Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists

List I | List II
I. Abhinav Bharat Society | (A) Sri Aurobindo Ghosh
II. Anushilan Samiti | (B) Lala Hardayal
III. Ghadar Party | (C) C. R. Das
VI. Swaraj Party | (D) V. D. Savarkar

1. Rise of Militant Nationalism (1905-1909) (basic)

The transition from the Moderate phase to the Militant Nationalist (or Extremist) phase around 1905 marked a significant turning point in the Indian freedom struggle. While both groups recognized the exploitative nature of British rule, they differed fundamentally in their methods. The Moderates believed in 'Constitutional Agitation'—using petitions, prayers, and speeches to convince the British to reform. In contrast, the Militant Nationalists felt that these 'mendicancy' (begging) tactics were ineffective and that true progress would only come through Swaraj (self-rule) and mass mobilization History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Rise of Extremism and Swadeshi Movement, p.21.

This era was dominated by the famous Lal-Bal-Pal triumvirate: Lala Lajpat Rai (Punjab), Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Maharashtra), and Bipin Chandra Pal (Bengal). Alongside figures like Aurobindo Ghosh, they transformed the movement into a more assertive force. They moved beyond mere urban discussions to include strikes and the 'boycott' of British goods. For instance, in 1906, the movement shifted toward Passive Resistance—a strategy where Indians refused to cooperate with the British administration to achieve political independence History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Rise of Extremism and Swadeshi Movement, p.20.

The movement also had a profound regional impact. In the South, V.O. Chidambaram Pillai challenged British commercial hegemony by founding the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company in Tuticorin, while Bipin Chandra Pal popularized the cause through fiery speeches in urban areas Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), SPECTRUM, After Nehru..., p.803. This phase proved that nationalism was no longer just an intellectual debate but a mass movement fueled by cultural pride and a demand for dignity.

Feature	Moderate Phase (1885-1905)	Militant Phase (1905-1909)
Primary Goal	Administrative reforms within British rule	Swaraj (Self-rule/Independence)
Key Method	Petitions, Resolutions, and Speeches	Boycott, Swadeshi, and Passive Resistance
Mass Base	Largely limited to the educated elite	Expanded to the lower middle class and students

Sources: History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Rise of Extremism and Swadeshi Movement, p.20-21; Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), SPECTRUM, After Nehru..., p.803; Modern India, Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.), Nationalist Movement 1905—1918, p.238

2. Early Revolutionary Secret Societies in India (intermediate)

To understand the rise of revolutionary secret societies, we must first look at the atmosphere of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As the Moderate phase of the Congress failed to yield immediate results, a section of the youth felt that "propaganda by deed" — inspired by Irish nationalists and Russian nihilists — was the only way to unsettle the British. These societies were clandestine groups where members took oaths of secrecy, practiced physical training, and studied revolutionary literature. They didn't aim for immediate mass mobilization but rather sought to strike terror into the hearts of colonial officials through targeted assassinations and dacoities (to fund their activities).

Maharashtra was the early cradle of this militancy. It began with the Ramosi Peasant Force organized by Vasudev Balwant Phadke in 1879, followed by the efforts of Bal Gangadhar Tilak to channel cultural pride into political resistance through the Ganapati and Shivaji festivals Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917), p.292. The most significant organizational leap occurred when the Savarkar brothers (V.D. Savarkar and Ganesh Savarkar) founded Mitra Mela in 1899, which later merged into the more structured Abhinav Bharat in 1904, modeled after Giuseppe Mazzini’s 'Young Italy' Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, After Nehru..., p.806. This group became infamous for the 1909 assassination of A.M.T. Jackson, the Collector of Nasik, by Anant Lakshman Kanhere.

In Bengal, the movement was even more widespread. By 1902, the Anushilan Samiti was established in Calcutta by Promotha Mitter, alongside Barindra Kumar Ghosh and Jatindranath Banerjee Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917), p.283. While it initially focused on physical culture (gymnasiums), it soon turned toward radical politics. A sister branch, the Dacca Anushilan Samiti, was led by Pulin Behari Das and became a formidable force in Eastern Bengal. These groups used journals like Yugantar and Sandhya to preach the gospel of revolution, arguing that the sacrifice of a few lives could wake the nation from its slumber History, Class XII (Tamilnadu State Board 2024 ed.), Rise of Extremism and Swadeshi Movement, p.28.

