Nationalist Figures: Shaping the Discourse and Dynamics of the Movement

Gokhale’s Contributions:

• Education and Reform: Gokhale emphasized the importance of education and reform in shaping the nationalist movement. He founded the Servants of India Society, which worked towards education and social reform.
• Unity and Cooperation: Gokhale stressed the need for unity and cooperation among different sections of Indian society to achieve independence.
• Influence on Gandhi: Gokhale’s ideas on non-cooperation and civil disobedience influenced Gandhi’s later movements, such as the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922).

Tilak’s Contributions:

• Extremist Views: Tilak was a strong advocate for radical and extremist views, advocating for the use of violence and armed struggle to achieve independence.
• Nationalist Propaganda: Tilak used his newspaper, Kesari, to spread nationalist propaganda and mobilize public support for the movement.
• Influence on Bose: Tilak’s ideas on armed struggle influenced Subhas Chandra Bose, who later led the Indian National Army against British colonial rule.

Aurobindo’s Contributions:

• Intellectual Leadership: Aurobindo provided intellectual leadership to the nationalist movement, writing extensively on politics, philosophy, and spirituality.
• Advocacy for Swaraj: Aurobindo advocated for complete independence (Swaraj) from British colonial rule, emphasizing the need for self-rule and self-government.
• Founding of The Arya: Aurobindo founded The Arya magazine, which became a prominent platform for nationalist discussion and debate.

Recent Examples:

• Recent Activism: In recent years, prominent figures like Arundhati Roy, Medha Patkar, and Anna Hazare have been vocal about social and economic issues, influencing public discourse and inspiring new waves of activism.
• Digital Activism: The rise of social media has enabled new forms of activism, such as online campaigns and digital protests, which have been used by prominent figures like Swami Agnivesh and Kavita Krishnan.