Revolutionary Activities Abroad

• Revolutionary activities continued to have an impact abroad as well, with Indian revolutionaries organizing and advocating for independence from British rule. Here are some notable examples:
• Shyamji Krishna Verma: After the assassination of District Magistrate Rand in India, Shyamji Krishna Verma, originally from Kathiawar, travelled to London and established the Home Rule Society. The society aimed to promote the cause of self-rule for India and provided a platform for Indian nationalists living abroad.
• V.D. Savarkar: V.D. Savarkar, a prominent revolutionary figure, went to London in 1906 and joined the 'Indian Society.' This society advocated for revolutionary terrorism and aimed to garner support for the cause of Indian independence.
• Gadar Party: Lala Hardayal, a revolutionary from Punjab, founded the Gadar Party in 1913 in San Francisco, United States. The Gadar Party aimed to mobilize Indians living abroad and spark a revolution in India to overthrow British rule. The party published a weekly newspaper called "The Gadar," which played a significant role in spreading revolutionary ideas and inspiring Indian expatriates.
• The activities of these revolutionary groups abroad played a crucial role in raising awareness about the Indian independence movement, mobilizing support, and fostering a sense of nationalism among Indians living outside of India. They sought to build international networks and alliances to support the cause of Indian independence and contributed to the overall revolutionary movement.

Revolutionary Activities Abroad - Background

• The revolutionary activities abroad during the early 20th century were influenced by various factors and events. Here is some background information regarding these activities:
• Seeking Assistance during World War I: With the outbreak of World War I, Indian revolutionaries in exile saw an opportunity to seek assistance from foreign powers hostile to the British empire. They approached the German government for support, hoping that Germany's conflict with Britain could be used to India's advantage.
• Efforts to Rally Indian Soldiers: Sardar Ajit Singh and Sufi Amba Prasad travelled to the Middle East during World War I to rally Indian soldiers who had been defeated by British forces. They aimed to inspire them to join the cause of overthrowing British rule in India.
• Indo-German Mission to Afghanistan: Raja Mahendra Pratap led an Indo-German mission to Afghanistan during World War I. In Afghanistan, he established a free government in exile with the hope of garnering support for India's independence struggle.
• The Komagata Maru Incident: The Komagata Maru incident in 1914 further fueled revolutionary activities. The ship, carrying a group of Indian immigrants, mainly Sikhs, was denied entry into Canada due to discriminatory immigration laws. The incident sparked protests and resistance among the passengers, leading to tensions with the British authorities.
• Political Atrocities in Punjab: Revolutionary terrorists in Punjab carried out political atrocities in cities like Amritsar, Jullundur, and Ludhiana. These acts were aimed at destabilizing British rule and garnering support for the revolutionary cause.
• Limitations and Factors Contributing to Failure: Revolutionary activities, both domestic and international, faced several limitations. They were primarily led by the educated middle class and did not gain significant support from the broader population. Additionally, the movement lacked proper organization and coordination, and the British government employed harsh measures to suppress revolutionary activities.
• It is worth noting that Subhas Chandra Bose's death in 1945 marked the end of his efforts to seek support from Axis powers during World War II. Revolutionary activities in India gradually declined thereafter.

Revolutionary Activities Abroad - Features

• Revolutionary activities abroad during the early 20th century had several distinct features. Here are some notable characteristics of these activities:
• Establishment of Centers and Societies: Indian revolutionaries established centres and societies in various locations abroad. Shyamji Krishna Varma founded the Indian Home Rule Society, also known as 'India House,' in London in 1905. It served as a gathering place for Indian students and intellectuals, provided scholarships for radical youth from India, and was published 'The Indian Sociologist' journal. These centres provided a platform for revolutionary discussions, planning, and organizing.
• Focus on Revolutionary Literature: One of the key motivations for Indian revolutionaries to travel abroad was the opportunity to publish and disseminate revolutionary literature. By being outside British-controlled territories, they could bypass the Press Acts, which imposed restrictions on publications critical of British rule. Publishing and distributing literature played a crucial role in spreading revolutionary ideas and inspiring like-minded individuals.
• Inclusion of Prominent Revolutionaries: Revolutionary centres abroad attracted notable revolutionaries as members. Figures like Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Lala Hardayal, and Madanlal Dhingra were associated with India House in London. These individuals played significant roles in shaping the revolutionary movement and carrying out actions against British officials.
• Relocation to Safer Locations: The intensification of British surveillance and repression made it necessary for revolutionaries to relocate from London to other cities. London became increasingly dangerous, prompting a shift of revolutionary activities to other European cities such as Paris, Geneva, and Berlin. This allowed revolutionaries to continue their work in a relatively safer environment.
• International Connections and Alliances: Indian revolutionaries abroad actively sought alliances and contacts with foreign socialists, intellectuals, and anti-colonial activists. They collaborated with individuals and organizations who shared their goals of freedom and revolution. This international networking helped in raising awareness about the Indian struggle for independence on a global scale.
• Utilizing Exile for Strategic Purposes: The revolutionaries utilized their exile to gather resources and support for the liberation of India. They sought arms, funds, and political backing from sympathetic individuals and governments abroad. Exile also provided them with the opportunity to plan and coordinate actions against British rule.
• Overall, revolutionary activities abroad provided a space for Indian revolutionaries to organize, publish literature, establish networks, and seek assistance for their cause. These activities played a significant role in shaping the revolutionary movement and generating international awareness and support for India's struggle for independence.

