History of the Anushilan Samiti: Difference between revisions

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{{Anushilan Samiti}}

'''The history of the [[Anushilan Samiti]]''' stretches from its beginning early in the first decade of 1900 to 1930. The ''Samiti'' began in the first decade of the 20th century in [[Calcutta]] as conglomeration of local youth groups and gyms. However, its focus was both physical education and proposed moral development of its members. From its inception it sought to promote what it perceived as Indian values and to focus on Indian sports e.g. ''[[Fighting stick|Lathi]]'' and Sword play. It also encouraged its members to study Indian history as well as those of European liberalism including the [[French Revolution]], Russian [[Nihilism]] and Italian unification. Soon after its inception it became a radical organisation that sought to end [[British Raj]] in India through revolutionary violence. After World War I, it declined steadily as its members identified closely with leftist ideologies and with the [[Indian National Congress]]. It briefly rose to prominence in the late second and third decade, being involved in some notable incidences in Calcutta, Chittagong and in the United Provinces. The samiti dissolved before the Second World War into the Revolutionary Socialist Party.

In Calcutta, nationalist politics was developing at a rapid pace, allowing the city to develop as the most vocal centre of the young though still benign movement. Key leaders in the Congress-led movement in the province were Surendranath Bannejea and [[Motilal Ghosh]], while figures like [[Pherozshah Mehta]], [[Gopal Krishna Gokhale]] and the more radical [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]] were gaining prominence in Maharashtra in the presidencies of [[Bombay]] and [[Poona]].<ref name=Heehs4>{{Harvnb|Heehs|1992|p=4}}</ref> Through these last decades of the 1800s, however, the concept of secret societies and the propensity of nationalist violence was stronger in Maharashtra.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} Tilak himself was associated with such a society in Bombay.<ref name="Heehs1994p536para2">{{Harvnb|Heehs|1994|loc=p. 536, para 2}} "Aurobindo and Jatindranath met in Baroda in 1899. Both became members of a 'secret society' of Bombay with which the Maharashtrian political leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak was associated. Tilak later [made] an effort to get Aurobindo's friend Madhavrao Jadhav admitted to a military school in Russia. This plan fell through, but Madhavrao was eventually ... enrolled (possibly with Russian help) in the Swiss military academy in Bern.'"</ref> The most notable amongst the Maharashtrian societies was ''[[Mitra Mela]]'' (Friends circle) founded by [[V.D. Savarkar]] at [[Nasik]] in 1900. The organisation reformed as the [[Abhinav Bharat Society|''Abhinav Bharat'' Society]] and moved to Poona. The trend towards secret societies in Bengal had in the meantime slowed down, and what existed did not engage in any notable political activities. It was at this time, at the turn of the 20th century, that the revolutionary organisations emerged with considerable potency in Bengal.<ref name=Radhan636>{{Harvnb|Radhan|2002|p=636}}</ref>

