Who founded Anushulin Samiti in 1907 in Dhaka

Dhaka Anushilan Samiti was a branch of the Anushilan Samiti founded in the city of Dhaka in November 1905. Initially a group of eighty under the leadership of Pulin Behari Das, it “spread like wildfire” throughout the province of East Bengal. More than 500 branches were opened, linked by a “close and detailed organization” to Palin’s headquarters at Dhaka. It absorbed smaller groups in the province and soon overshadowed its parent organization in Calcutta.

1. Founding of Anushilan Samiti

• Year: 1907
• Place: Dhaka (now in Bangladesh)
• Founders:
  1. Aurobindo Ghosh (Sri Aurobindo) – spiritual leader and nationalist
  2. Barindra Kumar Ghosh – younger brother of Aurobindo Ghosh, also a revolutionary
• Purpose:
  • To train Indian youth in physical fitness and military techniques for armed struggle
  • To fight British colonial rule through revolutionary activities
  • To instill patriotism and nationalist spirit among students and young Indians

2. Objectives of Anushilan Samiti

1. Revolutionary Activities: To challenge British rule through direct action and revolutionary methods.
2. Youth Training: To develop courage, discipline, and physical fitness among young Indians.
3. Promotion of Nationalism: To spread awareness of freedom and self-reliance.
4. Unity and Organization: To create a coordinated network of revolutionaries in Bengal and beyond.

3. Key Leaders

• Aurobindo Ghosh: Ideological guide and nationalist thinker
• Barindra Kumar Ghosh: Operational leader and organizer of revolutionary activities
• Other Prominent Members: Jatindranath Mukherjee (Bagha Jatin), Khudiram Bose, Prafulla Chaki

4. Activities of Anushilan Samiti

• Organized secret societies for revolutionary planning
• Trained youth in physical fitness and armed struggle
• Carried out assassination attempts on British officials to resist oppressive laws
• Supported socio-political movements to awaken national consciousness

5. Significance of Anushilan Samiti

1. Revolutionary Inspiration: Inspired many young Indians to take up the freedom struggle actively.
2. Organized Resistance: Laid the groundwork for other revolutionary groups like Jugantar.
3. Patriotic Spirit: Spread nationalism in Bengal and across India.
4. Role in Indian Freedom Movement: Though controversial for using violence, it created pressure on British authorities and highlighted the desire for independence.

6. Conclusion

The Anushilan Samiti, founded in 1907 in Dhaka by Aurobindo Ghosh and Barindra Kumar Ghosh, was a revolutionary organization aimed at ending British rule through direct action and youth mobilization. Its legacy inspired generations of freedom fighters and remains an important chapter in India’s revolutionary history.