Sources: A Brief History of Modern India, First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917), p.283, 286, 292; A Brief History of Modern India, After Nehru..., p.806; History, Class XII (Tamilnadu State Board 2024 ed.), Rise of Extremism and Swadeshi Movement, p.28

3. The Global Dimension: Ghadar and Overseas Resistance (intermediate)

To understand the global dimension of India’s resistance, we must look at the early 20th century, when strict colonial laws like the Defence of India Act made revolutionary work nearly impossible within India. This led many activists to move abroad, particularly to the western coast of North America. Before the formal Ghadar Party was born, early pioneers like Taraknath Das and G.D. Kumar had already laid the groundwork through organizations like the 'Swadesh Sevak Home' in Vancouver and 'United India House' in Seattle Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917), p.289. These hubs provided a sense of community for Indian immigrants while fostering a deep-seated desire to liberate their homeland. In 1913, this energy was channeled into the Pacific Coast Hindustan Association, better known as the Ghadar Party. Founded in San Francisco, its first President was Sohan Singh Bhakna, with the brilliant intellectual Lala Hardayal serving as its General Secretary History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Impact of World War I on Indian Freedom Movement, p.35. The movement was unique because its rank-and-file members were largely Punjabi Sikh peasants and ex-soldiers who had migrated for work, yet they were led by a secular coalition of Hindus and Muslims. Their ideology was strictly non-sectarian and aimed at a total revolutionary war to overthrow British rule. The party’s primary weapon was its journal, Ghadar (meaning 'rebellion'), which was published in several languages including Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi. This publication didn't just stay in San Francisco; it reached Indian communities across the globe — from Japan and China to East Africa and South America Modern India, Bipin Chandra, Nationalist Movement 1905—1918, p.258. The movement was further fueled by the Komagata Maru incident, where a ship of Indian immigrants was forced back from Canada, highlighting the racial discrimination and colonial bondage that Indians faced everywhere. When World War I broke out, the Ghadarites saw it as a golden opportunity to return to India and incite an armed uprising among Indian soldiers.

Sources: History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Impact of World War I on Indian Freedom Movement, p.35; Modern India, Bipin Chandra (NCERT 1982 ed.), Nationalist Movement 1905—1918, p.258; Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917), p.289

4. Post-Non-Cooperation: The Swarajist Challenge (intermediate)

In the wake of the Chauri Chaura incident in February 1922, Mahatma Gandhi abruptly called off the Non-Cooperation Movement India and the Contemporary World – II, Nationalism in India, p.42. This sudden withdrawal, followed by Gandhi’s arrest, left the national movement in a state of paralysis and frustration. Within the Congress, a strategic debate emerged: should the party continue to boycott the legislative councils, or should it enter them to challenge British policies from the inside? This divide gave rise to two distinct factions.

The Swarajists (also known as "Pro-Changers") were led by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru. They argued that the movement should transition from the streets to the halls of government. Their strategy was to enter the provincial and central councils, as established by the 1919 Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, to "wreck the reforms from within" by obstructing government business and exposing the lack of real power given to Indians A Brief History of Modern India (Spectrum), After Nehru..., p.821. They believed this would maintain political interest among the masses during a "passive phase" of the struggle.

Feature	Pro-Changers (Swarajists)	No-Changers
Key Leaders	C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru, Ajmal Khan	C. Rajagopalachari, Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad
Core Belief	End the council boycott to fight from within.	Continue boycott and focus on "Constructive Work."
Concern	Feared political stagnation and mass apathy.	Feared entry would lead to corruption and loss of zeal A Brief History of Modern India (Spectrum), Emergence of Swarajists..., p.341.

The conflict reached a head at the Gaya Session of Congress (1922), where the Pro-Changer resolution was defeated. Consequently, C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru resigned from their posts to form the Swaraj Party in January 1923. Unlike the 1907 Surat Split, both groups remained within the broader Congress umbrella to avoid weakening the national cause. Eventually, a compromise was reached, and the Swarajists were allowed to contest elections as a group within the Congress, leading to significant electoral victories in late 1923.

Sources: India and the Contemporary World – II. History-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025), Nationalism in India, p.42; A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM., After Nehru..., p.821; A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM., Emergence of Swarajists, Socialist Ideas, Revolutionary Activities and Other New Forces, p.341

5. Legal Trials of Revolutionaries: Alipore and Nasik Cases (exam-level)

The legal trials of revolutionaries in the early 20th century were not merely judicial proceedings; they were pivotal moments that transformed 'conspirators' into national icons. Two of the most significant were the Alipore Conspiracy Case (1908) and the Nasik Conspiracy Case (1909), which showcased the British Raj's attempt to dismantle the secret societies that had begun to challenge colonial authority through militant means.
The Alipore Conspiracy Case (also known as the Manicktolla Bomb Conspiracy or Muraripukur Conspiracy) erupted after an attempt on the life of Douglas Kingsford, a magistrate notorious for his harsh treatment of nationalists. Two young revolutionaries, Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki, threw a bomb at a carriage in Muzaffarpur, accidentally killing two English women instead History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Rise of Extremism and Swadeshi Movement, p.23. This led the police to the Muraripukur garden house, where they arrested members of the Anushilan Samiti, including Barindra Kumar Ghosh and his brother, Sri Aurobindo Ghosh. The trial became legendary primarily due to the defense led by Chittaranjan (C.R.) Das, who argued that Aurobindo was a poet of patriotism rather than a criminal. While Barindra was sentenced to transportation for life, Aurobindo was acquitted due to flimsy evidence, a turning point that eventually led him to retire from active politics to a life of spirituality in Pondicherry Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917), p.284.
Following closely was the Nasik Conspiracy Case, which centered around the Abhinav Bharat Society founded by the Savarkar brothers. In 1909, Anant Laxman Kanhere assassinated A.M.T. Jackson, the District Magistrate of Nasik, to avenge the arrest and deportation of Ganesh Savarkar. The subsequent trial uncovered a vast network of revolutionaries. V. D. Savarkar was arrested in London, extradited to India, and ultimately sentenced to two consecutive life terms in the Cellular Jail of the Andamans. These trials were significant because they forced the revolutionary movement to evolve, shifting from individual acts of heroism toward more organized, global networks of resistance.