Among the first revolutionary organisations founded with an organised programme in Bengal was that led by [[Jatindranath Bannerjee]] and [[Aurobindo Ghosh]]. Ghosh was the grandson of leading Bengali reformer, [[Rajnarayan Bose]]. Schooled at St. Paul's and a graduate of [[King's College, Cambridge]], Ghosh returned to India in 1893, undertaking a short career in political journalism in Bombay. He criticised the Congress's elitist politics which he argued was confined to the middle-class and effectively ignored the Indian masses of the lower classes. For Ghosh, the discussions engaged by the Congress members were frivolous, he argued for a radical and revolutionary movement for achieve political goals.<ref name=Heehs4/><ref>{{Harvnb|Heehs|1994|loc=p. 536, para 1}} "Aurobindo Ghose, who with Jatindranath helped to organize the first revolutionary group in Bengal with a well-thought-out programme, read widely in the history of Europe while a scholar at St Paul's School, London, and Kings College, Cambridge. Shortly after his return to India in 1893 he wrote in a Bombay newspaper ... his thesis that when men wanted a radical change of government, revolutionary action counted for much more than the sort of endless discussion that the members of the Indian National Congress engaged in."</ref> Under pressure to tone down his criticisms, Ghosh withdrew from his writings altogether, which held for a good decade or so. In 1897, Aurobindo Ghosh took up the position of lecturer in French at [[Baroda College]] and was appointed acting Professor of English at the college in 1898.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} In 1899, Ghosh met Jatindranath Bannerjee. Both Bannerjee and Ghosh were members of a Bombay secret society that B.G. Tilak was associated with.<ref name=Heehs1994p536para2/> Both Ghosh and Tilak shared thoughts on a program of revolution. Both envisioned an organised and disciplined uprising different from the terrorist tactics favoured by secret societies. Ghosh's thoughts were turned towards a military insurrection through [[Guerrilla warfare]], aided by general revolt and popular resistance to which, if possible, the [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]] was to be drawn in revolt. The grounding of such a program was to be "revolutionary propaganda and recruiting" and young Bengalees were to be trained in activities that would be helpful when the moment came. Ghosh emphasised activities riding, physical training, athletics of various kinds, drill and organized movement. He foresaw the program occupying up to thirty years before India was ready to rise.<ref>{{Harvnb|Heehs|1994|p=537}} "Tilak's interest in military weaponry and training was indicative of his and Aurobindo's revolutionary programme. Neither was interested in terrorism of the sort that is usually associated with secret societies, but rather in a disciplined military uprising ... Aurobindo's idea was to prepare for 'an armed insurrection' that would consist of 'guerrilla warfare accompanied by general resistance and revolt' including, if possible, 'a general revolt of the Indian army'. The first step ... would be a work of 'revolutionary propaganda and recruiting'. Young Bengalis would be given instruction 'in activities that might be helpful for ultimate military action, such as riding, physical training, athletics of various kinds, drill and organized movement.' Aurobindo thought that this programme 'might occupy a period of 30 years before fruition'."</ref> With the help of Tilak and some two others associates of the names Khasi Rao Jadav and Madhav Rao, Ghosh was, in September 1899,  able to arrange for Jatindranath Bannerjee to enrol in the armed forces of the [[Princely State of Baroda]] with false papers.<ref name=Majumdar25>{{Harvnb|Majumdar|2005|p=25}}</ref> Tilak himself tried to arrange for Madhav Rao to obtain admission to a Russian military school, and ultimately was able to get him admitted to the Swiss Military Academy at [[Bern]].<ref name=Heehs1994p536para2/> Ghosh had worked close to the [[Gaekwar of Baroda]], and in 1902, he establish contacts with men with similar views in Western India.<ref name=Heehs4/>

The early ''Anushilan Samity'' drew its members largely from the young student fraternity in Calcutta. New recruits were required to swear an oath on the ''[[Gita]]'', and practiced the worship of arms in front of the image of [[Goddess Durga]]. These were however technical reasons why Muslims were not accepted. The members trained in [[Drill]], practiced swordplay, boxing, wrestling, and other exercises. Nationalist spirit and moral development was inculcated through weekly classes, and interactions with leading social figures of the likes of [[Rabindranath Tagore]], [[Bipin Chandra Pal]], [[Gurudas Bannerjee]].<ref name=Radhan637/>

The Anushilan Samiti, however, failed to make any significant impact in its early years, as was the case for similar Calcutta groups.<ref name=Heehs5/> In 1903, Aurobindo Ghosh sent his younger brother [[Barindra Kumar Ghosh]] to Calcutta to rally the nascent organisation. Barindra, however, was forced to return to Baroda that same year following differences with Jatindranath Bannerjee. The society fragmented as a result of the clash, and may have led to the early demise of the still evolving movement.<ref name=Heehs6>{{Harvnb|Heehs|1992|p=6}}</ref>  However, the events around 1905, when the [[1905 Partition of Bengal|controversial plan to partition Bengal]] was proposed, veered the course otherwise.<ref name=Heehs5/><ref name=Gupta159>{{Harvnb|Gupta|2006|p=159}}</ref> The plans, implemented by the Viceroy, Charles Hardinge, drew widespread criticisms throughout Bengal. The local population, led by social figures and leaders of the Indian National Congress, refused to accept the Raj's argument that the partition was necessary for improving the administration in the province. It was seen as an attempt to divide Bengal on religious lines to stem the tide of political and nationalist work that was emanating from the region. The Raj argued that the opposition to the partition was motivated by the Hindu middle-class Bhadralok, who feared a loss of their government positions and influence in the administrative set up to the larger Muslim population of eastern Bengal. Opposition to the partition took shape in the Swadeshi movement, where imported goods were boycotted in Bengal and throughout India. These boycotts were enforced by groups of "volunteers" recruited from the youth ''Samities''. The patronage of the extremist Bengalee politicians in the Congress, including the likes of [[Bipin Chandra Pal]] and [[Brahmabandhab Upadhyaya]], helped ''Anushilan'' stem the decline and rejuvenated its influence and reach, and this in turn helped consolidate the position of the former as radicals within Congress. The unprecedented popular resistance to the partition plans also gave ''Anushilan'' fertile grounds to preach its cause and bring new recruits to its folds.<ref name=Heehs5/><ref>{{Harvnb|Bandyopadhyaya|2004|pp=255, 258}}</ref>

