Indian National Movement (1905 - 1916)

Main Objective of Extremists

Their main objective was to attain Swaraj or complete independence and not just self-government.

Methods of the Extremists

The Extremists had no faith in the British sense of justice and fair play. They pointed out the forceful means by which the British had taken control of India. They believed that political rights will have to be fought for. They had the spirit of self-reliance and self- determination.

The methods used by the extremists were:

1. Not cooperating with the British Government by boycotting government courts, schools and colleges.

2. Promotion of Swadeshi and boycott of foreign goods.

3. Introduction and promotion of national education.

Leaders of the Extremists

The extremists were led by Bala Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipinchandra Pal and Aurobindo Ghosh.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak is regarded as the real founder of the popular anti-British movement in India. He was known as ‘Lokamanya’. He attacked the British through his weeklies The Mahratta and the Kesari. He was jailed twice by the British for his nationalist activities and in 1908 deported to Mandalay for six years. He set up the Home Rule League in 1916 at Poona and declared “Swaraj is my birth-right and I will have it.”

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