Profile
Settings
Refer your friends
Sign out
Yes, it is undeniable that terrorism is unfortunate and is a cause for loss of lives, instability, and fear, often in innocent civilians. However, In the article that follows, I will be putting forth a different approach to past experiences of terrorism in India that significantly contributed to the Indian freedom Struggle. I want to talk about Revolutionary terrorism in India. Every coin has two sides. A terrorist to one is a savior to another. So in the article below, I will try and talk about the history of revolutionary terrorism in India.
WHAT IS TERRORISM?
The universal definition of terrorism, as per the UN, is defined as acts committed against civilians with the intent of bloodshed and instilling a source of terror in a target group. Yes, there are quite a few troubling aspects in the act of terrorism, but one needs to know its aim or objective. To further explain my perspective, we will look back into revolutionary terrorism in India.
THE CAUSE OF REVOLUTIONARY TERRORISM
As previously mentioned, there always is a situation that needs to be understood before declaring or deeming any act as terrorism. To the US, Fidel Castro was a terrorist, but he was a hero to the locals. So it is vital to consider the existing political situations and then make your stand.
Do not get me wrong, terrorism as an act is regrettable and, therefore, must strive to know how to control terrorism at all costs. However, we must not be quick to dismiss a larger picture that often one-sided propaganda can hide. Another misconception is that all revolutionaries are nothing but anarchists. However, that is not accurate. Anarchists belong to a stateless society, while the latter does.
BENGAL: THE EPICENTER OF REVOLUTIONARY TERRORISM IN INDIA
It was initiated in the aftermath of the Bengal partition created by Lord Curzon in 1905 and was fueled by the split of Congress in the Lahore session of 1907. However, it later significantly played the role of showcasing the Indian vision of Independence or Swaraj that many were willing to die and kill for if needed. One of the well-known groups was called ‘Bhadralok’ that drew inspiration from the writing of scholars such as Swami Vivekananda, Aurobindo Gosh, and other influential leaders. It was the contemporary scenario that resorted to that thought process. This came when many nations were going into war to protect the interests of their motherland, and many Indian leaders thought that it was time to follow suit.
THE COIN’S TWO SIDES
In the context of revolutionary terrorism in India, the British play a significant role in helping us understand the interpretation. Any or all acts of the revolution were deemed crimes and treated as such. Even the arrests made were for political crimes and not terrorist activities. The British said that these were attempts meant to disrupt normalcy by a group of anarchists or terrorists. However, it is mainly inaccurate as the very reason for the existence of such organizations was to express the dissent that had fallen on deaf ears of the British administration. So here in this situation, the colonizers termed it acts of terrorism, while millions of Indians joined this revolution. These “terrorists” called themselves Viplavi, translating to Revolutionaries.
WHAT BEING A REVOLUTIONARY TERRORIST MEANT?
So keeping the context aside, what did it truly mean for these handfuls of individuals like Bhagat Singh, Madhan Lal Dhingra, Prafulla Chaki, Shanti Gosh, Sunidhi Chaudhary, and countless others to be Krantikari, Aatankwaadi? It simply meant that it was a shot at ending the racial discrimination they faced for decades. The feeling of being treated as untouchables in their motherland. The cost of this? To embark upon a journey of maximum sacrifice and be a Maranjayee (conqueror of death) which many did without a second thought.
CONCLUSION
It would be inconsiderate to say that terrorism is justified and valid. However, deeming any act of revolution as “terrorism” without considering the social and political context is grossly ignorant. One must understand that most of such terrorist attacks come as a reactionary measure to the current social or political order. When one is being systematically oppressed and exploited, they have two choices, adapt or perish. Those who choose the third are the ones deemed terrorists. If we want to know how to control or prevent terrorism, the answer is an introspection into our way of life.