In November 1905, Bipin Chandra Pal along with Pramathanath Mitra, visited [[Dhaka]] where, at a political meeting, Pal called for volunteers ready to sacrifice their all for Motherland.<ref name=Heehs5/> Among the eighty who stepped forward was [[Pulin Behari Das]], a resident of Wari who was soon appointed the head of the East Bengal branch of ''Anushilan Samity''. Under Das's able leadership, ''Anushilan'' "spread like wildfire" throughout the province. More than 500 branches were opened, linked by a "close and detailed organization" to Pulin's headquarters at Dhaka. It absorbed smaller groups in the province, and soon overshadowed its parent organisation in Calcutta. Branches of Dhaka Anushilan emerged in the towns of [[Jessore (city)|Jessore]], [[Khulna]], [[Faridpur District|Faridpur]], [[Rajnagar Upazila|Rajnagar]], Rajendrapur, Mohanpur, Barvali, Bakarganj and other places.  Estimates of Dhaka Anushilan Samiti's reach show a membership of between 15,000 and 20,000 members. Within another two years, Dhaka Anushilan would devolve its aims from the Swadeshi to the dedicated aim of political terrorism.<ref name=Heehs6/><ref name=Gupta160>{{Harvnb|Gupta|2006|p=160}}</ref>

Barindra Ghosh returned to Bengal around 1906, where he began organising volunteers movements in support of the agitations and the [[Swadeshi movement]]. His efforts drew the youth, whom he trained in the exercise, sword and lathi play and preached the cause of Indian independence. Among Barindra's associates at the time were [[Bhupendranath Dutta]] (brother of Swami Vivekananda) and [[Abhinash Battacharya]].<ref name=Gupta159/> In the meantime, Aurobindo had returned to Bengal in 1906. The Calcutta wing had suffered a setback following Barin Ghosh's clash with Jatindranath Bannerjee earlier. In Bengal, Barin begun a sustained effort pick up where the group had left a few years previously. In the meantime, Aurobindo with the help of Bipin Chandra Pal and Barin founded in 1907 the radical Bengali nationalist publication of ''[[Jugantar (publication)|Jugantar]]'' (Lit:Change), and its English counterpart ''[[Bande Mataram]]''. After a slow start, the journal gradually grew to acquire a mass appeal in Bengal through its radicalist approach and message of revolutionary programmes. This journal later lent its name to the Calcutta group that was gradually growing, ultimately forming what came to be called the ''[[Jugantar party]]''. This lent the name of ''Jugantar party'' to the Calcutta group.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} Among the early recruits who emerged as noted leaders were [[Rash Behari Bose]], [[Jatindranath Mukherjee]], and [[Jadugopal Mukherjee]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Sen|2010|p=244}} Government found it difficult to suppress revolutionary activities in Bengal owing to the strong organisation of the Anushilan Samiti and ... leaders like Jatindranath Mukherjee, Rashbehari Bose and Jadugopal Mukheijee.</ref> ''Jugantar party'' embarked irrevocably on the path of political terrorism, when plans were made to assassinate in summer 1906, the Lieutenant Governor of Eastern Bengal and Assam, Sir [[Bampfylde Fuller]]. This was the first of its planned "actions".

