Nationalist Movements between 1905 and 1918

When we think of India’s freedom struggle, we often imagine Mahatma Gandhi leading satyagraha or Nehru addressing crowds about independence. But before Gandhi came to the centre stage, there was another phase — a fiery, impatient, and deeply emotional phase — known as Militant Nationalism.

This was the period roughly between 1905 and 1919, when Indian politics shifted from the polite petitions of the Moderates towards more assertive, confrontational methods. Its seeds, however, had been sown much earlier. If the Revolt of 1857 was the first great outburst against British rule, it was also the moment when Indians realised both the possibility of freedom and the price they would have to pay for it. After 1857, when the British consolidated their control, the nationalist movement slowly began in the form of the Indian National Congress (1885) under moderate leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and Surendranath Banerjea. They had faith in constitutional methods — petitions, speeches, and appeals to British “justice.”

But by the turn of the 20th century, a younger generation was growing restless. They saw that moderate methods were too slow. The British ignored their demands, poverty deepened, and repression increased. These young leaders — Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Maharashtra, Bipin Chandra Pal in Bengal, Lala Lajpat Rai in Punjab, and Aurobindo Ghose — argued that freedom would never be given as a gift; it had to be seized through courage, sacrifice, and sometimes confrontation.

The spark came in 1905, with the Partition of Bengal. Lord Curzon claimed it was an administrative step, but everyone could see it was a deliberate attempt to divide Hindus and Muslims and weaken the growing nationalist sentiment in Bengal. The response was electrifying — the Swadeshi and Boycott movements. People burnt foreign cloth, refused to buy imported goods, promoted indigenous industries, and opened national schools. For the first time, politics entered bazaars, homes, and classrooms. The call of “Swadeshi” became the song of self-respect.

Yet, it was soon clear that mere boycotts and resolutions were not enough. Militant leaders began speaking of passive resistance, strikes, non-cooperation with British institutions, and even physical confrontation if necessary. This phase brought the masses — students, women, workers, peasants — into active politics. The youth, in particular, were inspired to sacrifice everything for freedom.

But militancy was not just about street protests. In Bengal, secret societies like Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar began plotting assassinations of unpopular British officials. In Maharashtra, groups like Abhinav Bharat led by Savarkar dreamt of armed revolt. In Punjab, farmers rose under leaders like Ajit Singh. Abroad, revolutionaries like Shyamji Krishna Varma, Madam Cama, and Har Dayal spread propaganda and sought international support. And when the First World War (1914–18) broke out, many saw it as Britain’s moment of weakness — an opportunity for India to strike. This gave birth to the Ghadar Movement, one of the boldest global attempts to incite mutiny in the Indian army.

At the same time, Indian politics was also witnessing experiments like the Home Rule Leagues of Tilak and Annie Besant (1916–18). They demanded self-government within the Empire but mobilised people on a scale never seen before. The Lucknow Pact of 1916, where Congress and the Muslim League came together, showed that militant pressure was reshaping Indian politics.

Of course, militant nationalism had its limitations. It often failed to involve peasants and workers fully, and its religious symbols sometimes alienated communities. Government repression was brutal, and movements frequently fizzled out. But its historical role was crucial. It broke the illusion that petitions would ever deliver freedom. It infused the movement with passion, self-confidence, and courage. It created a generation of youth ready to embrace sacrifice, paving the way for mass struggles under Gandhi after 1919.

In short, Militant Nationalism was the bridge. It stood between the cautious constitutionalism of the early Congress and the disciplined mass movements of Gandhi. It gave Indian nationalism a new emotional intensity, taught people the power of boycott, swadeshi, and organised resistance, and prepared the soil in which the next great phase of the struggle could grow.