Ghadar Movement is an important in Modern Indian History. This article elaborates on the Ghadar Party, kits history, formation, leaders, objectives, key achievements, decline and critical analysis.
“Today, there begins in foreign lands, but in our own country’s tongue, a war against the English Raj… What is our name? Mutiny (Ghadar means mutiny). What is our work? Mutiny. Where will the mutiny break out? In India… The time will soon come when rifles and blood will take the place of pen and ink… Brave men and worthy sons of India, be ready with bullets and shots. Soon the fate of tyrants will be decided on the battlefield, and days of happiness and glory will dawn for India.”
— Excerpts from the inaugural issue of the ‘The Hindustan Ghadar’ newspaper, published on November 1, 1913
The Indian National Movement, a multi-faceted and long-drawn-out struggle for independence, was marked by the contributions of diverse individuals and groups spread across regions and ideologies. While mainstream political organizations like the Indian National Congress and revolutionary groups like the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) played a significant role, an equally potent yet often overlooked chapter in this saga was scripted overseas by the Ghadar Party. Formed in the early 20th century by expatriate Indians in North America, the Ghadar Party laid the foundation for a transnational anti-colonial movement that aimed at uprooting British rule through armed revolt. The Ghadar Movement represents the first major attempt by the Indian diaspora to organize an armed rebellion and establish a free Indian republic.
Table of Contents
Historical Background: Need for a Revolutionary Party and the Movement
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, various factors contributed to the rise of revolutionary nationalism among Indians abroad. Some of these important factors are given below.
1. Racial Discrimination and Economic Hardships: By the turn of the 20th century, many Indians, had migrated to United States and Canada, in search of economic opportunities. Most of these emigrants were from Punjab and sought work in the field and factories. They were concentrated in cities like Portland, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and regions of Northern California, the Pacific and North-West part of North America. Though they faced exploitation, economic hardships, legal restrictions, and racism in North America, yet they became aware of the new concepts which they never heard of back home in the British India. These concepts such as labour unions, rights of industrial workers, nationalism, liberty, etc., generated a sense of togetherness among them.
2. Political Oppression and Nationalist Awakening: British colonial policies in India, such as the Partition of Bengal (1905) further alienated Indians. They realized that the root cause of their plight was colonial subjugation back home. Many expatriates believed that India’s liberation required direct action rather than peaceful protest.
3. Role of Indian Intellectuals: The growing influence of nationalist thinkers like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Aurobindo Ghosh, and Bipin Chandra Pal, along with revolutionary societies such as Anushilan Samiti, provided ideological backing for an organised movement.
4. Influence of Revolutions and Political Thought: These immigrants came in touch with the democratic ideals and revolutionary literature abroad. The American War of Independence, the French Revolution, and the Russian Revolution (1905) deeply inspired Indian revolutionaries abroad. These not only sowed the seeds of political awakening but also made them believe that armed rebellion was the only way to overthrow British colonial rule.
Formation of the Ghadar Party
In this environment of discontent, a group of Indian immigrants met at Astoria, Oregon, USA 0n 15 July 1913 and decided to form a political front. On November 1, 1913, they formed a formal association called Pacific Coast Hindustan Association (also named as Hindustan Association of the Pacific Coast). Later on, it came to be popularly known as the Ghadar Party, derived from its weekly newspaper ‘The Hindustan Ghadar’ or shortly known as the Ghadar, that advocated for armed revolution.
Lala Har Dayal was the founding leader and Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna the first president of the association. The headquarters of the Ghadar Party was made at Yugantar Ashram in San Francisco, California, USA.
The name “Ghadar”, meaning rebellion, was symbolic of the group’s intent to launch an armed revolt against British colonial rule.
