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Berlin Committee: Difference between revisions
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{{Use Indian English|date=September | {{Short description|Pan-Indian independence think tank and conspiracy circle in WW1-era Germany}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=August | {{Use Indian English|date=September 2022}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} | |||
The '''Berlin Committee''', later known as the '''Indian Independence Committee''' ({{lang-de|Indisches Unabhängigkeitskomitee}}) after 1915, was an organisation formed in Germany in 1914 during World War I by Indian students and political activists residing in the country. The purpose of the committee was to promote the cause of [[Indian independence movement|Indian Independence]]. Initially called the Berlin–Indian Committee, the organisation was renamed the Indian Independence Committee and came to be an integral part of the [[Hindu–German Conspiracy]]. Members of the committee included [[Virendranath Chattopadhyaya]] (alias Chatto), [[Chempakaraman Pillai]], Dr [[Jnanendra Das Gupta]], and [[Abinash Bhattacharya]]. | The '''Berlin Committee''', later known as the '''Indian Independence Committee''' ({{lang-de|Indisches Unabhängigkeitskomitee}}) after 1915, was an organisation formed in Germany in 1914 during World War I by Indian students and political activists residing in the country. The purpose of the committee was to promote the cause of [[Indian independence movement|Indian Independence]]. Initially called the Berlin–Indian Committee, the organisation was renamed the Indian Independence Committee and came to be an integral part of the [[Hindu–German Conspiracy]]. Members of the committee included [[Virendranath Chattopadhyaya]] (alias Chatto), [[Chempakaraman Pillai]], Dr [[Jnanendra Das Gupta]], and [[Abinash Bhattacharya]]. | ||
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With the help of Oppenheim, messages were sent out to Indian students in German universities, as well as Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands, who were likely to share the same views. Among those who joined the organisation at the time were Dr. Dhiren Sarkar, Chanji Kersasp, N. S. Marathe, Dr. [[Jnanendra Das Gupta|J. N. Dasgupta]], and C. Padmanabhan Pillai, quickly joined by his brother, [[Champak Raman Pillai]]. The 'Champak-Chatto' Berlin Committee was founded.<ref name=Bhavans/> | With the help of Oppenheim, messages were sent out to Indian students in German universities, as well as Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands, who were likely to share the same views. Among those who joined the organisation at the time were Dr. Dhiren Sarkar, Chanji Kersasp, N. S. Marathe, Dr. [[Jnanendra Das Gupta|J. N. Dasgupta]], and C. Padmanabhan Pillai, quickly joined by his brother, [[Champak Raman Pillai]]. The 'Champak-Chatto' Berlin Committee was founded.<ref name=Bhavans/> | ||
Although the group urged him, Oppenheim refused to approach [[Shyamji Krishnavarma]], then in [[Geneva]], nor did he try to reach [[Lala Lajpat Rai]], then in the United States. The latter was suspected by British intelligence in the United States to be deeply involved in the seditionist movement<ref>{{Harvnb|Dignan|1971|p=}}</ref> although he personally refused to enter an alliance with another Imperialist Power.<ref name=Fraser257/> In 1915, [[Har Dayal]] and [[Maulavi Barkatullah|Barkatullah]] became actively involved in the Berlin Committee and its goals. The committee is known to have sent missions to the Middle Eastern cities of [[Istanbul]] and [[Baghdad]], and [[Kabul]], [[Afghanistan]]. | Although the group urged him, Oppenheim refused to approach [[Shyamji Krishnavarma]], then in [[Geneva]], nor did he try to reach [[Lala Lajpat Rai]], then in the United States. The latter was suspected by British intelligence in the United States to be deeply involved in the seditionist movement<ref>{{Harvnb|Dignan|1971|p=}}</ref> although he personally refused to enter an alliance with another Imperialist Power.<ref name=Fraser257/> In 1915, [[Har Dayal]] and [[Maulavi Barkatullah|Barkatullah]] became actively involved in the Berlin Committee and its goals. The committee is known to have sent missions to the Middle Eastern cities of [[Istanbul]] and [[Baghdad]], and [[Kabul]], [[Afghanistan]].{{CN|date=July 2022}} | ||
==Hindu–German Conspiracy== | ==Hindu–German Conspiracy== | ||
