Origin and Leaders
- Origin: The trend of extremist movement emerged in the 1890s and reached its definite form in 1905.
- Major Leaders: Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, AK Dutta, Aurobindo Ghosh.
Reasons for Emergence of Extremism
- The failure of the moderate leaders to get any significant results from the British authorities.
- The extremist period of the Indian National Movement was also influenced by Japan’s defeat of Russia and the loss of Italy in Abyssinia.
- The growth of education led to awareness and the spread of new ideas like radicalism, and nationalism among the youth.
- Spread extremist ideologies by leaders like Tilak through papers like Maratha in English and Kesari in Maratha.
- Reactionary policies of Curzon.
- The self-respect for the ancient Indian culture and increased westernisation.
- Partition of Bengal.
Success of Extremists
- Mass mobilisation.
- Promoted swadeshi industries.
- Promoted the idea of self-rule.
- Upheld pride of Indian history.
Limitation of Extremists
- Failed to keep moving mass movements.
- Failed to demand complete independence.
- Showed elements of communal tendency like Ganesh festival and Shivaji festival.
- Focus on selective past.
- Focus on individual heroism.