The ‘Ghadar’ Newspaper
The first issue of the ‘The Hindustan Ghadar’ newspaper was published on November 1, 1913 in Urdu. Later, on November 9, 1913 the newspaper was also published in Punjabi (in Gurmukhi script). It was a weekly newspaper. Soon it was expanded to Hindi and other languages including Gujarati, Pashto, Bengali, English, German, French and others. Initially, Lala Har Dayal was the editor of the newspaper. In March 1914, after Lala Har Dayal had to fled to Switzerland to avoid arrest in the US, Ram Chandra Bharadwaj became editor of the newspaper.
The newspaper served as a powerful propaganda tool against British rule and was widely circulated among Indians abroad and smuggled into India. The newspaper covered various topics, including political news, calls for action, and articles promoting nationalism and socialism.
Key Leaders of the Ghadar Party
Some of the key leaders associated with the Ghadar Party were:
- Lala Har Dayal: An intellectual and revolutionary from Delhi, inspired by socialist and anarchist ideas. He was the ideological mentor and founder of the Ghadar Party. He was the General Secretary of the Ghadar Party and Editor of the Urdu Ghadar.
- Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna: A Sikh farmer and labor leader. He was the first and founding president of the Ghadar Party.
- Bhagwan Singh Gyanee: Spread the Ghadar ideology in Canada. He was the president in 1914.
- Kartar Singh Sarabha: A young revolutionary who played a crucial role in organizing the party’s underground activities. He was the editor of Punjabi Ghadar. He became a martyr at just 19.
- Pandit Kanshi Ram: He was the treasurer of the Ghadar Party.
- Ramnath Puri: Propagated nationalist ideas in North America.
- Tarak Nath Das: Worked to mobilize expatriates in support of Indian independence.
Ideology and Objectives of the Ghadar Party
The Ghadar Party stood on a firm ideological platform of complete independence from British rule. Its objectives included:
- Overthrow of British colonialism through armed revolution.
- To instil nationalism among Indians living abroad.
- To promote secularism and unity among Indians regardless of caste, religion, or region, emphasizing Indian nationalism over communal identities.
- Mobilization of Indian soldiers and masses for an all-India uprising.
- To organize military action in India and collaborate with other revolutionary groups.
The party was deeply influenced by socialist, anarchist, and anti-imperialist ideas. It was opposed to moderate and constitutional methods and rejected the petitioning politics of the Indian National Congress.
The slogan of the party was:
“Angrezi Raj ka naash ho! Ghadar le aayenge aazadi!”
(Great Britain’s rule must end! Revolution will bring freedom!)
This radical ideology attracted many young revolutionaries, including students, workers, and farmers.
Major Activities of the Ghadar Party and Ghadar Movement
The Ghadar Party played a significant role in spreading nationalist propaganda and attempting to organize an armed revolution.
1. Publication of the Ghadar Newspaper: The party launched a revolutionary weekly newspaper ‘Ghadar’, printed in Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi, to spread anti-colonial ideas among Indian expatriates. The newspaper became a tool for raising political awareness and inciting rebellion.
2. Propaganda and Mass Mobilization: Ghadar activists toured Canada, USA, Hong Kong, Burma, and Japan, urging Indian soldiers to rebel against the British. They also formed underground networks to facilitate an armed uprising.
3. World War I and the Ghadar Conspiracy: During World War I (1914-1918), the Ghadar Party saw an opportunity to instigate rebellion in India. A plan was developed to smuggle arms and encourage soldiers in the British Indian Army to mutiny. This became known as the Ghadar Conspiracy.
4. Komagata Maru Incident (1914): A key event associated with the Ghadar Movement was the Komagata Maru incident. A ship carrying Indian immigrants was denied entry into Canada under racist immigration laws. British authorities forced the ship to return to India, where many passengers were either arrested or killed. This further fuelled nationalist sentiment.
5. Failed Uprising (1915): Despite rigorous planning, the armed uprising in India failed due to British intelligence infiltration. Many Ghadar leaders, including Kartar Singh Sarabha, were arrested and executed. The British government aggressively suppressed the movement.