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Although the Amir made no commitment to the group, they found support amongst the Amir's immediate and close political and religious advisory group, including his brother [[Nasrullah Khan (Afghanistan)|Nasrullah Khan]], his sons [[Inayatullah Khan]] and [[Amānullāh Khān]], and religious leaders and tribesmen.<ref name=Sims-Williams120/> Afghanistan's then most influential newspaper, the ''Siraj al-Akhbar'', took Barkatullah as an officiating editor in early 1916. Its editor [[Mahmud Tarzi]] published a number of inflammatory articles by [[Raja Mahendra Pratap]], as well as increasingly anti-British and pro-[[Central Powers]] articles and propaganda. By May 1916, the tone in the paper was deemed serious enough for the [[British Raj]] to intercept its issues.<ref name=Sims-Williams120/> In 1916, the Berlin Committee established the [[Provisional Government of India]] in Kabul. | Although the Amir made no commitment to the group, they found support amongst the Amir's immediate and close political and religious advisory group, including his brother [[Nasrullah Khan (Afghanistan)|Nasrullah Khan]], his sons [[Inayatullah Khan]] and [[Amānullāh Khān]], and religious leaders and tribesmen.<ref name=Sims-Williams120/> Afghanistan's then most influential newspaper, the ''Siraj al-Akhbar'', took Barkatullah as an officiating editor in early 1916. Its editor [[Mahmud Tarzi]] published a number of inflammatory articles by [[Raja Mahendra Pratap]], as well as increasingly anti-British and pro-[[Central Powers]] articles and propaganda. By May 1916, the tone in the paper was deemed serious enough for the [[British Raj]] to intercept its issues.<ref name=Sims-Williams120/> In 1916, the Berlin Committee established the [[Provisional Government of India]] in Kabul. | ||
Its formation infers the seriousness of intention and purpose of the revolutionaries. The government had [[Raja Mahendra Pratap]] as president, [[Maulavi Barkatullah|Barkatullah]] as Prime Minister, Ubaid al Sindhi as the Minister for India, [[Maulavi Bashir]] as War Minister and [[Champakaran Pillai]] as Foreign Minister. It tried to gain support from the [[Russian Empire]], [[ | Its formation infers the seriousness of intention and purpose of the revolutionaries. The government had [[Raja Mahendra Pratap]] as president, [[Maulavi Barkatullah|Barkatullah]] as Prime Minister, Ubaid al Sindhi as the Minister for India, [[Maulavi Bashir]] as War Minister and [[Champakaran Pillai]] as Foreign Minister. It tried to gain support from the [[Russian Empire]], [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republican China]], and Japan. [[Galib Pasha]] joined them in proclaiming ''[[jihad]]'' against Britain.<ref name="Ansari 1986 516"/> | ||
Following the [[February Revolution]] in Russia in 1917, Pratap's Government is known to have corresponded with the nascent Soviet Government. In 1918, Pratap met the Russian leader [[Leon Trotsky]] in [[Petrograd]] before meeting the Kaiser in Berlin; he urged both to mobillise against British India.<ref name="Hughes 2002 474">{{Harvnb|Hughes|2002|p=474}}</ref> Under pressure from the British, the Afghans withdrew their cooperation and the mission closed down. The [[Niedermayer–Hentig Expedition]], with associated liaisons of the German mission had a profound effect on the political and social situation in Afghanistan. It catalyzed political change that ended with the assassination of [[Habibullah Khan|Habibullah]] in 1919 and the transfer of power to [[Nasrullah Khan (Afghanistan)|Nasrullah]] and, subsequently, Amānullah; the [[Third Anglo-Afghan War]] began, which led to Afghan Independence.<ref name="Hughes 2002 474"/> | Following the [[February Revolution]] in Russia in 1917, Pratap's Government is known to have corresponded with the nascent Soviet Government. In 1918, Pratap met the Russian leader [[Leon Trotsky]] in [[Petrograd]] before meeting the Kaiser in Berlin; he urged both to mobillise against British India.<ref name="Hughes 2002 474">{{Harvnb|Hughes|2002|p=474}}</ref> Under pressure from the British, the Afghans withdrew their cooperation and the mission closed down. The [[Niedermayer–Hentig Expedition]], with associated liaisons of the German mission had a profound effect on the political and social situation in Afghanistan. It catalyzed political change that ended with the assassination of [[Habibullah Khan|Habibullah]] in 1919 and the transfer of power to [[Nasrullah Khan (Afghanistan)|Nasrullah]] and, subsequently, Amānullah; the [[Third Anglo-Afghan War]] began, which led to Afghan Independence.<ref name="Hughes 2002 474"/> | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
* {{Citation |last1=Dignan |first1=Don |title=The Hindu Conspiracy in Anglo-American Relations during World War I |journal=The Pacific Historical Review |volume=40 |issue=1 |date=February 1971 |pages=57–76 |publisher=University of California Press |issn=0030-8684 |doi=10.2307/3637829 |jstor=3637829}} | |||
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110718223554/http://newdelhi.daad.de/mainFrame/news/mehrfart5.html Newsletter of the Regional Office-South East Asia]. German Academic Exchange Service. | *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110718223554/http://newdelhi.daad.de/mainFrame/news/mehrfart5.html Newsletter of the Regional Office-South East Asia]. German Academic Exchange Service. | ||
*[http://www.bhavans.info/heritage/champakchatto.asp "Champak-Chatto And the Berlin Committee"].[[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]] | *[http://www.bhavans.info/heritage/champakchatto.asp "Champak-Chatto And the Berlin Committee"].[[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]] | ||