashekhar Azad tried to chase Bhagat Singh and Rajguru as they ran away, he was shot and killed by an Indian constable.
Bomb in Legislative Assembly (1929)
- The HSRA leaders decided to tell the public about their new goals and the need for a big revolution.
- On April 8, 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt were asked to throw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly. This was to protest against laws like the Public Safety Bill and Trade Disputes Bill, which restricted people’s freedoms.
- The bombs were made to not hurt anyone, just to make a statement.
- They wanted to get arrested and use the trial to spread their message and ideas to more people.
- In the Lahore conspiracy case, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were put on trial.
- While in jail, they protested against bad conditions and demanded to be treated properly as political prisoners.
- Jatin Das died after fasting for 64 days, becoming a martyr.
- In December 1929, Azad tried to blow up Viceroy Irwin’s train near Delhi.
- In February 1931, Azad was killed by police 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 friends decided to show that they could challenge the powerful British Empire by starting an armed rebellion.
- They planned to take control of two big weapon stores in Chittagong to get guns and other supplies for the revolutionaries. They also wanted to cut off communication by destroying phone lines, telegraphs, and the railway connecting Chittagong to the rest of Bengal.
- In April 1930, 65 activists from the Indian Republican Army—Chittagong Branch carried out the raid. After it worked, Sen raised the national flag, saluted it, and announced a temporary revolutionary government.
- They then went to nearby villages and attacked government buildings.
- Surya Sen was caught in February 1933 and hanged in January 1934. But the Chittagong raid inspired many young people to join the revolution, and lots of them joined revolutionary groups.
While the revolutionary terrorists from the 1920s and 1930s didn’t succeed in starting a big movement or getting support from the masses, they still made a big impact on the fight against colonialism. Their courage, sacrifices, and love for their country inspired many Indians, especially young people. They helped boost people’s pride and confidence. Bhagat Singh and his friends also introduced socialist ideas and movements in northern India.
Also Read: Socialist Ideas and Spread of Marxist.