Feature	Alipore Conspiracy Case	Nasik Conspiracy Case
Key Organization	Anushilan Samiti	Abhinav Bharat Society
Primary Leaders Involved	Aurobindo & Barindra Ghosh	V. D. & Ganesh Savarkar
Legal Defense/Outcome	Defended by C.R. Das; Aurobindo acquitted.	Mass arrests; V.D. Savarkar sentenced to 50 years.

Sources: History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Rise of Extremism and Swadeshi Movement, p.23; Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917), p.284

6. Profiles of Key Architects: Savarkar, Ghosh, Hardayal, and Das (exam-level)

To understand the Indian National Movement, we must look beyond the mainstream non-violent struggle and appreciate the diverse strategies employed by its architects. These leaders ranged from radical revolutionaries to brilliant constitutionalists, each carving a unique path toward Swaraj.

Vinayak Damodar (V.D.) Savarkar was a pioneer of revolutionary nationalism. In 1904, he founded the Abhinav Bharat Society, a secret organization dedicated to armed struggle against the British. Perhaps his greatest intellectual contribution was his reinterpretation of the 1857 uprising. While British historians dismissed it as a 'sepoy mutiny,' Savarkar, in his 1909 book The Indian War of Independence, characterized it as the 'First War of Indian Independence' inspired by the ideal of self-rule Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. | The Revolt of 1857 | p.180.

In Bengal, the revolutionary flame was carried by Aurobindo Ghosh and his brother Barindra. They were central to the Anushilan Samiti, the most prominent revolutionary group in the region. Their activities led to the famous Alipore Conspiracy Case (1908), where Aurobindo was charged with 'waging war against the King.' He was brilliantly defended by Chittaranjan (C.R.) Das, which led to his acquittal Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. | First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) | p.284. C.R. Das later went on to form the Swaraj Party in 1923 alongside Motilal Nehru, advocating for 'entry into councils' to obstruct British governance from within.

Meanwhile, the struggle gained an international dimension through Lala Hardayal. An intellectual powerhouse, he was the driving force behind the Ghadar Party, founded in San Francisco in 1913. The Ghadarites aimed to organize an armed rebellion among Indian soldiers and expatriates, proving that the fire of Indian nationalism could burn just as brightly on foreign soil.

Leader	Key Organization / Work	Strategic Approach
V.D. Savarkar	Abhinav Bharat / 1857 Historiography	Revolutionary / Ideological
Aurobindo Ghosh	Anushilan Samiti	Revolutionary (early phase)
Lala Hardayal	Ghadar Party	International / Armed Revolt
C.R. Das	Swaraj Party	Constitutional / Council Entry

Sources: A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM., The Revolt of 1857, p.180; A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM., First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917), p.284

7. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

Having explored the evolution of the revolutionary movement and the shift in political strategies post-1922, this question serves as a perfect synthesis of your building blocks. You have learned how secret societies emerged as a response to the Partition of Bengal and how the failure of the Non-Cooperation Movement led to the rise of the 'Pro-changers.' This question tests your ability to categorize these distinct phases and their respective leaders as detailed in A Brief History of Modern India (Spectrum).

To arrive at the correct answer, look for your 'anchor' facts. You know that V. D. Savarkar transformed the Mitra Mela into the Abhinav Bharat Society in 1904, while Lala Hardayal was the intellectual force behind the Ghadar Party in San Francisco. Once you link C. R. Das (the 'Deshbandhu') specifically to the 1923 Swaraj Party, the puzzle pieces align. This leaves the Anushilan Samiti to be paired with Sri Aurobindo Ghosh, who was a key ideological figure in the Bengali revolutionary circuit. Following this logical chain leads you directly to Option (D).

UPSC often uses chronological confusion and name swapping as traps. For instance, Options (A) and (B) attempt to lure you into misattributing the Ghadar Party to C. R. Das or the Swaraj Party to Lala Hardayal—leaders who operated in entirely different geographic and ideological spheres. The key to avoiding these traps is temporal awareness: the Swaraj Party (1923) was a constitutionalist reaction years after the early revolutionary fervor of the Anushilan Samiti and Abhinav Bharat. By identifying even two 'anchors,' you can usually eliminate the distractors and find the correct sequence.