Notes For All Chapters – History Class 8
1. Introduction
- The Armed Revolutionary Movement was a significant part of India’s fight against British rule.
- It included armed rebellions, assassinations, and secret organizations formed to overthrow the British government.
- The movement was inspired by patriotism, bravery, and sacrifice.
2. Early Armed Revolts
A. Ramsingh Kuka’s Rebellion
- Leader: Ramsingh Kuka
- Location: Punjab
- Objective: To oppose British policies and injustice.
- Outcome: This uprising laid the foundation for armed resistance against the British.
B. Vasudev Balwant Phadke
- Location: Maharashtra
- Objective: Believed in armed struggle to free India.
- Actions:
- Learned military skills from Vastad Lahuji Salve.
- Formed an army of Ramoshis (local people) to fight the British.
- Outcome:
- Phadke’s rebellion was unsuccessful.
- He was captured and sent to Eden Jail, where he died in 1883.
C. Chafekar Brothers
- Event: Plague in Pune (1897).
- Reason: Commissioner Rand used harsh measures during the plague.
- Action:
- Damodar and Balkrishna Chafekar assassinated Rand on 22 June 1897.
- Their brother Vasudev Chafekar also supported the movement.
- Outcome: All three brothers and their associate Mahadev Ranade were hanged.
3. Abhinav Bharat
Founded by: Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in 1904 (earlier known as Mitramela).
Activities:
- Sent revolutionary literature and weapons to India from England.
- Wrote “The First War of Independence – 1857”, arguing that the 1857 revolt was the first fight for freedom.
Outcome:
- Savarkar’s brother, Babarao, was arrested and given life imprisonment.
- Anant Laxman Kanhere assassinated Jackson, the Collector of Nashik, in 1909.
- Savarkar was sentenced to 50 years of rigorous imprisonment in the Andaman Islands.
4. Revolutionary Movement in Bengal
A. Anushilan Samiti
Leader: Barindrakumar Ghosh (Brother of Aurobindo Ghosh).
Objective: To weaken British rule through armed rebellion.
Activities:
- Manufactured bombs at Maniktala (Kolkata).
- In 1908, Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki tried to kill Judge Kingsford but mistakenly killed two Englishwomen.
Outcome:
- Prafulla Chaki committed suicide to avoid capture.
- Khudiram Bose was arrested and hanged.
B. Rash Behari Bose and Sachindra Nath Sanyal
- Spread revolutionary networks in Punjab, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.
- In 1912, they attempted to assassinate Viceroy Lord Hardinge by throwing a bomb, but he survived.
5. India House (London)
Founder: Pandit Shyamji Krishna Varma.
Purpose:
- Provide scholarships to Indian students.
- Support Indian revolutionaries abroad.
Key Figures:
- Swatantryaveer Savarkar – Sent books and arms to India.
- Madam Cama – Unfurled the Indian flag at the World Socialist Conference in Germany.
- Madanlal Dhingra – Assassinated Curzon Wyllie and was hanged.
6. Gadar Movement
Founded by: Lala Hardayal, Bhai Parmanand, and Dr. Pandurang Sadashiv Khankhoje.
Location: USA and Canada.
Purpose:
- Inspire Indians abroad to fight British rule.
- Published the “Gadar” newspaper to spread revolutionary ideas.
Outcome:
- Rash Behari Bose and Vishnu Ganesh Pingle planned a revolt in Punjab.
- The British uncovered the plan and arrested Pingle, who was hanged.
7. Kakori Conspiracy (1925)
Leaders:
- Chandrashekhar Azad
- Ram Prasad Bismil
- Ashfaqulla Khan
- Rajendra Lahiri
Event: On 9 August 1925, revolutionaries looted a train carrying British treasury near Kakori, Uttar Pradesh.
Outcome:
- Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Roshan Singh, and Rajendra Lahiri were hanged.
- Chandrashekhar Azad escaped but later died in an encounter.
8. Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA)
Formed by: Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev in 1928.
Objectives:
- End British exploitation.
- Establish social justice and equality.
Key Actions:
Assassination of Saunders (1928):
- Bhagat Singh and Rajguru killed Saunders to avenge Lala Lajpat Rai’s death.
Bombing the Assembly (1929):
- Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutta threw bombs in the Central Assembly to protest against repressive laws.
Outcome:
- Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev were hanged on 23 March 1931.
- Chandrashekhar Azad died during an encounter at Alfred Park in Allahabad.
9. Chittagong Armoury Raid (1930)
Leader: Surya Sen (Masterda)
Objective: Capture British weapons and paralyze communication.
Action:
- On 18 April 1930, revolutionaries seized two British armories and cut telegraph lines.
Outcome:
- Surya Sen and 12 associates were hanged.
- Kalpana Dutta received life imprisonment.
- Pritilata Waddedar committed suicide to avoid capture.
10. Sardar Udham Singh
- Action: In 1940, Udham Singh assassinated General Dyer in London to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
11. Significance of the Armed Revolutionary Movement
- Inspiration: Their bravery and sacrifice inspired future generations.
- Unity: Created national unity against British oppression.
- Freedom: These movements accelerated the fight for India’s independence.
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