Bipin Chandra Pal, Role in Indian National Movement, Contributions

Bipin Chandra Pal, hailed as the Father of Revolutionary Thoughts in India was a key figure in the freedom struggle. As part of the ‘Lal Bal Pal’ trio with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bal Gangadhar Tilak, he was one of the key leaders of the extremist wing of the Indian National Congress. His advocacy for Swaraj, or self-rule, marked him as a visionary who believed in a bold, assertive approach to resisting British colonial rule.

A pioneering force behind the Swadeshi Movement, Bipin Chandra Pal promoted economic self-reliance and the rejection of British goods as a means to assert India's sovereignty. His influence extended beyond politics, as he made significant contributions to literature and social reform, always advocating for a more self-sufficient and empowered India.

About Bipin Chandra Pal

Bipin Chandra Pal, born on 7 November 1858 in the village of Pail, Habiganj, in Sylhet District (then part of Bengal Presidency), hailed from a wealthy Bengali Kayastha family. He began his career in 1879 as the headmaster of a high school in Cuttack, marking the start of a diverse professional journey. 

• In 1880, Bipin Chandra Pal joined Bengali weekly Paridarshak and later contributed as Assistant Editor to publications like Bengal Public Opinion and The Tribune in Lahore.
• In 1898, Bipin Chandra Pal went to England on a Unitarian scholarship, which he eventually abandoned, and returned to India in 1900 with a renewed sense of patriotism.
  • He began advocating secularism, rationalism, and nationalism through his journal New India.
• While studying in Calcutta, Bipin Chandra Pal was influenced by figures like Keshab Chandra Sen, who inspired him to join the Brahmo Samaj, Sivanath Sastri, who instilled patriotism, and Bijay Krishna Goswami, who shaped his spiritual outlook.

Bipin Chandra Pal Role in Indian National Movement

Bipin Chandra Pal was a prominent leader in the Indian National Movement, known for his staunch advocacy of Swaraj, or complete political independence, which he believed could only be achieved through radical measures. Long before the Congress adopted full independence as its goal, Pal had already championed it. Aurobindo Ghosh hailed him as "one of the mightiest prophets of nationalism."

• Idea of State: While advocating for independence, Pal opposed a centralized, class-based state, proposing instead a federal Indian republic with significant local autonomy at provincial, district, and village levels.
• Political Journey: His political journey began with his admiration for Surendranath Banerjee, whom he considered his mentor.
• In 1877, Bipin Chandra Pal joined a group led by Sivanath Sastri that combined the social and religious ideals of the Brahmo Samaj with Banerjea’s political vision and the Indian Association.

Bipin Chandra Pal Role in Indian National Congress

Bipin Chandra Pal joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1886 during its second session in Calcutta. Initially supporting the moderate approach of seeking constitutional reforms, later he shifted to the extremist camp in 1902. Along with Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal became a key leader of the faction that opposed the Moderates' reliance on petitions and reforms, instead advocating for self-reliance and direct action to secure India's independence.

• Association with INC: At the third INC session in Madras (1887), Bipin Chandra Pal strongly advocated for the repeal of the discriminatory Arms Act, which restricted Indians from possessing weapons.
  • By the fourth session of INC, Pal supported calls for industrial inquiry and technical education to advance the country’s economic and educational framework.
• Ideological Difference with Mahatma Gandhi: Bipin Chandra Pal opposed Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent approach and Non-Cooperation movement, advocating for more radical and direct actions, including armed resistance, to achieve independence.
• He also joined the Home Rule Movement led by Annie Besant.

Bipin Chandra Pal Role in Swadeshi Movement, Bengal Partition

Bipin Chandra Pal was one of the leaders in the Swadeshi Movement, which aimed at boycotting British goods and promoting indigenous products. He strongly opposed the 1905 Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon, viewing it as an attempt to divide the Indian people and weaken the nationalist movement.

• Disagreement with Tilak: He disagreed with Lokmanya Tilak's idea of Hindu nationalism and instead advocated for a "composite patriotism" that embraced India's rich diversity and was more appropriate for a nation with such varied cultures and communities
• Advocacy for Passive Resistance: In 1906, Bipin Chandra Pal organized protests and launched the nationalist journal Bande Mataram to advocate for passive resistance, boycotts of British goods, and national education.
  • His speeches across Bengal, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Madras in 1907 rallied many but also made him a target of British authorities.
• Arrest: As a result, Bipin Chandra Pal was imprisoned for six months after refusing to testify against Aurobindo Ghosh in the Bande Mataram sedition case.

Bipin Chandra Pal Literature

Bipin Chandra Pal's versatility spanned multiple fields, including social and political philosophy, literature, and comparative religion. His writings in both Bengali and English showcased his deep knowledge and mastery of the languages, reflecting his intellectual depth. Pal explored Indian culture, and the lives of key figures in modern Indian history, such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Rabindranath Tagore.

• Additionally, he authored a biography of Queen Victoria and his autobiography, Memories of My Life and Times (1932). His notable works include:
  • Indian Nationalism, The Basis of Social Reform, Swaraj and Present Situation, Nationality and Empire, The New Spirit and Studies in Hinduism, The Soul of India

Bipin Chandra Pal Contributions 

After his release from jail, Bipin Chandra Pal went into self-imposed exile in England from 1908 to 1911, where he developed a new political idea called the Empire idea. This concept proposed a federal union of the British Empire, with India, Great Britain, and all self-governing colonies as equal and free partners. In 1913, he launched the Hindu Review to promote this idea.

• Social reforms: A strong critic of social evils like the caste system and child marriage, Bipin Chandra Pal worked alongside the Brahmo Samaj for their eradication and married an inter-caste widow to demonstrate his commitment.
• Advocacy for labour rights: He also advocated for labour rights, particularly for Assam tea garden workers, demanding wage increases and a 48-hour work week.
• Contributions Post-Retirement: Bipin Chandra Pal retired from active politics in 1921 due to differences with Congress leaders but continued to contribute through books and articles until his death on 20 May 1932.

Bipin Chandra Pal’s FAQs

Q1. What are the important facts about Bipin Chandra Pal?

Ans. Bipin Chandra Pal was an extremist leader of the Indian National Congress. He is also known as the Father of revolutionary thoughts in India. In 1877, during the Madras session of INC, he advocated for the repeal of the Arms Act.

Q2. What were the demands of Bipin Chandra Pal?

Ans. Bipin Chandra Pal worked to eradicate economic and social evils. He supported widow remarriage and opposed the caste system. He demanded forty-eight hours of work week and a hike in wages of workers.

Q3. Who is the mightiest prophet of nationalism?

Ans. Aurobindo Ghosh described Bipin Chandra Pal as one of the mightiest prophets of nationalism, as he strongly advocated the idea of complete Independence well before Congress officially adopted it as a goal.

Q4. Who were the Lal-Bal-Pal trio?

Ans. Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal were known as the Lal-Bal-Pal trio. They were leaders of the extremist movement.

Q5. Which movements did Bipin Chandra Pal support?

Ans. Bipin Chandra Pal supported the Swadeshi Movement, opposed the Bengal partition of 1905, and the Home Rule Movement.