Q1(b). Discuss the factors that led to the growth of militant nationalism in the beginning of the 20th century. How the ideology and actions of militant nationalists differed from those of the moderates ? How far both succeeded in achieving their political objectives ?

“When peaceful methods fail, revolutionary ideas take root.” – Bipin Chandra

Militant nationalism emerged at the turn of the twentieth century as a reaction to British repression, economic decline, failure of moderate politics, and global revolutionary influences. It marked a shift from constitutional agitation to assertive, sometimes armed, resistance.

Factors Leading to the Rise of Militant Nationalism

Disillusionment with Moderates

• Moderates’ faith in petitions and constitutional reforms seemed ineffective.
• The limited concessions of the Indian Councils Act (1892) disappointed educated youth.
• British arrogance after the Ilbert Bill controversy revealed racial prejudice.

Economic Exploitation and Poverty

• The drain of wealth estimated by Dadabhai Naoroji,
• Frequent famines (1896, 1899, 1901),
• High land revenue and low agricultural productivity created popular anger.

Partition of Bengal (1905)

The emotionally charged division fuelled massive protests, Swadeshi movement, and radicalisation among students.

Repressive British Measures

• Lathi charges, deportations (Lal-Bal-Pal), press censorship, and sedition cases (Tilak).
• Criminal Tribes Act, preventive detentions, and curbs on literature increased resentment.

Influence of Global Revolutions

Irish struggle, Italian unification, Japanese victory over Russia (1905) inspired Indian youth.

Role of Secret Societies and Revolutionary Literature

Anushilan Samiti, Jugantar, Abhinav Bharat and writings of Aurobindo, Bankim Chandra, and later Ghadr Party intensified militant consciousness.

How Militants Differed from Moderates

Moderates

• Believed in constitutional means, petitions and legal methods.
• Relied on faith in British “sense of justice.”
• Focused on incremental reforms: council entry, civil service reforms, economic critique.

Militants

• Advocated self-rule through direct action, including boycotts, swadeshi, strikes and, in some cases, armed resistance.
• Rejected the belief that British rule could be morally persuaded.
• Promoted national education, physical training, and revolutionary sacrifices.
• Secret societies planned political assassinations and attacks on British officials (e.g., Alipore Bomb Case, Curzon Wyllie assassination by Madan Lal Dhingra).

Achievements:

Moderates’ Achievements

• Laid the ideological foundation of nationalism.
• Exposed economic exploitation through the Drain Theory.
• Secured partial reforms: Indian Councils Act (1909), financial decentralisation.

However, they failed to significantly weaken colonial authority.

Militant Nationalists’ Achievements

• Reignited mass nationalism, especially among youth.
• Created a culture of sacrifice and courage.
• Forced British to take the Indian question more seriously.
• Inspired later revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Azad and the revolutionary diaspora.

But armed rebellion alone could not overthrow colonial power and often resulted in severe repression.

Moderates built the intellectual and institutional base; militants injected emotional and moral energy into the movement. Together, they prepared the ground for Gandhian mass nationalism after 1920, which finally shook the foundations of British rule.