What was the role of Tilak and Aurobindo in the history of Extremism in India?

a. Introduction:

There is no denying the fact that the Indian National Congress under the Moderates achieved very little compared to their expectation from the British government.

The policy of ‘prayer and petition’ pursue’ by the Moderates could hardly deflect the minds of the British to grant satisfactory concessions to the people. It was this failure of the Moderate method of political action that gave birth to extremism or militant nationalism.

Extremism as opposed to Moderate policy believed that boldness and self-sacrifice alone could fulfil the aspirations of the Indians.

Of the Extremist leaders of contemporary Indian politics two most important were: Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Aurobinda Ghosh.

b. Bal Gangadhar Tilak :

Though Bal Gangadhar Tilak had been very closely associated with the congress polities he could not reconcile himself to the policy of compromise adopted by the Moderate leaders of the then Congress.

Tilak, therefore, in course of time put forward the ideal of political struggle against the British whom he dubbed as the ‘enemy’. Reliance and confidence in the Indian tradition and-cultures, deep respect for the Hindu religion and self-determination-these three were the pillars of Tilak’s faith. He considered freedom to be one’s birth-right.

By a skilful marriage of religion and politics Tilak gave a new expression to the popular sentiments. For he believed that hindutva is the bond of unity in our society.

With a view to inspiring the people to a spirit of nationalism and anti-British feeling Tilak organised Ganapati and Shivaji festivals. In fact, Ganapati (Lord Ganesh) and Marathi leader Shivaji had become symbol of Indian nationalism. It is only natural that these two festivals became, in course of time, transformed into anti-British movement.

Tilak’s anti-British political activities reached their climax during the Swadeshi upsurge. He declared categorically that ‘boycott’ and ‘passive resistance’ are the two weapons which Indians should take recourse to in the face of all challenges. Thus the extremism of Tilak had profoundly influenced the people in its favour

c. Aurohindo Ghosh :

Aurobindo’s political career began in India when he took lively interest in it by writing columns for Induprakash, a Marathi daily published from Bombay.

Aurobindo through his writings expressed dissatisfaction over the policy of ‘prayer and petition’ pursued by the moderate leaders of the Indian National Congress.

It was during his stay in Baroda that revolutionary ideology made a powerful impact on him. Gradually Aurobindo established contacts with revolutionary secret societies of Maharashtra which had already emerged there.

Also he sought to channelize kindered development in this regard in Bengal to a regular movement. In fact, in 1902 Aurobindo sent from Baroda one of his agents to Bengal in order to organize secret society for revolutionary or terrorist activities.

It is relevant to note that Margaret Elizabeth Noble, better known as ‘Sister Nivedita’, showed keen interest in the attempt made by Aurobinda and soon became associated with it.

Aurobindo’s propagandist activities led to several revolutionary outrages in Bengal. Meanwhile the British government implicated Aurobindo in the Alipore Conspiracy Case (1908-09).

After a prolonged trial, in which Aurobindo was brilliantly defended by Chittaranjan Das, he was acquitted. After his release from the prison Aurobindo was a changed man.

He now began to advocate ‘spiritual and moral regeneration’ as a pre-condition for political advancement.

Later on, in 1910, Aurobinda left Chandernagore for Pondicherry where he concentrated on Yoga sadhana, writing and training his disciples. Thus came to an end the career of Aurobindo as a political leader who had deep influence on contemporary Indian politics.