The enduring legacy of Kartar Singh Sarabha and the Ghadar movement

The Ghadar Movement began in 1913, spearheaded by Punjabi migrant workers in the United States and Canada. Founded by Sohan Singh Bhakna, the Ghadar Party united Indian workers, students, and patriots in exile under a singular goal: complete independence for India. The movement was revolutionary in its ideals and inclusive in its approach, fostering a secular and progressive vision for a free India. Members of the party identified as “Hindustani” and “Desh Bhagat,” transcending caste, creed, and regional divides to envision a nation free from poverty, ignorance, and oppression.

For the Ghadarites, martyrdom was a badge of honour. Kartar Singh Sarabha, who epitomised this spirit, was a central figure in the movement. Despite his youth, Sarabha’s leadership and courage left an indelible mark on India’s revolutionary history. When the British discovered the party’s plans for an armed uprising in 1915, Sarabha and his comrades were arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. Their sacrifice, however, became a symbol of defiance that continued to inspire resistance against British
rule.

Although the Ghadar uprising failed to achieve its immediate objectives, it sparked a broader awakening in India’s political consciousness. Revolutionary leaders like Bhagat Singh drew heavily from the movement’s ideals, viewing it as foundational not only for overthrowing colonial rule but also for envisioning a transformed social order.

Bhagat Singh, who idolised Kartar Singh Sarabha, encountered the Ghadar legacy early in life. His uncle’s interactions with Ghadar leaders exposed young Bhagat to their revolutionary fervour. Influential mentors, including Bhai Parmanand and Sachindra Nath Sanyal, further shaped his ideology.
Sanyal’s Bandi Jeevan, which detailed revolutionary strategies and experiences, became a crucial text for Bhagat Singh and others seeking to carry forward the Ghadar Movement’s unfinished mission.

The British government’s Rowlett Committee report of 1918 highlighted the threat posed by the Ghadar Movement, particularly its ability to inspire ordinary Indians to take up arms against the empire. Bhagat Singh admired the Ghadarites’ fearlessness and their willingness to embrace radical ideas despite their limited resources. This admiration influenced his own approach to revolution, blending Ghadar’s spirit of sacrifice with lessons from other global movements, including the Russian Revolution.

In the 1920s and 1930s, released Ghadarites continued their fight for justice, joining movements like Kirti Kisan, which transformed the independence struggle into a broader fight for workers’ and peasants’ rights. Many former Ghadar members embraced communist ideologies, leading significant labour rights movements in both India and North America.

The Ghadar Movement’s influence extended beyond India’s borders. In North America, Ghadarites championed social and legal rights for Indian immigrants, advocating for voting rights, social security, and citizenship. Collaborating with figures like American author Agnes Smedley and Indian
National Congress representatives, they laid the groundwork for the diaspora’s later achievements in securing equality and justice abroad.

The British colonial administration viewed the Ghadar Movement as a significant threat, especially during World War I. Figures like Michael O’Dwyer believed they had crushed the uprising, but the movement’s spirit endured. The Ghadarites exposed British oppression and challenged the moral
authority of the empire, planting seeds of resistance that would grow into India’s eventual independence.

Unlike the elite-led political movements of urban India, the Ghadar revolutionaries were predominantly rural peasants and workers. This background shaped their radical vision of liberty and equality, which often clashed with the more moderate approaches of mainstream nationalist leaders. Despite limited resources and harsh repression, the Ghadarites maintained their commitment to a free and egalitarian India.

The diaspora’s emotional bond with India’s freedom struggle remained strong despite numerous challenges, including deportations and racial hostility After World War I, suspicions about the Ghadarites’ ties to Germany during the Hindu-German Conspiracy trial added to their difficulties. Later allegations of Bolshevik connections further strained their position. Yet, their solidarity with India’s independence movement remained steadfast, as evidenced by donations to causes like the Qaidi Parivar Sahayak Fund, which supported families of political prisoners in Punjab.

This enduring spirit of resistance was captured in the stirring verses of Ghadar di Goonj:

Paa laye shaheedi singh sher gaj ke
Bane sir sheran di ki jana bhaj ke
Mareeye aap ya dushman maar laiye
Gallon tauk ghulami da laah daiyee

(Let us strive for martyrdom, bold and fearless like lions. When the challenge confronts us, why should we retreat? The path is clear—either we conquer the enemy or meet our end with honour. Let us shed the yoke of slavery that weighs on our necks and break free from oppression.)

For Kartar Singh Sarabha and his comrades, the fight against colonial rule was more than a quest for political freedom; it was a mission to transform Indian society. Their sacrifices remind us that the Ghadar Movement, far from being a footnote in history, was a cornerstone of India’s struggle for
independence and justice.

(The writer is a Punjab-cadre IPS officer)