The two branches of ''Anushilan'' engaged at this time in a number of notable incidences of political assassinations and ''[[dacoity|dacoities]]'' to obtain funds.<ref name=Roy5>{{Harvnb|Roy|1997|pp=5–6}} The first such dacoity was committed by Naren ... Around this time, revolutionaries threw a bomb-at the carriage of Mr and Mrs Kennedy ... in Muzaffarpur, under the mistaken notion that the 'notorious' Magistrate Kingsford was in the carriage. This led to the arrest of Kshudiram Bose and the discovery of the underground conspiratorial centre at Manicktala in eastern Calcutta. ... Nandalal Banerjee, an officer in the Intelligence Branch of the Bengal Police was shot dead by Naren ... This was followed by the arrest of Aurobindo, Barin and others in connection with the Alipore Conspiracy case.</ref> In the meantime, in December 1907 the Bengal revolutionary cell derailed the train carrying the Bengal Lieutenant Governor [[Sir Andrew Fraser]].  In December 1907, Dhaka Anushilan Samiti assassinated D.C. Allen, a former district magistrate of Dhaka. In 1908, the activities of Anushilan saw eleven assassinations, seven attempted assassinations and bomb explosions, and eight dacoities in western Bengal alone. The targets of these "actions" included British police officials and civil servants, native Indian police officers, approvers and public prosecutors in cases of political crime, as well as the wealthy upper-class families.<ref name=Popplewell108>{{Harvnb|Popplewell|1995|p=108}}</ref>  

''Anushilan'', notably from early on, established links with foreign movements and Indian nationalism abroad. In 1907, Barin Ghosh arranged to send to Paris one of his associates by the name of [[Hemchandra Kanungo]] (Hem Chandra Das), he was to learn the art of bomb making from [[Nicholas Safranski]], a Russian revolutionary in exile in the French Capital.<ref name=Popplewell104>{{Harvnb|Popplewell|1995|p=104}}</ref> Paris was also home at the time [[Madam Cama]] who was amongst the leading figures of the [[Paris Indian Society]] and the [[India House]] in London. The bomb manual later found its way through [[V. D. Savarkar]] to the press at India House for mass printing. This was, however, followed by a temporary stumble for ''Anushilan''. In 1908, two young recruits, [[Khudiram Bose]] and [[Prafulla Chaki]] were sent{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} on a mission to [[Muzaffarpur]] to assassinate the Chief Presidency Magistrate D. H. Kingsford. The duo bombed a carriage they mistook as Kingsford's,<ref name=Roy5/> killing two English women in it. In the aftermath of the murder, Khudiram Bose was arrested while attempting to flee, while Chaki took his own life.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} Police investigations into the murders revealed the organisation's quarters in [[Maniktala]] suburb of Calcutta and led to a number of arrests, opening the famous [[Alipore Conspiracy trial]].<ref name=Roy5 /> Some of its leadership were executed or incarcerated, while others went underground.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} Aurobindo Ghosh himself retired from active politics after being acquitted, his brother Barin was imprisoned for life.<ref name=Roy6/> This was followed by the [[Dacca Conspiracy case]] in 1909 which brought 44 members of the Dhaka Anushilan to trial.<ref name=Popplewell111>{{Harvnb|Popplewell|1995|p=111}}</ref><ref name=Roy105>{{Harvnb|Roy|2006|p=105}}</ref> Anushilan, however, took its revenge.  Nandalal Bannerjee, the officer who had arrested Kshudiram, was shot dead in 1908, followed by the assassinations of the prosecutor and the approver in the Alipore case in 1909.