Indian Home Rule Society (1905)

• The Indian Home Rule Society, founded by Shyamji Krishna Varma in London in 1905, was indeed an important Indian nationalist movement. It aimed to advocate for the concept of self-rule or home rule for India within the British Empire. The society provided a platform for Indian students and intellectuals to discuss and promote nationalist ideas, and it played a significant role in shaping the revolutionary movement.
• The assassination of William Hutt Curzon Wyllie by Madan Lal Dhingra, a member of India House, marked a turning point for the organization. The incident drew increased attention from the London police, leading to a crackdown on the activities of India House. As a result, several activists and patrons, including Shyamji Krishna Varma and Bhikaji Cama, had to flee to Europe to continue their nationalist work from there.
• Har Dayal, one of the Indian students associated with the Indian Home Rule Society, later moved to the United States. He continued his activism and played a significant role in spreading nationalist ideas among Indian communities in America.
• During World War I, the network established by India House proved crucial for nationalist revolutionary activities in India. The connections and support facilitated by the society were instrumental in organizing and coordinating efforts to challenge British rule in India.
• Overall, the Indian Home Rule Society was a significant nationalist movement that provided a platform for Indian intellectuals, students, and activists to promote the idea of self-rule for India. Its impact extended beyond London, with its members continuing their nationalist work in Europe, America, and India itself, contributing to the wider struggle for Indian independence.

Ghadar Party (1913)

• The Ghadar Party, founded in 1913, played a significant role in the Indian freedom struggle. It was a political revolutionary organization established by migrated Indians in the United States of America.
• The formation of the Ghadar Party was indeed primarily driven by Sikhs. Prominent leaders such as Sohan Singh, Kartar Singh, Abdul Mohamed Barakatullah, and Rashbehari Bose were instrumental in laying the groundwork for an Indian political organization in the United States and Canada.
• During the nineteenth century, India faced poor economic conditions, which led to the emigration of hundreds of Indians to Western countries. Many Indians, including thousands of Sikhs, sought better economic opportunities and settled permanently in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
• The exploitative policies of the British Indian Government, which worsened the economic conditions of the poor and middle classes, were among the significant factors driving Indian emigration to Western countries.
• The Ghadar Party aimed to mobilize Indians residing abroad and ignite a revolution in India to overthrow British colonial rule. It published the influential newspaper "Ghadar," which disseminated revolutionary ideas and called for armed struggle against the British.
• Members of the Ghadar Party actively organized and coordinated efforts to support the Indian freedom struggle. They sought assistance from other countries, including Germany and Japan, to gather resources and plan actions against British rule in India.
• The Ghadar Movement and the Ghadar Party represented a significant chapter in India's fight for independence. Although the party faced challenges and its efforts did not result in an immediate revolution, it laid the foundation for future revolutionary activities and inspired nationalist sentiments among Indians both at home and abroad.

Komagata Maru Incident (1914)

• The Komagata Maru incident, which took place in 1914, was a significant event reflecting discriminatory immigration policies and racial tensions of the time. It involved the Japanese steamship Komagata Maru, which carried a group of British Raj citizens attempting to immigrate to Canada but was denied entry.
• Gurdit Singh, a wealthy Punjabi businessman, chartered the Komagata Maru to transport 376 passengers from Punjab, British India, to Canada. The passengers consisted of 340 Sikhs, 24 Muslims, and 12 Hindus, all of whom were British subjects. The ship sailed from British Hong Kong and made stops in Shanghai, China, and Yokohama, Japan, before reaching Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
• Upon arrival in Vancouver, only 24 passengers were allowed to disembark, while the remaining 352 passengers were denied entry by Canadian immigration authorities. This was due to discriminatory immigration laws and policies that targeted Asian immigrants, particularly those from India. The passengers were subjected to prolonged legal battles and were eventually forced to return to India.
• The Komagata Maru incident highlighted the racial prejudices and exclusionary immigration practices prevalent in Canada and other parts of the world during the early twentieth century. It symbolized the struggle against discriminatory treatment faced by immigrants, particularly those of Asian descent, and the denial of their rights as British subjects.
• The incident also resulted in a violent clash when the ship reached Calcutta (Kolkata), India. British police opened fire on the passengers, resulting in the deaths of 20 Sikhs. This tragic event further underscored the tensions and conflicts arising from discriminatory policies and the resistance against them.
• The Komagata Maru incident, along with other instances of exclusionary immigration laws, serves as a reminder of the struggles faced by marginalized communities and the need for greater understanding, equality, and justice in immigration policies and practices.

