Question

What efforts were made by the Ghadar Party for the attainment of freedom?

Answer 1

In the last decade of the 19th century, some Punjabi farmers, the majority of them being the Sikhs, migrated to other countries with the desire of better standard of living. In the beginning, they went to such countries as Burma, Malaya, Hong Kong, Singapore and China. But as soon as they came to know that the labourers received better wages in America and Canada, they decided to migrate to these countries. They became economically very well off but they were not treated well and were discriminated in these countries. They started efforts to make their country free from the foreign rule and established the Ghadar Party. The American continent was the main centre of this movement. The news of the national movement being carried on in India made them believe that India will soon win freedom.

Establishment of the Ghadar Party: In March 1913 A.D. nearly 200 immigrants took part in a conference in Washington and ‘Hindi Association’ was formed which was given a final shape on 1st November 1913 in San Francisco. It was also decided there that a weekly newspaper ‘Ghadar’ should be published in the memory of the Revolt of 1857 A.D. This newspaper was published in Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi. Accordingly, the ‘Hindi Association’ was renamed as the ‘Ghadar Party’.

Aims of the Ghadar Party: A resolution was passed at the foundation ceremony of the Ghadar Party which stated its aims and objects:

1. The object of the party will be to root out the British rule from India.
2. This object could only be achieved by means of an armed revolution.

The Ghadar Newspaper suggested the following methods to achieve the aims of the party:

• To spread discontentment among the Indian soldiers.
• To kill the henchmen of the British.
• To raise the banner of revolt.
• To break prisons.
• To loot the government treasuries and the thanas.
• To publish rebellious literature.
• To forge alliances with the powers opposed to Britain.
• To commit dacoities.
• To procure arms.
• To make bombs.
• To set up secret organisations.
• To destroy the Railways and the Telegraph System.
• To enlist the youth for rebellious acts.

Organization of the Ghadar Party. The head office of the party was named as ‘Yugantar Ashram’ which was situated at 436 Hill Street, San Francisco.

Baba Sohan Singh Bhakana was elected the president and Lala Hardyal was elected the secretary of the party. Many State Committees were set up in Astoria, Marys Ville, Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno, Bakersfield, Los Angeles and Imperial Valley. These state committees sent their two elected representatives to the central council. The central council was formed in order to prepare the action plan and the programme.

The party chose its slogan ‘Vande Matram’ and accepted the tricolour composed of red, yellow and green colours as their flag.

Efforts for the attainment of independence.
In the opinion of the leaders of the Ghadar Party, the proper time for an armed revolt in India had come. The Ghadarites like Ramchander had instilled in the party men a spirit of sacrificing their everything for the freedom of their motherland. The incident of Kamagata Maru had enraged the Sikhs and other immigrants and they determined to root out the British rule from India. They hoped that as soon as they step on the soil of India, the movement for revolt will begin.

Nonetheless, the revolutionary sentiments of the Ghadarites were enough to excite the people to side with them. They organised many raids on the British officers to loot and plunder them.

They communicated with other revolutionaries in the other parts of India also. Ras Bihari Bose visited India in January 1915. He planned to incite the soldiers to revolt. The revolutionaries of the Ghadar Party infilterated in the army but the British officers got wind of this conspiracy beforehand. Consequently, many persons were arrested and most of them were hanged. The regiments involved in the conspiracy were disarmed. In order to control the activities of the Ghadar leaders, Defence of India Act was passed. Under this Act, any suspected person could be prevented from entering any area.

Gradually, the British completely controlled the situation and the movement completely fizzled out by 1915 A.D. The cases of sedition were instituted against many leaders of the Ghadar Party and were punished. Work done by the Ghadar Party for Freedom. (Imp.) Following efforts were made by the Ghadar Party for the independence of the country.

1. Thousands of volunteers were enrolled in the party. Ras Bihari Bose sent many volunteers to Lahore, Ferozepur, Meerut, Ambala, Multan, Peshawar and many other cantonments in the Punjab. They incited the soldiers to rise in revolt.
2. Sardar Kartar Singh Sarabha sought the help of Lala Ramsaran Dass of Kapurthala to bring out a newspaper called Ghadar. But he could not succeed in doing so. Later, Ghadar Goonj was published.
3. In February 1915, Sarabha tried to begin an armed revolt at Ferozepur. But because of the treachery of Kirpal Singh, he could not succeed in doing so.
4. The Ghadar Party prepared a flag for the free India. Kartar Singh Sarabha distributed these flags everywhere in Punjab.

The Failure of the Ghadar Party. There were many causes of the failure of the Ghadar Party which can be described as under:

1. No other leader was able enough to lead the Movement after Lala Hardyal went to Switzerland.
2. The headquarters of the Ghadar movement were in Berlin from where huge monetary and other help was being received. But all these resources and help were used unlawfully.
3. Mutual bickerings and some times, communal feelings also adversely affected the movement.
4. The scarcity of weapons and ammunition also led to the failure of the Ghadar Movement.
5. The leaders of fhe Ghadar Party did not prepare any plan to attract the common people. Their programme was quite limited and there was no incentive for the common man to act.
6. The intelligence department of the British government was very efficient and as soon as the revolutionaries of the Ghadar Party reached India, they were made prisoners. The British intelligence infilterated in almost every level of the organisation. For example, a person named Kirpal Singh became the member of the innermost circle of the party and had informed the British officers about the armed revolt to be started by the Indian soldiers in the army.
7. Most of the workers were discouraged by the harsh measures taken by the government. The chief leaders were either hanged, interned or deported and were also heavily fined.