Challenges and Decline of the Ghadar Movement
The Ghadar Movement faced multiple obstacles:
- Lack of Coordination: The movement lacked centralized leadership, making it difficult to execute a large-scale revolution.
- British Intelligence Suppression: The British effectively infiltrated the network, arresting key members before the uprising could occur.
- Overestimation of Support: The Ghadarites believed Indian soldiers would revolt en masse, but British control remained strong.
- Exile and Leadership Crisis: Many leaders were either exiled or imprisoned, causing the movement to weaken.
The British Empire responded with brutal repression. Over 40 Ghadarites were executed. Many were sentenced to life imprisonment or exiled to the Andaman Islands. The party’s international network was targeted, and several members were arrested in the U.S. during the San Francisco Trials. By 1919, the Ghadar Movement had largely declined, though its ideological legacy endured.
Legacy and Impact
Despite its failure in launching a successful revolution, the Ghadar Movement made significant contributions to the Indian freedom struggle.
1. Inspiration for Later Revolutionary Movements: The ideology of the Ghadar Party influenced future revolutionary groups, including Bhagat Singh’s Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) and the Communist Party of India.
2. Global Awareness of India’s Struggle: The movement highlighted British oppression on an international scale, garnering support for Indian independence.
3. Symbol of Armed Resistance: The Ghadar Party proved that Indian independence needed militant action alongside non-violent protests.
4. Recognition in Indian History: Today, the Ghadar Party is honored as a crucial chapter in India’s nationalist movement. Monuments and memorials in Punjab and North America commemorate its contributions.
Critical Analysis of the Ghadar Movement
While the Ghadar Movement was high on ideals and courage, it also suffered from critical limitations.
Strengths
- Unflinching patriotism and willingness to sacrifice.
- Secular and inclusive ideology, free from religious or caste biases.
- Strong organizational structure abroad and effective propaganda machinery.
Weaknesses
- Disconnect with Indian masses: The movement largely failed to establish grassroots support within India.
- Lack of coordination: Absence of a central command and miscommunication hampered plans.
- Underestimation of British intelligence capabilities.
Despite these challenges, the Ghadar Movement was a moral and ideological victory. It exposed the vulnerabilities of British rule and inspired a new generation of revolutionaries.
Conclusion
The Ghadar Party and its revolutionary movement hold a significant place in the history of India’s freedom struggle. Although their immediate objectives were not achieved, the Ghadarites’ commitment, international outlook, and courage continue to inspire. They demonstrated that the desire for independence was not confined to India but was a global sentiment nurtured by Indians abroad. For Civil Services aspirants, understanding the Ghadar Movement is vital to appreciating the global dimension of Indian nationalism and the undying spirit of sacrifice that fuelled the freedom struggle.
Their story reminds us that revolutions may fail in the short term but often sow the seeds for long-term transformations.
As Kartar Singh Sarabha once wrote:
“We will die gladly for the sake of our beloved motherland, our bodies will be turned to dust, but our aspirations will never die.”
Timeline of Key Events in Ghadar Movement (1913–1917)
- November 1, 1913: Formation of the Ghadar Party in San Francisco.
- November 1913: First issue of Ghadar newspaper published in Urdu and Punjabi (Gurumukhi).
- 1914: Komagata Maru incident
- 1914: Outbreak of World War I; mass return of Ghadarites to India.
- 1915: Planned mutiny in Punjab foiled; Lahore Conspiracy Case.
- 1917: San Francisco Trials and end of first phase of Ghadar Movement.
Reference Books:
- ‘The Role of the Ghadar Party in the National Movement’ by Gurdev Singh Deol, Sterling Publishers, Jullundur, 1969
- ‘Comprehensive Modern Indian History : From 1707 to The Modern Times’ by Brijesh Singh, S Chand, 2023
- ‘India’s Struggle for Independence’ by Bipan Chandra
- ‘Modern India’ by Sumit Sarkar
- ‘History of the Freedom Movement in India’ by RC Majumdar
- The Ghadar Party: Freedom for India
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