Q. The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a

  • revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters at San Francisco
  • nationalist organization operating from Singapore
  • militant organization with headquarters at Berlin
  • communist movement for India’s freedom with headquarters at Tashkent

Answer: (a) revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters at San Francisco

Ghadar Party:
  • The Ghadar Party was a revolutionary group founded by Indians in the United States with the aim of securing India’s independence from British rule.
  • Taraknath Das, a prominent Indian in the USA, established the Indian Independence League in California in 1907 and later began publishing the paper Free Hindustan.
  • In 1913, Sohan Singh Bhakna founded the Hind Association of America, which started the weekly publication Ghadar in English, Urdu, Marathi, and Gurmukhi.
  • This paper promoted revolutionary ideas and inspired the name of the Ghadar Party.
  • Lala Hardayal emerged as a key leader in the Ghadar movement, establishing a central committee with headquarters at the Yugantar Ashram in San Francisco.
  • The Ghadar Party also had notable figures such as Bhai Parmanand and Ram Chandra, and the publication Ghadar consistently encouraged armed struggle and revolt against British rule.
  • Revolutionaries Raja Mahendra Pratap and Barkatullah supported the Ghadar Party from abroad and, with the help of Germany and Russia, attempted to set up a provisional government of India in Kabul.
  • Founder of Ghadar Party:
    • The Ghadar Party’s founders, including Taraknath Das, Sohan Singh Bhakna, and Lala Hardayal, among others, were Indian expatriates committed to liberating India from British control.
    • These leaders harnessed the collective discontent of Indian immigrants in North America and the nationalist fervor within India to form an organized resistance.