Singapore Mutiny

• The 1915 Singapore Mutiny, also known as the 1915 Sepoy Mutiny or the Mutiny of the 5th Light Infantry, was a significant mutiny that took place in Singapore during World War I. The mutiny was led by up to half of a regiment consisting of 850 Indian Muslim sepoys who were serving under the British colonial forces.
• On February 15, 1915, the mutiny erupted in Singapore, with the participation of soldiers from the Punjabi Muslim 5th Light Infantry and the 36th Sikh Battalion. The mutiny was organized and led by Jamadar Chisti Khan, Jamadar Abdul Gani, and Subedar Daud Khan, who were prominent figures in the revolt.
• The mutineers engaged in a fierce battle with British and loyalist forces but were ultimately suppressed. The British authorities responded with a heavy hand, and as a result, 37 individuals were executed, and 41 were transported for life as a punishment for their involvement in the mutiny.
• The Singapore Mutiny was one of several mutinies that occurred during this period, as Indian soldiers serving under the British Empire became disillusioned and disenchanted with their treatment and the conditions they faced. The mutiny in Singapore had a significant impact on the local and regional political landscape and highlighted the growing unrest and discontent among Indian soldiers.
• The mutiny also had implications for the Indian independence movement, as it further fueled nationalist sentiments and anti-colonial resistance. The events of the Singapore Mutiny underscored the complexities of colonial rule and the tensions between the colonial powers and the soldiers serving under them.
• Overall, the 1915 Singapore Mutiny stands as a significant episode in the history of colonialism and the Indian independence movement, representing a moment of resistance against British rule and the struggles faced by Indian soldiers during World War I.

Revolutionary activities abroad - Personalities

Shyamji Krishan Varma

• He was a native of Kathiawar & studied at Cambridge University & qualified for bar
• After coming to India he worked in several states but was disgusted by the attitude of political residents. He decided to work for India’s liberation from British oppression & chose London as his centre of activities.
• Established India House in London  & Started an Anti-imperialist newspaper called THE INDIAN SOCIOLOGIST. A lot of British Sociologists including Herbert Spencer supported him
• He also started 6 fellowships of ₹1,000 each for qualified Indians visiting foreign countries
• Very soon India House became the Center of Indian activities in London. A group of Indian revolutionaries including VD Savarkar, Hardayal & Madan Lal Dhingra became its members.
• Many future leaders are to be born out of this India House

Madam Bikaji Kama

• Parsee Lady born in Mumbai
• Her husband was pro British lawyer
• Was in touch with Shyamji Krishan Varma & in London was secretary of Dadabhai (at that time Dadabhai was head of the British unit of INC )
• Started Home Rule Society in London & newspaper Bande Mataram
• Participated in International Socialist Conference

VD Savarkar

• 1899: started  MITRA MELA
• 1900: Described Revolt of 1857 as India’s first war for Independence. Wrote a book entitled this too.
• 1904: Mitra Mela merged with Abhinav Bharat   (after Mazzini’s Young Italy).
• Graduated from Ferguson College, Poona & availed Krishnavarma’s fellowship offer and left for London in June 1906
• In 1909, Madan Lal Dhingra, roommate of Savarkar in London shot dead Col William Curzon Wyllie (political ADC to India Office). He was hanged.
• Case was registered against Savarkar too as pistols sent secretly from London by V.D. Savarkar were used to kill the Nasik district magistrate in December 1909.  Savarkar was arrested & deported to India where he was sentenced to life. 
• Krishnaji Varma left London & settled in Paris

Activities shifted from London to Berlin

• London wasn’t safe to carry on revolutionary activities
• Anglo-German hostility bittered in 1909 & afterwards
• Revolutionaries started to concentrate in Berlin
• Main leader there: Virendra Nath Chattopadhyay