Western Anushilan Samiti in the aftermath of Manicktala Conspiracy found more prominent leader in Jatindra Nath Mukherjee which emerged distinctly as the ''Jugantar group''. Meanwhile, Rash Behari Bose extended the groups reach into north India, where he found work in the [[Indian Forest Institute]] in [[Dehradun]]. Mukherjee took over the leadership of the secret society to be known as the [[Jugantar]] Party. He revitalised the links between the central organisation in Calcutta and its several branches spread all over Bengal, [[Bihar]], [[Orissa, India|Orissa]] and several places in [[Uttar Pradesh|U.P.]], and opened hideouts in the [[Sundarbans]] for members who had gone underground<ref>''[[M. N. Roy]]'s Memoirs'' p3</ref> The group slowly reorganised guided by Mukherjee's efforts, aided by an emerging leadership which included [[Amarendra Chatterjee]], [[M. N. Roy|Naren Bhattacharya]] and other younger leaders. Some of its younger members including [[Tarak Nath Das]] left India.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} Through the next two years, the organisation operated under the covers of two seemingly detached organisations, ''Sramajeebi Samabaya'' (The Labourer's cooperative) and Harry & Sons.<ref name=Roy6>{{Harvnb|Roy|1997|p=6}} Aurobihdo’s retirement from active politics after his acquittal and the long imprisonment of Barin Ghosh ... Two centres were established, one was the Sramajibi Samabaya ... and the other in the name of S.D. Harry and Sons.</ref> At around this time, Jatin began attempts to establish contacts with the [[10th Jat Regiment]] then garrisoned at [[Fort William, India|Fort William]] in Calcutta. Narendra Nath carried out through this time a number of robberies to obtain funds. In the meantime, however, a second blow came in 1910 when Shamsul Alam, a Bengal Police officer then preparing a conspiracy case against the group, was assassinated by an associate of Jatindranath by the name of Biren Dutta Gupta. The assassination led to the arrests which ultimately precipitated the [[Howrah-Sibpur Conspiracy case]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Roy|1997|pp=6–7}} Shamsul Alam, an Intelligence officer who was then preparing to arrest all the revolutionaries ... was murdered by Biren Datta Gupta, one of Jatin Mukherjee's associates. This led to the arrests in the Howrah Conspiracy case.</ref>

A major section of the Anushilan movement had been attracted to Marxism during the 1930s, many of them studying Marxist–Leninist literature whilst serving long jail sentences. A minority section broke away from the Anushilan movement and joined the [[Communist Consolidation]], and later the Communist Party of India. The majority of the Anushilan Marxists did however, whilst having adopted Marxist–Leninist thinking, feel hesitant over joining the Communist Party.<ref>{{Harvnb|Saha|2001|pp=20–21}}</ref>

The great majority of the Anushilan Samiti had joined the CSP, not only the Marxist sector. The non-Marxists (who constituted about a half of the membership of the Samiti), although not ideologically attracted to the CSP, felt loyalty towards the Marxist sector. Moreover, around 25% of the HSRA joined the CSP. This group was led by Jogesh Chandra Chatterji.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

The Anushilan Marxists had clearly supported Bose both in the presidential election as well by opposing the Pant resolution. Jogesh Chandra Chatterji renounced his CSP membership in protest against the action by the party leadership.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

One of the members Madhwi Kanchan Sinha and true follower of Ram Manohar Lohia was one of the very famous and selfless servant of the Samyukt Socialist Party [1952–1968] and went to great extends to serve people. Majorly known for his deeds and service to people in Barabanki district and Gonda district Uttar Pradesh, he made great efforts and died serving them. He could not serve the party for a longer period due to sickness and died on 13 August 1975.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

The first War Thesis of RSP in 1940 took the called for "turning imperialist war into civil war". But after the attack by Germany on the [[Soviet Union]], the line of the party was clarified. RSP meant that the socialist Soviet Union had to be defended, but that the best way for Indian revolutionaries to do that was to overthrow the colonial rule in their own country. RSP was in sharp opposition to groups like Communist Party of India and the Royist [[Radical Democratic Party (India)|RDP]], who meant that antifascists had to support the Allied war effort.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

* {{citation |last=Heehs |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Heehs |date=July 1994 |title=Foreign Influences on Bengali Revolutionary Terrorism 1902-1908 |journal=Modern Asian Studies |publisher= Cambridge University Press |volume=28 |issue=3 |pages=533–556 |issn=0026-749X |doi=10.1017/s0026749x00011859}}.

* {{citation |last=Roy |first=Shantimoy |year=2006 |chapter=India Freedom Struggle and Muslims |editor-last=Engineer |editor-first=Asghar Ali |editor-link=Asghar Ali Engineer |title=They Too Fought for India's Freedom: The Role of Minorities |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-XQCYl6T1vIC&pg=PA105 |series=Sources of History |volume=Vol. III |publisher=Hope India Publications |page=105 |isbn=9788178710914}}