Study Guide · Chapter 4
The Swadeshi and Extremist Phase (1905–1918)
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- Partition of Bengal (1905): Ordered by Viceroy Lord Curzon, dividing Bengal along broadly communal lines (a Muslim-majority Eastern Bengal and Assam, and a Hindu-majority Western Bengal), officially for administrative convenience but widely perceived as a deliberate "divide and rule" strategy to weaken the growing Bengali nationalist movement.
- Swadeshi Movement: Sparked by the partition, involving boycott of British/foreign goods, promotion of Indian (swadeshi) industries and goods, and the beginnings of "national education" institutions (e.g., the National Council of Education, Bengal, and Bengal National College, where Aurobindo Ghosh taught). Rabindranath Tagore composed "Amar Sonar Bangla" during this period (later adopted as Bangladesh's national anthem) and organised the symbolic Rakhi Bandhan ceremony to promote Hindu-Muslim unity against the partition.
- Extremist ("Garam Dal") leaders — "Lal-Bal-Pal":
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Maharashtra): Editor of Kesari and Mahratta; popularised the slogan "Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it"; revived public festivals (Ganesh Chaturthi, Shivaji Jayanti) as vehicles for political mobilisation; prosecuted multiple times for sedition, most notably transported to Mandalay (Burma) in 1908.
- Lala Lajpat Rai (Punjab): Known as "Punjab Kesari" (Lion of Punjab); later died from injuries sustained during a lathi charge while protesting the Simon Commission (1928).
- Bipin Chandra Pal (Bengal): A powerful orator and early advocate of complete independence (Swaraj) rather than mere reform.
- Muslim League founded (1906, Dhaka): Founded by figures including the Aga Khan and Nawab Salimullah of Dhaka, initially expressing loyalty to the British and seeking safeguards for Muslim political representation — later evolving under Muhammad Ali Jinnah's leadership into the vehicle for the Pakistan demand.
- Surat Split (1907): Deep ideological differences between Moderates and Extremists over methods (constitutional agitation versus boycott/passive resistance) led to a formal split at the Surat Congress session.
- Morley-Minto Reforms (1909): See Acts and Reforms notes — introduced separate electorates for Muslims.
- Ghadar Party (1913): Founded in the USA by Lala Har Dayal, Sohan Singh Bhakna, and others among Indian immigrants (mainly Punjabi), aiming for armed revolution to overthrow British rule; planned (largely unsuccessful) uprisings coinciding with World War I.
- Home Rule Movement (1916): Launched separately by Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Poona) and Annie Besant (Madras), inspired by the Irish Home Rule movement, demanding self-governance within the British Empire; helped revitalise mass political activity after the Surat split's disruption.
- Lucknow Pact (1916): A landmark agreement between the Congress and the Muslim League at the Lucknow Session (INC president: Ambica Charan Mazumdar), agreeing on a joint scheme of constitutional demands, including continuation of separate electorates for Muslims — also marked the reunification of Moderate and Extremist Congress factions.
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