What was the period of extremism in the indian freedom movement?
Answers
This period was from 1905-1918. Some of the important extremists leaders were Lala Lajpat Rai, Balgangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Aurobindo Ghosh. The ideology of getting freedom from British was completely different from that of moderates. Extremists were very disturbed with large scale unemployment among Indians, partiality towards Indians, the divide and rule policy of British. Extremists believed in agitation. They thought the idea of moderates as begging for their own rights. The extremists adopted the policy of boycott and swadeshi as the chief method of agitation. The extremists rejected all goods, offices and education system which British followed. They burnt all the goods of the British to show their anger towards them. Even the students from different parts of India boycotted the college and joined the movement. The extremists convinced Indians to buy and use only those goods that were manufactured in India. This led to the establishment of many industries in India. Jameshtji Tata initiated iron and steel industry. VO Chidhambaram set up steam Navigation Company. This swadeshi movement spread across India like forest fire. The policy of divide and rule angered extremist. In the year 1905 with the pretext of not able to manage whole of Bengal, it was divided by lord Curzon. He stated the reason for division as management of Bengal in a better way. But however Bengal was divided based on religion. The partition included Assam and Muslim majority east Bengal from other parts which were Hindu dominated. This clearly angered the extremists. Protestors from different parts of India tied rakhi to show brotherhood. They sang songs of Vande Mataram and led the processions. The agitation on the partition of Bengal threatened British. The unity of Hindus and Muslims during the anti partition movement made British to follow the rule of divide and rule. They made Muslims believe that the motivation of both Hindus and Muslims were different.