Anushilan and Jugantar — Definition

Definition

Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar were two pivotal revolutionary organizations that emerged in Bengal during the early 20th century, fundamentally altering the landscape of India's freedom struggle. Their genesis can be traced directly to the disillusionment following the 1905 Partition of Bengal, an act that ignited fervent nationalist sentiments and exposed the limitations of moderate political methods.

While the Indian National Congress, under its moderate leadership, pursued constitutional petitions and appeals, a younger, more radical generation felt that such approaches were ineffective against an intransigent colonial power.

This ideological chasm led to the birth of secret societies committed to armed resistance, often termed 'revolutionary terrorism' by the British, but viewed as 'revolutionary nationalism' by their proponents.

The Anushilan Samiti, founded in 1902 in Calcutta by Satish Chandra Bose, initially focused on physical culture, moral training, and nationalist discourse, drawing inspiration from Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's 'Anushilan Tattva' (doctrine of training).

It quickly evolved into a network of secret societies, with a prominent branch established in Dhaka by Pulin Behari Das, which became particularly active and well-organized. The Samiti aimed to prepare a cadre of dedicated revolutionaries through rigorous physical and mental discipline, believing that a strong, self-sacrificing youth was essential for an armed uprising.

Their methods included dacoities to fund operations, assassinations of oppressive British officials, and the collection of arms.

Jugantar, meaning 'New Era', began as a Bengali weekly newspaper in 1906, co-founded by Barindra Kumar Ghose (Aurobindo Ghose's younger brother), Bhupendranath Dutt, and others. The newspaper quickly became the ideological organ of a distinct revolutionary group that coalesced around Barindra Kumar Ghose and Aurobindo Ghose.

While sharing the Anushilan Samiti's ultimate goal of complete independence through armed struggle, Jugantar was characterized by a more immediate and aggressive approach to revolutionary action. It openly advocated for violence against the British, publishing articles that glorified martyrdom and provided practical instructions for bomb-making.

The Jugantar group was responsible for some of the earliest and most sensational acts of political violence, including the Muzaffarpur bombing in 1908.

Both organizations operated as secret societies, maintaining strict discipline and compartmentalization to evade British intelligence. They drew their members primarily from the educated middle class, particularly students and young professionals, who were deeply influenced by nationalist literature, the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, and the examples of revolutionary movements in Ireland and Russia.

Their activities, though often localized and sporadic, had a profound psychological impact, demonstrating that British authority was not invincible and inspiring a sense of defiance among the populace.

From a UPSC perspective, understanding the ideological evolution from cultural nationalism to revolutionary terrorism is a critical angle here, as it highlights the diverse strategies adopted during the freedom struggle and the complex interplay between political thought and direct action.