Famous Conspiracies

Major Conspiracies during Freedom Struggle

1. Bomb Plot against Lord Harding (1912)

• Context: A conspiracy to assassinate Lord Harding, the Viceroy of India, during his visit to Delhi.
• Key Figures:
  • Ras Behari Bose – A revolutionary associated with the Anushilan Samiti.
  • Satyendranath Tagore – A member of the Anushilan Samiti.
• Outcome: The plot failed due to the presence of British police. Khudiram Bose was arrested and executed in 1912.
• Significance: Highlighted the growing radicalism among Indian revolutionaries.

2. Bengal Partition Conspiracy (1905-1911)

• Context: A conspiracy to resist the partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon.
• Key Figures:
  • Aurobindo Ghose – A prominent leader of the National Movement.
  • Barindra Kumar Ghosh – A revolutionary associated with the Jugantar Party.
• Activities:
  • Publication of Bharat Mata and Sandhya Sangram.
  • Organized secret meetings and propaganda against the partition.
• Outcome: The conspiracy was uncovered by the British, leading to arrests and the suppression of the movement.
• Significance: Demonstrated the use of propaganda and underground networks in the freedom struggle.

3. Champaran Satyagraha (1917)

• Context: A non-violent protest led by Mahatma Gandhi against the oppressive indigo cultivation system in Champaran.
• Key Figures:
  • Mahatma Gandhi – Led the movement.
  • Motilal Nehru – Supported the movement.
• Activities:
  • Investigation into the grievances of peasants.
  • Use of non-cooperation and satyagraha.
• Outcome: The British government accepted the findings and allowed peasants to cultivate other crops.
• Significance: Marked the beginning of Gandhi’s mass movement in India.

4. Khilafat Movement (1919-1922)

• Context: A movement to protect the Ottoman Caliphate after World War I.
• Key Figures:
  • Muhammad Ali Jauhar – A leader of the Khilafat Movement.
  • Shaukat Ali – A prominent leader.
  • Mahatma Gandhi – Joined the movement to unite Muslims and Hindus.
• Activities:
  • Mass protests and demonstrations.
  • Formation of the Khilafat Committee.
• Outcome: The movement ended with the abolition of the Caliphate in 1924.
• Significance: Strengthened the unity between Muslims and Hindus, and led to the formation of the All-India Khilafat Committee.

5. Chauri Chaura Incident (1922)

• Context: A violent incident that led to the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
• Key Figures:
  • Mahatma Gandhi – Suspended the movement after the incident.
• Activities:
  • Protesters clashed with police, leading to the burning of a police station.
• Outcome: 22 police officers were killed.
• Significance: Marked a turning point in the Non-Cooperation Movement, leading to a shift towards more disciplined methods.

6. Delhi-Lahore Conspiracy (1928)

• Context: A conspiracy to assassinate British officials in Delhi and Lahore.
• Key Figures:
  • Bhagat Singh – A revolutionary associated with the Hindustan Republican Association.
  • Sukhdev Thapar – A co-conspirator.
  • Rajguru – A co-conspirator.
• Activities:
  • Planning to assassinate British officials.
• Outcome: The conspiracy was uncovered, leading to the arrest and execution of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru in 1931.
• Significance: Highlighted the radical wing of the freedom struggle and their methods.

7. Peshawar Conspiracy Case (1922-27)

• Context: A conspiracy to overthrow British rule and establish communism in India.
• Key Figures:
  • Shaukat Usmani – Communist leader.
  • Muzaffar Ahmad – Communist activist.
  • Nalini Gupta – Revolutionary leader.
  • Ghulam Hussain – Key conspirator.
• Activities:
  • Planning to spread communist ideology and organize workers.
  • Establishing links with the Communist International (Comintern).
• Outcome: Arrests were made, and the accused were tried for sedition and conspiracy.
• Significance: Highlighted the rise of communist movement and anti-British revolutionary activities in the North-West Frontier Province.

8. Quit India Movement (1942)

• Context: A mass movement demanding the immediate end of British rule in India.
• Key Figures:
  • Mahatma Gandhi – Led the movement.
• Activities:
  • Nationwide strikes and protests.
  • Civil disobedience and sabotage.
• Outcome: The British government declared the movement illegal and arrested thousands of leaders.
• Significance: Marked the peak of the freedom struggle and intensified the demand for independence.

Table: Summary of Major Conspiracies during Freedom Struggle

Fact List: Key Facts for Competitive Exams

• Khudiram Bose was executed in 1912 for the bomb plot against Lord Minto.
• Aurobindo Ghose and Barindra Kumar Ghosh were key figures in the Bengal Partition Conspiracy.
• Champaran Satyagraha marked the beginning of Gandhi’s mass movement.
• Khilafat Movement was a joint effort between Muslims and Hindus.
• Chauri Chaura Incident led to the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
• Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Rajguru were executed in 1931 for the Delhi-Lahore Conspiracy.
• Abdul Ghaffar Khan was involved in the Peshawar Conspiracy Case.
• Quit India Movement was the peak of the freedom struggle.