Previous Year Question
Which among the following organisations was responsible for throwing a bomb at Viceroy Lord Hardinge in Delhi?
United Patriotic Association
All India Labour Association
Yugantar
Anushilan Samiti
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
According to UPPSC, Anushilan Samiti was the organisation responsible for the 1912 bomb attack on Lord Hardinge.
On 23 December 1912, after the transfer of the capital of British India from Calcutta to Delhi, Viceroy Lord Hardinge was making his ceremonial entry into Delhi. While his procession was passing through Chandni Chowk, a bomb was thrown at the howdah of his elephant.
Rash Behari Bose played a central role in planning the conspiracy. Basanta Kumar Biswas is prominently recorded as the revolutionary who actually threw the bomb. Lord Hardinge was injured, while an attendant associated with the procession was killed.
The incident came to be known as the Delhi Conspiracy Case or Delhi-Lahore Conspiracy. Along with Basanta Kumar Biswas, Amir Chand, Bal Mukund and Avadh Bihari were also associated with the conspiracy and were subsequently tried.
Rash Behari Bose played an important role in activating the revolutionary network in northern India. Institutional historical material connects this revolutionary network with the activities of the Anushilan Samiti; on this basis, the UPPSC answer key treats Anushilan Samiti as the correct answer.
A factual nuance should be noted. A Ministry of Culture record also describes Basanta Kumar Biswas as having joined the Yugantar revolutionary organisation. There was overlap among revolutionary personalities and networks operating in Bengal and northern India at the time.