The Indian independence movement, which spanned from the early 19th century to the mid-20th century, was marked by diverse strategies employed by revolutionaries to achieve their goal of freedom from British colonial rule. Key among these strategies were bomb attacks, political assassinations, and armed uprisings.

Bomb Attacks:

• Early 20th century: The Indian revolutionary movement, inspired by the Russian Revolution, saw the use of bomb attacks as a means to target British colonial authorities. Notable examples include the Chittagong Armoury Raid (1930) and the Lahore Conspiracy Case (1929).
• Recent Examples:
  • Bhima Koregaon Violence (2017): A group of Dalit activists, including intellectuals and artists, were attacked in Bhima Koregaon, Maharashtra, leading to allegations of violence and conspiracy.
  • Gauri Lankesh Assassination (2017): Gauri Lankesh, a journalist and activist, was assassinated in Bengaluru, Karnataka, allegedly by a group of Hindu extremists.

Political Assassinations:

• Early 20th century: The Indian National Army (INA) and other extremist groups targeted British officials and collaborators in India. Notable examples include the Assassination of Sir Charles Cleveland (1915) and the Assassination of Lord Hardinge (1912).
• Recent Examples:
  • M.M. Kalburgi Assassination (2015): M.M. Kalburgi, a historian and critic of Hindutva ideology, was assassinated in Dharwad, Karnataka.
  • Gyanendra Pandey Assassination Attempt (2019): Gyanendra Pandey, a historian and critic of Hindutva ideology, was attacked in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Armed Uprisings:

• Early 20th century: The Indian National Army (INA) and other extremist groups launched armed uprisings against British colonial rule. Notable examples include the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and the Chittagong Uprising (1930).
• Recent Examples:
  • Naxalite Insurgency: The Naxalite movement, a communist-inspired insurgency, has been active in various parts of India since the 1960s.
  • Kashmir Insurgency: The Kashmir insurgency has been ongoing since the 1990s, with various militant groups fighting against Indian rule.

Key Points:

• Diverse Strategies: Revolutionaries employed diverse strategies to achieve their goal of independence, including bomb attacks, political assassinations, and armed uprisings.
• Contextual Significance: Each strategy was used in response to specific historical contexts and events.
• Recent Examples: The use of bomb attacks, political assassinations, and armed uprisings continues to be a feature of contemporary Indian politics.