Consider the following statements with reference to the Ghadar Party:

1. It was founded by expatriate Indians to overthrow British rule in India.

2. The outbreak of the First World War encouraged the Ghadr leaders to launch a violent attack against the British rulers.

3. It was a politically strong organization and achieved remarkable success.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Solution

• Statement 1 is correct: The Ghadr revolutionaries of Ghadar Party with its headquarters at San Francisco and branches along the US coast and in the Far East included mainly ex-soldiers and peasants who had migrated from the Punjab to the USA and Canada in search of better employment opportunities. The revolutionaries aimed to overthrow British rule in India and bring about a simultaneous revolt in all British colonies. • Statement 2 is correct: Inflamed by the Komagata Maru incident and with the outbreak of the First World War, the Ghadr leaders decided to launch a violent attack to oust British rule in India. • Statement 3 is incorrect: Ghadar movement preached militant nationalism with a completely secular approach. But politically and militarily, it failed to achieve much because it lacked an organized and sustained leadership. It underestimated the extent of preparation required at every level - organizational, ideological, financial, and tactical strategy.