Nationalist Response to World War-I

Britain’s Allies and the Maturing of Indian Nationalism

The First World War marked a significant phase in the growth of Indian nationalism. While Moderates supported the British war efforts as a duty, Extremists like Tilak hoped for self-government in return. Revolutionaries saw the war as an opportunity to fight for India's independence, utilizing platforms like the Ghadr Party in North America and the Berlin Committee in Europe. The war drained India of resources, and the hope for help from Britain's enemies added fuel to the revolutionary fire.

• World War I Overview: During the First World War (1914-1919), Britain allied with France, Russia, USA, Italy, and Japan against Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey. The war led to significant geopolitical changes and had a profound impact on colonies like India.
• Maturing of Indian Nationalism: This period saw the growth and maturation of Indian nationalism, as the war highlighted the contradictions of British colonial rule and exposed the empire's vulnerabilities.

Nationalist Responses to British Participation in the War

• Moderates' Support: The Moderates viewed British participation in the war as a duty and supported the empire’s war efforts, hoping that their loyalty would be rewarded.
• Extremists' Support: Extremists, including Bal Gangadhar Tilak (who was released in June 1914), supported the war in the mistaken belief that Britain would reward India's loyalty with self-government. This belief, however, proved to be overly optimistic as Britain had no intention of granting substantial political concessions.
• Revolutionaries' Response: Revolutionaries saw the war as an opportunity to wage a struggle for India's independence. They believed that the war's strain on Britain’s resources and the possibility of receiving support from Germany and Turkey (Britain's enemies) would create favorable conditions for revolutionary activities.

Revolutionary Activities During the War

• Global Revolutionary Efforts: The revolutionary activities during this period were spearheaded by the Ghadr Party in North America, the Berlin Committee in Europe, and several scattered mutinies by Indian soldiers, including the notable Singapore Mutiny.
• Impact of the War on British Colonial Control: The war severely drained India of troops, with the number of white soldiers in the country dropping to as low as 15,000 at one point. This depletion of forces, coupled with financial strains, made British control over India increasingly tenuous.
• Revolutionaries' Strategic Vision: For the revolutionaries, the war appeared to be a heaven-sent opportunity to strike at the British Empire. They sought financial and military assistance from Germany and Turkey, hoping to capitalize on Britain's wartime vulnerabilities to achieve independence.